Animal Care Assistant

Ivc; Fort William; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks annual leave + birthday off

Healthcare Cash Plan

Cycle to Work salary sacrifice

Learning & development via Inspiring V

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Green Car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Crown Vets in Fort William is seeking an Animal Care Assistant to join the team full-time. You will support the clinical staff with inpatient care, patient handling and general maintenance of clinical areas in a busy mixed practice.

Working hours start around 08:30 with potential variation; on-call duties include weekends after training. Opportunities for development through ACA programmes and progression into Student Veterinary Nurse roles are offered.

Qualifications

• Caring approach with genuine interest in animal welfare.
• Good communication with colleagues and clients.
• Strong organisational skills for busy environments.
• Proactive attitude to learning and feedback.
• Experience with animals in clinical or non-clinical settings is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Care for hospitalised patients under veterinary supervision.
• Feed, exercise and provide basic care for animals.
• Assist with patient handling and restraint.
• Clean and maintain kennels, wards, theatres and consult rooms.
• Prepare clinical areas and equipment; maintain hygiene and infection control.
• Support colleagues to deliver high-quality patient and client care.
• Assist with reception/administration duties.
• Aid Vets at outreach clinics and croft/farm visits.

Skills

Caring

Communication

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Proactive learning

Animal care experience

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 Crown Vets on a full-time permanent basis.

Crown Vets is a busy mixed Veterinary practice based in Fort William, the Outdoor Capital of the UK. We are a friendly and welcoming practice, our team of 23 staff are dedicated to providing first class care for animals and their owners.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Animal 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

• 0830 until 17.30hrs but this could vary until 1815 with later start time. Once trained join on call rota of a 1 in 7 weekends. We can be flexible with working hours

Key Responsibilities

• Caring for hospitalised patients under the direction of veterinary surgeons and nurses
• Feeding, exercising, and providing basic care for animals
• Assisting with patient handling and restraint
• Cleaning and maintaining kennels, wards, theatres, and consultation rooms
• Preparing clinical areas and equipment
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene and infection control
• Supporting colleagues across the practice to deliver outstanding patient and client care
• Assisting with Reception/Administration Duties
• Assisting Vets at outreach clinics and croft/farm visits
• On call once completed a period of training

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

• 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

• Structured development opportunities, including access to ACA 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.

Closing date for applications- 22nd September 2026

£0 - £0 a year

Up to £26,436.8 per annum