Graduate Veterinary Surgeon

Swayne & Partners - Veterinary Surgeons; East Suffolk; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Swayne & Partners - Veterinary Surgeons in Suffolk is seeking a Graduate Veterinary Surgeon to join our small animal teams across Haverhill, Newmarket, or Long Melford, with one day weekly at the Bury St Edmunds hospital.

You will develop clinical skills through supported CPD, mentorship by an on-site VetGDP, and exposure to routine consultations, diagnostics and emergency cases. No overnight work; weekend daytime shifts apply.

Qualifications

• New or recent graduate seeking a role in small animal practice.
• Strong communication with clients and team.
• Willingness to develop clinical skills through CPD and mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine clinical consultations, examinations and assessments under supervision.
• Develop and implement diagnostic and treatment plans for small animal cases.
• Perform routine procedures and surgery with support from experienced vets.
• Prescribe and administer medications following clinical protocols.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and communicate care plans clearly.
• Collaborate with RVNs and support staff to deliver high-quality care.
• Assist in urgent and emergency cases as needed.
• Participate in inpatient care and ongoing patient monitoring.

Skills

Small animal care

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Job description

Graduate Veterinary Surgeon

Location:

Haverhill, Newmarket, or Long Melford

Salary:

Up to £37k DOE

We’re looking for three new or recent graduates to join our practices the beautiful Suffolk countryside. You will be based at one of our community practices in either Haverhill, Newmarket, or Long Melford, and spend one day per week at our hospital site in Bury St Edmunds.

About Us:

Swayne and Partners have been part of the local community for over 30 years. We offer a friendly, welcoming service backed by evidence-based medicine and surgery. You would be joining a friendly, supportive team that enjoys what we do and aims to deliver a top-quality service for both our patients and our clients. This doesn’t mean railroading through gold standard treatment for every case– we are firm believers in contextualised care and aim to guide our clients through the available options to find what’s right for them and their pet.

Our practices are all equipped with operating theatres, x-ray, ultrasound, and in-house labs. Our hospital in Bury St Edmunds also has endoscopy and CT on-site, and accepts certificate-level referrals in internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, imaging, and cardiology. We run our own out-of-hour service, as well as providing cover for a number of other local clinics. This role involves some daytime weekend work, giving you exposure to a variety of emergency cases, with time off afterwards. No overnight work is required.

You will have an on-site VetGDP mentor at your home practice, and support will be in place to allow you to advance your medical and surgical skills. We encourage our vets to pursue any particular areas of interest, and many of our graduates go on to undertake certificates after a couple of years in general practice.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct routine clinical consultations, examinations and assessments under appropriate supervision.
• Develop and implement diagnostic and treatment plans for a range of small animal cases.
• Perform routine procedures and surgery, with support and guidance from experienced veterinary surgeons.
• Prescribe and administer medications and treatments in line with clinical protocols.
• Maintain accurate, detailed and up-to-date clinical records.
• Communicate clearly with clients, explaining diagnoses, treatment options and ongoing care.
• Work collaboratively with RVNs, support staff and experienced veterinary surgeons to deliver high-quality patient care.
• Recognise and appropriately manage urgent and emergency cases, escalating when required.
• Participate in inpatient care, monitoring patients and assessing their progress.
• Maintain high standards of clinical governance, patient welfare, hygiene and infection control.
• Develop clinical skills and knowledge through CPD, training, mentoring and case discussions.
• Take an active role in the wider practice team, contributing to a positive and supportive working environment.
• Follow professional, ethical and regulatory standards, including RCVS requirements.
• Build confidence and clinical independence while recognising when to seek advice or refer cases.

About You:

You are a new or recent graduate with a passion for small animal practice, looking for a supportive environment in which to grow and develop your clinical skills. You will have strong verbal and written communication skills, and a focus on providing care for our clients as well as our patients. Experience in customer service roles is not required but would be an advantage.