Veterinary Care Assistant

Linnaeus Veterinary Limited; Livingston; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterinary Specialists Scotland in Livingston is seeking an experienced Patient Care Assistant / Veterinary Care Assistant to support our busy veterinary hospital. You will work closely with surgeons, nurses, and client care teams to help deliver exceptional patient care and client experiences.

This permanent, full-time role requires weekend work, strong animal handling skills, and a compassionate, professional approach.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a veterinary care or animal care role.
• Strong background in animal handling.
• A genuine passion for delivering excellent patient care.
• A caring, empathetic, and professional approach.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Reliable, adaptable, and positive in a busy clinical environment.
• Willingness to work weekends and bank holidays.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality patient care within the remit of the PCA role and under appropriate clinical delegation.
• Support the nursing and veterinary teams with the day-to-day care of hospitalised patients.
• Maintain accurate clinical records, including hospitalisation forms and patient notes.
• Ensure patient and clinical areas are maintained to a high standard, following strict infection control and health and safety protocols.
• Handle animals confidently, safely, and compassionately.
• Work collaboratively with clinical and client care teams to provide an efficient, professional, and caring service.
• Provide a courteous, empathetic, and helpful experience for clients at all times.
• Support quality improvement initiatives, audits, and incident reporting processes.
• Contribute to stock management, correct charging of services and consumables, and reducing unnecessary waste.
• Take part in training and continued professional development opportunities.

Skills

Veterinary care experience

Animal handling

Communication skills

Teamwork

Reliability & adaptability

High clinical standards

Weekend availability

Job description

Location: Veterinary Specialists Scotland (VSS), Livingston, just outside Edinburgh Job Type: Permanent, full-time Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility required to work weekends and bank holidays Shift pattern: Monday to Friday alternating between - Earlies: 7.30am - 4pm and Lates: 12pm - 8.30pm. Plus 1:4 weekends

Join our team at Veterinary Specialists Scotland Veterinary Specialists Scotland (VSS), part of the Linnaeus group, is looking for experienced and compassionate Veterinary Care Assistants to join our growing team in our state-of-the-art veterinary hospital in Livingston.

VSS is a multi-disciplinary referral centre that opened in October 2020 and has been purpose built to deliver exceptional veterinary care in a modern, supportive, and welcoming environment. As part of Linnaeus, we are proud to be part of a forward-thinking partnership of leading primary care and referral practices across the UK and Ireland, united by a passion to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

At VSS, our core values are centred around excellence in patient care, client care, colleague support, and service to referring practices.

We are seeking dedicated Veterinary Care Assistants who share our commitment to teamwork, quality, and continuous improvement.

About the role

The role of the Patient Care Assistant / Veterinary Care Assistant is vital in delivering outstanding patient care and an exceptional client experience. Working closely with our veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses, and wider clinical and client care teams, you will support the day-to-day care of patients under the direction of a Vet or Registered Veterinary Nurse. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with previous veterinary care experience and strong animal handling skills who thrives in a busy hospital environment and is passionate about making a difference to the lives of pets and their owners.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality patient care within the remit of the PCA role and under appropriate clinical delegation
• Support the nursing and veterinary teams with the day-to-day care of hospitalised patients
• Maintain accurate clinical records, including hospitalisation forms and patient notes
• Ensure patient and clinical areas are maintained to a high standard, following strict infection control and health and safety protocols
• Handle animals confidently, safely, and compassionately
• Work collaboratively with clinical and client care teams to provide an efficient, professional, and caring service
• Provide a courteous, empathetic, and helpful experience for clients at all times
• Support quality improvement initiatives, audits, and incident reporting processes
• Contribute to stock management, correct charging of services and consumables, and reducing unnecessary waste
• Take part in training and continued professional development opportunities

What we’re looking for

• Previous experience in a veterinary care or animal care role
• A strong background in animal handling
• A genuine passion for delivering excellent patient care
• A caring, empathetic, and professional approach
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• The ability to work reliably, adaptably, and positively in a busy clinical environment
• A commitment to maintaining high clinical standards and supporting continuous improvement
• A willingness to work flexibly, including weekends and bank holidays

Why join VSS and Linnaeus?

By joining VSS, you will become part of a talented, collaborative team in a fast-growing referral hospital where patient care and colleague wellbeing are genuinely valued. As part of Linnaeus, you will also benefit from being part of a wider network of veterinary professionals who are passionate about clinical excellence, learning, and innovation. Our culture is built around the Linnaeus Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, Freedom. These principles shape how we work, support one another, and make decisions every day.

Salary Value: £26,701 per annum; OUTSTANDING QUALITY CARE