Animal Care Assistant – Weekend

Vets Now; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 19,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

7 weeks annual leave

Birthday day off

Cash Health Plan

Staff discounts

CPD allowance

Paid CPD hours

Pension contributions

Staff pet care discounts

Volunteer days

Death in service

Job summary

Vets Now in Portsmouth is seeking an Animal Care Assistant to support our emergency clinic team on weekends. You will help clinical staff, manage in-patient welfare, and assist with basic procedures in a fast-paced setting.

The role runs Saturdays 12:00-19:30 and Sundays 08:00-20:00 on a 1 in 6 pattern, plus bank holidays. Enjoy 7 weeks pro‑rata annual leave, a birthday day off, health plan, CPD support, staff discounts, and pension contributions.

Responsibilities

• Working under the guidance of Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons.
• Handling patients for basic procedures and assisting with running diagnostic tests.
• Assisting in setting up and clearing down theatres for surgical procedures.
• Ensuring all in-patients have their basic husbandry needs attended to.

Job description

Animal Care Assistant - Weekend

£14.05 per hour plus benefits

About Vets Now

Vets Now is the UK's leading provider of emergency pet care, serving over 1700 veterinary practices through 60 plus dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals. Join our clinic team in Portsmouth and contribute to the vital emergency and critical care service we provide.

Role and Responsibilities

As an Animal Care Assistant at Vets Now, you will play a crucial role in assisting our clinical teams with providing a comfortable and stress-free in-patient environment whilst negotiating busy shifts in an emergency clinic. Your responsibilities will include:

• Working under the guidance of Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons.
• Handling patients for basic procedures and assisting with running diagnostic tests.
• Assisting in setting up and clearing down theatres for surgical procedures.
• Ensuring all in-patients have their basic husbandry needs attended to.

Working pattern

Every Saturday 12:00-19:30

1 in 6 Sundays 08:00-20:00

Plus, a fair share of bank holidays.

Why Join Us?

• 7 weeks pro rata annual leave
• Your birthday as a paid day off
• Cash Health Plan provided by Simply Health
• Vets Now For You - reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100's of retailers
• £780 CPD allowance pro-rata
• 10 hours paid CPD hours annually pro-rata
• Family-friendly policies including sick, maternity, paternity and adoption pay schemes
• UK Standard Pension contributions - 5% Employee/3% Employer
• Up to 50% discounted staff pet care
• Paid volunteering days
• Death in service of two times annual salary

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those from diverse and minority groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we encourage candidates with disabilities and health conditions to apply and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.