Receptionist

Pdsa; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

3 paid special days off (Volunteering,

Wellbeing Day

Generous pension options

Life assurance

Employee assistance programme

Staff discounts

Enhanced parental leave

Pet insurance discount

Job summary

PDSA Bow is seeking a friendly Receptionist to be the first point of contact for clients and their pets. You’ll manage arrivals, handle phone enquiries, and help with financial contributions while keeping accurate records in a busy veterinary hospital setting.

This part-time role involves working a 15-hour week on a Thursday full day and 5 hours on Monday, with occasional extra hours to meet business needs.

Qualifications

• Previous office or reception experience, including word processing and using computerised record systems.

Responsibilities

• Process clients attending the hospital and handle telephone enquiries.
• Encourage appropriate financial contributions from clients and maintain accurate paperwork and records.
• Work in a fast-paced environment, stay calm under pressure and be flexible with the team rota.
• Deliver a welcoming, efficient service to our clients and their pets.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Telephone manner

Calm under pressure

Organisation

Tools

Word processing

Computerised records

Job description

Join us to help keep even more people and pets together when times are tough. For over a century, PDSA have provided vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship.

We’re now on a journey to expand our reach to support even more people and their beloved pets. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need passionate and driven individuals who are ready to embrace change and help shape a future-focused PDSA. Together, we'll build a stronger organisation to ensure our services help those who need us most for the next hundred years.

If you're ready to make a real difference and be part of a team that's creating positive change, we want you to join us. Let's build a brighter future for pets and their owners, together.

About you

We’re looking for a Receptionist to join our friendly team at PDSA Bow. You’ll be the first point of contact for pets and owners who really need our help, so delivering an excellent standard of customer service will be at the heart of what you do. You’ll communicate sympathetically and courteously, helping clients feel listened to and supported from the moment they walk through the door or pick up the phone.

Working on a busy reception, you’ll process clients attending the hospital, handle telephone enquiries, encourage appropriate financial contributions from clients and maintain accurate PDSA paperwork and records. You’ll be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, stay calm under pressure and be flexible in responding to changing demands. You’ll also work a varied shift pattern, which may include weekdays, weekends and bank holidays as part of the team rota.

Pet hospitals are busy places, so you’ll need to be organised, reliable and able to prioritise your workload. You’ll have good communication skills, an excellent telephone manner and a caring, professional approach. Previous office or reception experience, including word processing and using computerised record systems, is an advantage, but not essential. Most importantly, you’ll be keen to learn, happy to work as part of a supportive team and passionate about helping us provide a welcoming, efficient service to our clients and their pets.

In this role, you will work 15 hours per week, consisting of a full day on Thursday and 5 hours on Monday. There may occasionally be a requirement to provide support outside of these hours to meet business needs.

Rewards, support and benefits

We’re really passionate about being a great place to work, somewhere people feel proud of what they do, connected to a meaningful purpose, and able to make a genuine difference every day. Our teams are collaborative and supportive, and we encourage everyone to bring their ideas, individuality and passion for pets to work with them.

As well as a rewarding role and a positive, people-focused culture, we also offer a wide range of benefits, including:

Flexible working options to support your work–life balance and individual circumstances.

Three paid special days off: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day annually.

Generous pension options, with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%.

Life assurance providing four times your annual salary for added peace of mind.

AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 wellbeing support

Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts available through our staff Fetch benefits platform.

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you and your family.

10% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services.

PDSA is committed to embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion within our teams that reflect the communities we serve. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and opportunities for flexible working arrangements to support team members from different backgrounds.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss via email or telephone reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the recruitment process.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous. All appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.