Patient Care Assistant

CVS Group; Taplow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A veterinary practice in the UK is seeking a Patient Care Assistant (PCA) to support qualified vets and nurses. The role entails animal handling, assisting in treatments, and providing customer care. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, experience in animal welfare, and the ability to work under emotional pressure. The position offers generous leave and health benefits, with night hours required from Friday to Sunday.

Benefits

Generous annual leave of 5 weeks plus Bank Holidays

Buy/sell additional leave

Staff discount on veterinary bills

Private healthcare

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Strong empathy and communication skills are essential.
• Experience with animals, including feeding and cleaning, is required.
• Ability to handle distressing situations effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support RVNs and Vets in providing care to patients.
• Handle and restrain animals for treatment.
• Provide reception cover and greet clients.

Skills

Excellent communicator with strong empathy

Excellent customer service skills

Experience in animal welfare

Resilient

Positive attitude and excellent teamwork skills

Experience in veterinary environment

Job description

The PCA role is one of the foundations of an outstanding veterinary practice, as a PCA you would be involved in supporting our team of qualified RVNs and Vets to provide outstanding care to our patients, working alongside a lovely team of people. This role will involve animal handling, assisting vets and nurses in restraining animals for treatment, cleaning, walking and feeding patients, general cleaning and maintenance duties, answering phone calls, reception cover, greeting clients and providing the highest standards of animal and customer care.

Qualities and Experience

• An excellent communicator with strong empathy
• Excellent customer service skills and experience in dealing with members of the public
• Experience in animal welfare, including feeding, cleaning, medicating and handling and a high level of understanding of how to meet the welfare needs of animals
• Resilient with the ability to cope with potentially distressing and emotional situations
• A positive attitude and excellent teamwork skills
• Experience in looking after animals in a veterinary environment would be desirable

The hours for this role are Friday, Saturday and Sunday 7pm-8am. Start date 3rd January 2026 for 1 year fixed term maternity cover contract. We would be happy to hear from candidates who would like to do less hours/job share. Salary will be in line with the National Minimum Wage.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 5 weeks per year plus Bank Holidays
• Buy/sell up to an additional 4 weeks annual leave!
• Staff discount scheme on Veterinary bills and products
• A range of health benefits including private healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to over 400 Mental Health First-Aiders
• and more!

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