Patient Care Assistant

Linnaeus; Essex; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + BD

CPD funded

Staff discount schemes

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellness program

Cycle to work

Job summary

Forest Veterinary Centre in Epping, Essex, part of Linnaeus, seeks a Patient Care Assistant to support veterinary surgeons, nurses, and the wider clinical team across shifts, including evenings and weekends.

You will help with inpatient care, imaging preparation, sample processing, cleaning and welfare, and contribute to a high standard of patient care across branches when required.

Full-time 40 hours per week with flexibility across branches; driving licence preferred but not essential.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a veterinary or animal care setting (e.g. kennel work, PCA, etc.) preferred.
• Comfortable handling animals safely; calm and empathetic manner.
• Reliable, adaptable, strong team player.
• Good communication skills with both clients and colleagues.
• Willingness to work under supervision and accept direction.
• Flexibility in hours (including evenings, weekends).
• Driving licence preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist with safe handling and restraint of patients, minimising stress.
• Maintain patient accommodation: wards and isolation units; cleaning, disinfection, enrichment.
• In-patient care: feeding, exercising, grooming, monitoring hospitalized animals.
• Assist with laboratory diagnostics: sample prep, processing, dispatch.
• Assist with diagnostic imaging: preparation, positioning of patients.
• Sterilisation, cleaning and maintenance of surgical and treatment equipment.
• Support in theatre: preparation, surgical assistance, recovery care.
• Assist with pharmacy tasks: stock management, unpacking, temperature monitoring.
• Reception/client care: calls, booking, enquiries.
• Adhere to SOPs: PPE, waste disposal, hygiene and safety.
• Participation in training, meetings, continuous improvement.

Skills

Vet care experience

Animal handling

Team player

Good communication

Willingness to be supervised

Flexible hours

Job description

If you are a current Linnaeus Associate, you will need to apply internally. In order to do this, please contact our Talent Acquisition team (details can be found via The Link) and someone will be in touch to discuss and progress your application. Job Title: Patient Care Assistant. Location: Forest Veterinary Centre, Hemnall Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4LQ. Contract: Permanent, Full Time (40 hours per week). Reporting to: Lead Nurse.

About Forest Veterinary Centre – Epping Hospital

Forest Veterinary Centre in Epping is part of the Linnaeus group, serving the Essex area from its main hospital located on Hemnall Street. The hospital provides first-opinion and referral services, with advanced diagnostic capability, inpatient and outpatient care, and 24-hour nursing. The facilities include imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound, x-ray), large kennel wards, isolation units, and complex surgical suites.

Role Purpose

To support the veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses, and wider clinical team in delivering excellent standards of patient care at Epping Hospital. The Patient Care Assistant will work flexibly across shifts that include evenings, weekends, and may be asked to assist across branches when required.

Hours & Flexibility

Full time, 40 hours per week. Evenings and weekends required. Flexible working across branches if needed.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Assist with safe handling and restraint of patients, aiming to minimise stress.
• Maintain patient accommodation: wards, isolation units; including cleaning, disinfection, enrichment.
• In-patient care: feeding, exercising, grooming, monitoring of hospitalized animals.
• Assist with laboratory diagnostic work: sample prep, processing, dispatch.
• Assist with diagnostic imaging: preparation, positioning of patients.
• Sterilisation, cleaning and maintenance of surgical and treatment equipment.
• Support in theatre: preparation, surgical assistance under direction, recovery care.
• Assist with pharmacy tasks: stock management, unpacking, temperature monitoring.
• Assist with reception/client care when needed: telephone calls, appointment booking, client enquiries.
• Adhere to standard operating protocols: PPE, waste disposal, hygiene and safety.
• Participation in training, team meetings, continuous improvement of practice.

Person Specification / Experience Required

• Prior experience in a veterinary or animal care setting (e.g. kennel work, PCA, etc.) preferred.
• Comfortable handling animals safely; calm and empathetic manner.
• Reliable, adaptable, strong team player.
• Good communication skills with both clients and colleagues.
• Willingness to work under supervision and accept direction.
• Flexibility in hours (including evenings, weekends).
• Driving licence preferred but not essential.

Benefits

• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave RCVS, BVNA & VDS fees paid External CPD funded Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program Career progression opportunities Staff discount schemes Life Assurance Enhanced sickness pay Enhanced equal family leave E-car salary sacrifice scheme Employer contribution pension scheme Wellness program including:Employee assistance programEyecare voucher schemeFree annual Flu jabCycle to work scheme Recruitment referral reward scheme

About the Company

Forest Veterinary Centre is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets.

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.

All applications with the relevant skills and qualifications will be carefully considered.