Veterinary Care Assistant - OOH

British Veterinary Association; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading veterinary hospital located just outside High Wycombe is seeking a Veterinary Care Assistant to join their dynamic team. The role entails various responsibilities including patient care, laboratory tasks, and theatre support. With a structured work pattern promoting work-life balance and a range of employee benefits, this position is ideal for someone looking to advance their career in veterinary medicine.

Benefits

6.6 weeks annual leave (FTE)

Additional annual leave for your birthday

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Cycle to work scheme

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Learning and development opportunities

Discounted staff pet care

Qualifications

• Proactive, enthusiastic, and approachable individual.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Previous experience in an animal care assistant role is essential.

Responsibilities

• Handle patient restraint and support theatre operations.
• Maintain kennels and conduct laboratory tasks.
• Provide general patient care and oversee cleaning procedures.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Multi-tasking

Adaptability

Education

Experience as an animal care assistant

Job description

Your Future in Veterinary

The Veterinary Care Assistant role is dynamic and involves a wide range of responsibilities. You will handle patient restraint, maintain kennels, conduct laboratory tasks, and manage the cleaning and sterilisation of equipment and instruments. Additionally, you will support theatre operations, assist with procedures, oversee dispensing duties, and provide aid during hydrotherapy sessions.

Key responsibilities include maintaining and caring for machinery and equipment, processing lab samples, ensuring thorough theatre cleaning and closing procedures, and sterilising surgical instruments. You'll also manage patient handling and provide general patient care, while keeping clinical areas clean to uphold high standards of care.

A hospital designed for excellence

Located just outside High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Hamilton Specialist Referrals (HSR) is a purpose-built, 24-hour veterinary hospital equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to deliver advanced treatments for cats and dogs, along with exceptional rehabilitation and physiotherapy services.

Despite being a large team, we are dedicated to fostering a friendly and supportive culture that emphasizes growth, clinical excellence, and gold-standard patient care.

What Skills You'll Need

We are seeking a proactive, enthusiastic, and approachable individual who thrives as part of a team but can also work independently with initiative and self-motivation. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to multi-task and adapt, are essential. Previous experience in an animal care assistant role is required, as our Veterinary Care Assistants are vital in supporting our specialists, interns, and nurses in patient care at our busy hospital.

Working Pattern

This role offers a structured and sustainable 4 nights on, 8 nights off rotating shift pattern, allowing for a strong work-life balance.

You will work 13-hour shifts, running from 6:30 pm to 7:30 am.

In addition to the core schedule, there is a requirement to work approximately 12 additional shifts per year, which can be scheduled either monthly or flexibly, depending on your availability and team needs.

Our people are at the heart of what we do

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises, and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive salary, you will benefit from:

• 6.6 weeks annual leave (FTE)
• Additional annual leave for your birthday, added to your holiday allowance
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
• Non-accidental injury support
• Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Pawsome Benefits - reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
• Pension scheme
• Discounted staff pet care