Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

The Vet Whitehaven; England; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A local veterinary practice in the UK is seeking an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon to join their supportive team. The role offers a competitive salary ranging from £39,000 to £65,000, alongside 6.6 weeks of holiday. The practice emphasizes compassionate care and continuous professional development, providing a positive work environment with team collaboration actively encouraged.

Benefits

Salary review after 6 months

6.6 weeks holiday

CPD support to certificate level

RCVS and VDS fees paid

Potential visa sponsorship

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon.
• Experience in a clinical setting is required.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality veterinary care to small animals.
• Manage consultations and surgeries effectively.
• Collaborate with a supportive team of RVNs and SVNs.

Skills

Compassion

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Veterinary degree

Tools

Digital X-ray

Ultrasound

Dental Suite

Job description

A New Year - A New Start?

At The Vet Whitehaven, we do things differently, from our unique premises in a beautifully refurbished pub, to our practice values front and centre of the business.

We are looking for:

• A Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon
• Someone who can fit in to a caring, motivated and hard-working team

We are offering:

• Salary £39,000 – £65,000, dependent on experience, with review after 6 months
• Potential future opportunity to invest in a growing, successful and well-loved local practice
• 6.6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays

Our practice

Lynn and Sophie built the practice based on core values of Compassion, Trust, and Community. We practise care and compassion, not just towards our patients and clients but also towards our team. We want our team to be happy, to feel fulfilled in their work, and to reach their full potential. We encourage career development, whether that’s pursuing your clinical interests, learning new skills or taking on a certificate.

We are a young, growing practice with 4.5 full-time vets. We have Digital X‑ray, Ultrasound, Dental Suite with IM3 dental equipment and dental x‑ray, separate kennels and cattery. We work collaboratively and value everyone’s input. We have monthly team meetings where we get together over lunch, and everyone is encouraged to contribute their ideas and feedback.

We have an excellent, experienced nursing team of 7 RVNs, 3 SVNs, and ANAs who support the vets. Nurses consult alongside the vets and do all of the post‑operative checks, nail clips and work with the vet to do all puppy and kitten vaccinations.

What our team say about us

“I started here as a new graduate, and I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive, fun and caring team to guide me through these first months of my career. I have clinical interests that I am actively encouraged to build upon. I fell in love with the location for its easy access to the many lakes and fells of the Lake District, which I enjoy exploring in my spare time. In addition, people in West Cumbria are very friendly, and I genuinely think our client base is lovely.” Iina MRCVS

“Since starting my career at The Vet Whitehaven, I have felt nothing but supported and cared for. I truly enjoy coming to work every day. Everyone is so lovely, kind, and fun to work with. The case load is varied, and no two days are the same. I always feel supported, whether it’s during a surgery or working up a more complex medical case. I am genuinely so grateful to work in such a welcoming environment and am so glad that I started my career here.” Katie MRCVS

“We work as a whole team, from reception to vets, with a true level of respect for each and every member, you don’t often find in this industry. The management team is open, honest, and approachable, and is constantly looking for ways to improve. Without a doubt, one of the best places to work.” Amy RVN

“The Vet Whitehaven has a really positive work environment, where open and honest communication is encouraged, allowing the whole team to develop and continue to improve the standard of care.” Sarah RVN

The role

We are looking for an experienced 6th vet to join our team. Our full‑time vets work a 4‑day week with a fixed day off. There is only one late finish (6.30 pm) each week; for the other three days, you will finish at 4.30, 5.30 and 6 pm. We are very flexible with the rota, and happy to chat about hours that work with your commitments.

We provide our own out‑of‑hours service with a 1:5 on‑call rota with no additional Saturdays. Our lovely RVNs take the phones, so you will only be called in when it’s really needed. The week following your weekend on‑call, you will work a 3‑day week.

Outside of work

We enjoy getting together as a team, whether it’s enjoying hill walking or running in the Lakeland fells, meeting for a meal, drinks, or a creative afternoon.

We are just a stone’s throw from the beautiful Cumbrian coastline and the stunning Lake District National Park, so you can enjoy a wide range of activities from fell walking to wild swimming and cycling to climbing.

The full package:

• Salary £39,000 – £65,000 dependent on experience
• Salary review within 6 months
• 6.6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays
• CPD supported to certificate level
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Visa’s potentially sponsored

Check out our social media platform https://www.facebook.com/thevetwhitehaven and website to get a feel for who we are https://thevetwhitehaven.co.uk and to read our 5* reviews that we are proud of.

If you want to know more about us and our amazing team, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call for an informal chat or apply now.