Animal Care Assistant

British Veterinary Association; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A veterinary hospital in Reading is seeking an enthusiastic Animal Care Assistant to support patient care and maintain a clean clinical environment. The ideal candidate will have a passion for animals, assist the veterinary team, and uphold high cleanliness standards. This full-time position offers 6.6 weeks annual leave and additional benefits focusing on employee wellbeing.

Benefits

6.6 weeks annual leave

Birthday annual leave

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Cycle to work scheme

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Learning and development opportunities

Pawsome Benefits discount scheme

Pension scheme

Discounted staff pet care

Qualifications

• Passion for working with animals.
• Ability to follow infection control protocols.

Responsibilities

• Handle a variety of animals safely and compassionately.
• Support vets and nurses during patient care and procedures.
• Ensure all clinical areas are cleaned to a high standard.

Skills

Handling animals safely

Supporting veterinary staff

Cleaning and infection control

Laboratory sample processing

General housekeeping

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about working with animals and looking for a hands-on role in a supportive veterinary environment?

Castle Vets, a well-established small animal hospital in Reading, is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Animal Care Assistant to join our hardworking clinical team.

Responsibilities

• Handling a variety of animals safely and compassionately
• Supporting vets and nurses during patient care and procedures
• Ensuring all clinical areas are cleaned to a high standard in line with infection control protocols
• Sterilising surgical equipment and maintaining cleanliness of instruments
• Running and processing in-house laboratory samples (e.g. bloods, urine, faecal samples)
• Restocking clinical areas and assisting with general housekeeping

About Us

Castle Vets is a trusted small animal veterinary hospital providing outstanding patient care. We\'re proud to hold RCVS Hospital Status as well as Gold Cat Friendly and Silver Rabbit Friendly accreditations. Our modern facilities include a CT scanner, digital and dental X-ray, ultrasound, and endoscopy.

You\'ll be part of a supportive, friendly team that values compassion, professionalism, and excellence in everything we do for our patients and clients.

Working Hours

This is a full-time, permanent position 40 hours per week. Shifts are between 8:00 am and 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday. You will also be required to work 1 in 3 Saturday mornings, 8:00 am to 1:30 pm.

Benefits

• 6.6 weeks annual leave
• Additional annual leave for your birthday which will be added to your holiday allowance
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/ paternity/ adoption/ shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
• Non-accidental injury support
• Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Pawsome Benefits - reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100\'s of retailers
• Pension scheme
• Discounted staff pet care