Animal Care Assistant

VC Evidensia UK; Saltash; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks' annual leave

Family-friendly policies

Healthcare Cash Plan

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Albert Cottage Veterinary Clinic in Saltash is seeking an enthusiastic Animal Care Assistant to join the team on a full-time fixed-term basis of 12 months. The role involves supporting the clinical team with patient care, handling and restraint, and maintaining a safe practice environment.

You will work under a Veterinary Surgeon or Registered Veterinary Nurse, with opportunities to develop within an environment focusing on animal welfare and client care.

Qualifications

• Reliable and motivated individual who enjoys working as part of a team.
• Interested in animal welfare and veterinary environment; keen to develop within the clinic.
• Proactive attitude to learning and feedback.

Responsibilities

• Support inpatient care and patient handling under supervision.
• Assist with patient restraint and care, and keep clinical areas clean and well-maintained.
• Contribute to a positive and compassionate experience for patients and clients.

Skills

Good communication skills

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Willingness to learn

Job description

Albert Cottage Veterinary Clinic, Saltash, Saltash, South West

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 Albert Cottage Vets on a full-time fixed-term basis (12 months).

We have a dedicated team of veterinary surgeons with interests ranging from soft tissue surgery and exotics through to diagnostic imaging, so there is always someone available to discuss a difficult case with. Our motivated nurses have interests in nutrition, emergency and critical care, dentistry and feline behaviour, and enjoy running their daily nurse clinics.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As an 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

• 37.5 hours over 5 days, 7.5 hours daily, with some Saturday mornings in addition with time off in lieu

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 scheme
• Learning and development opportunities via the inspiring vet care Academy
• 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.

Albert Cottage Veterinary Clinic, Saltash