Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Armstrong Vets; Houghton-le-Spring; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks paid holiday including bankH

£1,750 CPD allowance per annum

Health Cash Plan

VDS cover

Enhanced maternity, paternity etc.

Discounted veterinary fees for pets

Cycle to Work scheme

Ongoing CPD and training support

Company sick pay

Annual pay reviews

Employee wellbeing focus

Career progression and certificate opp

Job summary

Westway Vets in the Northeast of England is seeking an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon for our Houghton clinic. The role offers a mix of full-time and flexible rota options, with a supportive, collaborative team focused on exceptional patient care.

Join an established, VetsPartners-affiliated practice, with modern facilities and opportunities for professional development and autonomy in case management.

Qualifications

• Qualified veterinary surgeon with small animal experience.
• Confident in delivering high-quality first opinion care.
• Strong client and colleague relationships.
• Excellent communication and teamwork.
• Commitment to maintaining high clinical standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, evidence-based first opinion care.
• Collaborate with nursing and support staff to deliver patient care.
• Maintain high clinical standards and ongoing professional development.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Client relationships

Clinical standards

Evidence-based care

Job description

Westway Vetsare looking for an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon to become part of our progressive Small Animal Practice in the Northeast of England.

Whether you're looking for a full-time role or are seeking a more flexible rota, we'd love to hear from vets who are passionate about delivering exceptional patient care and enjoy working within a supportive, collaborative environment.

The Role

This position is based at our Houghton clinic.Our newly refurbished Houghton site was opened in 2022 and is a modern, well-equipped clinic with separate dog and cat operating spaces. The clinic offers excellent facilities, an experienced nursing and support team and a varied small animal caseload. The clinic has a loyal client base with excellent case continuity.

What we’re offering:

• Full-time - 4 days per week and 1 in 4 Saturdays.Participation in our West Road Hospital OOH rota alongside our Senior Vet/ECC team (Bank Holidays and Sundays – approximately 1 Bank Holiday per year and 2-3 Sundays per year)
• Part time hours considered
• Salary of up to £60,000 per annum depending on experience

You’ll be joining an experienced and welcoming team where collaboration and clinical excellence are highly valued. We encourage our vets to develop their interests and enjoy the autonomy to work up cases to a high standard, with the support of colleagues whenever needed. We encourage further education and learning.

We’re looking for a vet who:

• Is confident in delivering high-quality, evidence-based first opinion care
• Enjoys building strong relationships with clients and colleagues
• Has excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Is committed to maintaining high clinical standards
• Shares our passion for outstanding patient care

About Us

Westway Vets is an RCVS-accredited practice with 14 thriving sites across the Northeast, and we’ve been proudly caring for pets in the region since 1975.

Our branches across Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland are supported by our 24/7 central Newcastle Tier 3 RCVS Hospital, allowing us to provide consistently high clinical standards and excellent continuity of care. We have a team of dedicated night vets meaning we can provide on‑site 24/7 care for our patients as well as providing OOH care for other local VetPartners practices.

We’re passionate about investing in our people. Career development is actively encouraged, with funded CPD and certificate opportunities available. Many of our vets and nurses hold advanced qualifications, while the majority of our customer care team are BVRA accredited, demonstrating our commitment to professional excellence throughout the practice.

Why Houghton‑le‑Spring?

Houghton‑le‑Spring combines the benefits of a welcoming community with excellent connectivity. Situated just a few miles from both Durham and Sunderland, it offers great transport links, local amenities, beautiful countryside and easy access to the stunning Northeast coastline.

It’s a fantastic place to build your career whilst enjoying a great quality of life.

As proud members of the VetPartners family, we offer a fantastic benefits package including (pro rata):

• 6.6 weeks paid holiday including bank holidays
• £1,750 CPD allowance per annum
• Health Cash Plan covering a range of health and wellbeing treatments
• VDS cover
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave and surrogacy pay
• Discounted veterinary fees for pets that live with you
• Retail, travel and entertainment discounts and cashback schemes
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Ongoing CPD and training support
• Company sick pay
• Annual pay reviews
• A strong focus on employee wellbeing
• Career progression and certificate opportunities

Join an Employer of the Year

As part of VetPartners, you’ll be joining a group recognised for its outstanding culture, support and commitment to its teams.

If you’re looking for a role where you’ll feel valued, supported and encouraged to grow, we’d love to hear from you.