Veterinary Care Assistant (OOH)

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Glasgow is seeking a Veterinary Care Assistant to join their Small Animal Hospital. This role focuses on providing essential nursing care to various animal patients, ensuring their comfort and safety while assisting with veterinary procedures. Candidates should have strong animal handling skills and relevant experience in a veterinary environment, making a real impact in animal welfare.

Benefits

41 days of leave for full-time staff

Generous pension scheme

Free sport membership for new staff

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Knowledge of animal husbandry (cats, dogs, and exotics).
• Knowledge of veterinary terminology.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high standards of nursing care for patients.
• Perform basic patient monitoring and report changes.
• Assist with diagnostic & nursing procedures.

Skills

Animal handling

Cleaning

Observation

Communication

Initiative

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Education

Standard Grade level

Job description

Join to apply for the Veterinary Care Assistant (OOH) role at University of Glasgow

22 hours ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Join to apply for the Veterinary Care Assistant (OOH) role at University of Glasgow

Job details

Posted 17 June 2025 Salary Grade 3 £23,028 - £23,881 per annum End date 01 July 2025 LocationGlasgow Job Type Operational Reference175853 Expiry 01 July 2025 at 23:45

Job Description

Job Purpose

As a member of the nursing team ensure the smooth running of the Small Animal Hospital and provide a high standard of nursing care to all patients.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Ensure all patients are appropriately identified at admission and ensure all items left with the patient are labelled and returned to the clients on discharge.

• Provision of care to hospitalised patients in conjunction with veterinary nurses to include feeding, walking, grooming and additional needs as required.
• Restrain a variety of species including cats, dogs and exotics, with varied temperaments, including aggressive patients. Understand how to safely handle patients and use restraint aids appropriately.
• Perform basic patient monitoring including demeanour, temperature, pulse, respiration rate, capillary refill time and mucous membrane colour. Recognise abnormalities and know when to report changes to the veterinary nurse/surgeon.
• Select an appropriate volume of a pre-determined diet to meet the patients’ nutritional demands. Ensure patients eat and if not, provide encouragement by tempting with different diets and hand-feeding. Accurately measure the amount of food eaten and record on patient records.
• Perform routine cleaning of kennels, runs, wards, treatment rooms, consulting rooms, food preparation and storerooms as required. Perform disinfection of high-risk areas including those that house immunosuppressed patients and patients with infectious/zoonotic diseases. Understand and adhere to infectious control procedures.
• Assist staff while they perform a variety of diagnostic & nursing procedures by setting up equipment and restraining patients e.g. catheter placement, blood sampling, dressing changes and ultrasound examinations.
• Collect faecal and urine samples. Deliver samples to laboratory when required.
• Adhere to hospital protocols to ensure high levels of hygiene are maintained in all areas of responsibility. Ensure health & safety guidelines are followed at all times.
• Use a range of equipment including in-house laboratory analysers and accurately report results to more senior staff in charge of case.
• Perform daily quality control of maintenance of in-house laboratory equipment. Inform senior staff of any problems with equipment. Ensure the laboratory is kept clean and appropriately stocked.
• Monitor stock levels within area of responsibility. Rotate stock to ensure minimal wastage.
• Assist with laundry duties, both internal & external.
• Theatre duties to include cleaning of theatres, cleaning & packing surgical instruments and general stocking. Changing surgical gas cylinders when required. Assisting with preparation of patients for surgery and transport of patients to and from theatre.
• To set up and disinfect equipment for a range of common procedures performed within treatment area including endoscopy.
• Understand veterinary terminology and ensure patient hospital records are updated following any procedure/check.
• Other tasks within level of responsibility as deemed suitable by line manager.
  
  

Knowledge/Qualifications

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential:

A1 Knowledge of animal husbandry (cats, dogs and exotics).

A2 Educated to Standard Grade level or equivalent.

A3 Knowledge of veterinary terminology

Desirable:

B1 Veterinary Care Assistant (City & Guilds Level 2)

B2 Veterinary Terminology (SCQF Level 3)

Skills

Essential:

C1 Excellent animal handling skills especially dogs and cats.

C2 Evidenced ability to clean to a high standard.

C3 Good observation & communication skills.

C4 Evidenced ability to use initiative.

C5 Evidenced ability to work independently or as part of a team.

C6 Basic IT skills.

C7 Good organisational skills and an ability to prioritise work

Experience

Essential:

E1 Substantial & relevant work experience in a kennel, cattery or veterinary environment

Desirable:

F1 Experience of working in a veterinary practice.

F2 Experience of handling reptiles and exotics.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 3, £23,028 - £23,881 per annum + 33% shift allowance for Out of Hours work.

This post is full time (Monday to Sunday, 35 hours working week, compressed to week on/week off shift pattern) and open ended.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date: 23.45 on Tuesday 1st July 2025

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Entry level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Other

• Industries

  Higher Education

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at University of Glasgow by 2x

Get notified about new Care Assistant jobs in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Health Care Support Worker - Outpatient Department

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 days ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 4 weeks ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 months ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Renfrew, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 months ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Cambuslang, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Milngavie, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 months ago

East Kilbride, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 year ago

South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 day ago

East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 year ago

Hamilton, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 year ago

Hamilton, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 year ago

Wishaw, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Wishaw, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Health Care Support Worker - Medical Assessment Unit

Wishaw, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 months ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 year ago

Cambuslang, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Healthcare Assistant - Outpatients Department (Bank)

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 22 hours ago

Wishaw, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Wishaw, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Uddingston, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Wishaw, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 months ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 month ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 week ago

East Kilbride, Scotland, United Kingdom 1 day ago

Bonnybridge, Scotland, United Kingdom 3 days ago

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.