Animal Care Assistant

Inspiring Vet Care; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks annual leave + birthday off

Holiday entitlement increases with len

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Healthcare Cash Plan and wellbeing

Cycle to Work scheme

Learning & development via Inspiring V

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Job summary

Inspiring Vet Care at Dragon Vets in Cheltenham is hiring an Animal Care Assistant to join the team on a full-time, permanent basis. You will support the clinical team with patient care, handling, and preparation of kennels and equipment, helping to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for owners and animals.

We value a caring, team-oriented approach, good communication, and excellent organisational skills. Experience with animals is advantageous, and a proactive learner will thrive here.

Qualifications

• Reliable and motivated individual with a caring approach.
• Good communication and ability to work with colleagues and clients.
• Strong organisational skills for busy environments.
• Proactive attitude to learning and development.

Responsibilities

• Support inpatient care and patient handling under supervision.
• Maintain clinical areas and equipment to high standards.
• Contribute to a positive, compassionate experience for patients and owners.

Skills

Animal welfare

Communication

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Willingness to learn

Job description

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, team-orientated Animal Care Assistant to join our team at Dragon Vets on a full-time permanent basis.

Located in the heart of Cheltenham, renowned for horse racing and a thriving bar and restaurant scene, Dragon Vets is an established practice and has invested in specialist equipment including CT, DR, rigid and flexible endoscopy, high-end Doppler ultrasonography and well-equipped operating facilities including laparoscopic kits and TPLO kits, and much more.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Veterinary Care Assistant, you will play an important role in supporting the clinical team to deliver high standards of patient and client care, while helping to ensure the practice environment runs smoothly and safely.

Working under the direction of a Veterinary Surgeon or Registered Veterinary Nurse, you'll support inpatient care, assist with patient handling and restraint, help maintain clinical areas and equipment, and contribute to a positive and compassionate experience for both patients and clients.

Working Pattern

• 37.25 hours per week, including a 1:4 Saturday morning shift.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

You are a reliable and motivated individual who enjoys working as part of a team and is keen to develop within a veterinary environment. You’ll bring:

• A caring, professional approach with a genuine interest in animal welfare
• Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage tasks effectively in a busy environment
• A proactive attitude to learning, with openness to feedback and development
• Experience of working with animals in either a clinical or non-clinical setting would be advantageous

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Structured development opportunities, including access to VCA development programmes and apprenticeships
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities into Student Veterinary Nurse roles and beyond
• Supportive, collaborative teams focused on delivering high-quality patient and client care
• A values-led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work salary sacrifice schemes, subject to eligibility criteria
• Learning and development opportunities via the inspiring vet care Academy
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Up to £25,200 per annum