Animal Care Assistant/Client Care Advisor

IVC; Haddington; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 6.6 weeks

Pension scheme

Healthcare plan

Cycle to Work

Staff discounts

Learning & development

Job summary

inspiring vet care in the UK is seeking an Animal Care Assistant to join our busy practice. You’ll combine hands-on animal care with clinical support and reception duties, delivering a welcoming, professional experience for clients and patients.

You’ll work as part of a supportive team, assisting with patient handling, stock, basic lab tasks and front-desk duties. A caring, proactive attitude and good communication are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Experience caring for animals and supporting a veterinary team.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to learn and develop in a busy practice.

Responsibilities

• Providing a supportive, caring and compassionate environment for patients.
• Assisting with patient care, handling and restraint.
• Supporting laboratory procedures and sample processing.
• Carrying out pharmacy duties including unpacking orders and stock rotation.
• Cleaning, maintaining and sterilising veterinary instruments and equipment.
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene and aseptic practice throughout clinical areas.
• Supporting administrative tasks and the day-to-day running of the practice.
• Welcoming clients and providing a professional first point of contact.

Skills

Animal care

Customer service

Teamwork

Communication

Organisational skills

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.

Are you passionate about animal welfare and delivering exceptional customer care? We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and motivated Animal Care Assistant to join our friendly team.

This is a varied role combining hands‑on animal care, clinical support and reception duties, making it ideal for someone who enjoys working with both animals and people in a busy veterinary environment.

How You’ll Make a Difference

This is a varied role combining hands‑on animal care, clinical support and reception duties, making it ideal for someone who enjoys working with both animals and people in a busy veterinary environment.

As an Animal Care Assistant, you will play an important role in supporting our veterinary and nursing teams while helping to ensure clients receive a welcoming and professional experience. No two days are the same, and you will be involved in a wide range of tasks that contribute to the smooth running of the practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a supportive, caring and compassionate environment for patients.
• Assisting with patient care, handling and restraint.
• Supporting laboratory procedures and sample processing.
• Carrying out pharmacy duties including unpacking orders, stock rotation, stock takes and labelling.
• Cleaning, maintaining and sterilising veterinary instruments and equipment.
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene and aseptic practice throughout clinical areas.
• Supporting laundry and general housekeeping duties.
• Welcoming clients and providing a professional first point of contact.
• Scheduling appointments and managing the practice diary.
• Answering telephone calls and responding to email enquiries.
• Maintaining accurate client and patient records.
• Processing payments and assisting with client account enquiries.
• Supporting administrative tasks and the day‑to‑day running of the practice.
• Working collaboratively with the veterinary, nursing and reception teams to provide outstanding patient and client care.

Working Pattern

• Full time 40hrs Monday - Friday 1 in 10 weekends (Sat 9am - 1pm) Shift start times vary from 7am to 11.30am (8hr day inc 1 hr lunch)

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.

£0 - £0 a year

Up to £27,000 per annum