Veterinary Patient Care Assistant

CVS Group; Leigh on Sea; Remote; GBP 14,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Minimum wage pay

Five weeks’ annual leave (pro rata)

Staff discount on veterinary bills

Staff discount on Animed Direct

Employee Assistance Programme

Recognition and appreciation

Job summary

Earls Hall Veterinary Hospital, part of CVS Vets, is seeking a Veterinary Patient Care Assistant to support Vets and Nurses in our in-patient wards and across our sites. Based mainly at Westcliff, with coverage at Ashingdon, Shoebury and South Beech, the role is 40 hours per week on a Monday–Friday shift with additional weekend/Bank Holiday cover.

You will provide nursing care, assist with restraint, and help with daily tasks to ensure the highest standard of care for our animal patients.

Qualifications

• Experience in customer-facing roles is beneficial.
• Ability to communicate clearly with colleagues and clients.
• Compassion and resilience when handling emotional situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care to veterinary patients.
• Assist vets and nurses with animal restraint.
• Walk, feed, and clean patients daily.
• Prepare emergency and operating facilities as needed.
• Perform general cleaning and maintenance of wards.
• Run internal lab samples as required.
• Answer emergency calls and support reception tasks.
• Process appointment bookings and payments when needed.

Skills

Customer service

Public interaction

Resilience

Communication

Empathy

Animal welfare

Team player

Vet env experience

Job description

Are you ready to put pets first? Join our team as our new Veterinary Patient Care Assistant to support our team of Vets and Nurses in our in-patient wards.

At Earls Hall Veterinary Hospital, we make pets a priority every day!

Role Details

Location: To be based mainly at our Hospital in Westcliff, but will also cover across our Ashingdon, Shoebury and South Beech sites too

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week

Shift Pattern: Monday – Friday, on a varied shift pattern which will also include a share in the Weekend and Bank Holiday rota. Flexibility will also be needed to cover absence and annual leave when required

Monday – Sunday between the hours of 08.00 – 19.30

Salary: Will be paid at the National Minimum Wage and will be dependent on age

Must Haves: Animal care and handling experience

Discover Our Practice

Get a glimpse of what makes us special:

Earls Hall Veterinary Centre, Ashingdon | CVS Vets

Earls Hall Veterinary Centre - Shoebury | CVS Vets

Earls Hall Veterinary Centre - South Beech | CVS Vets

Earls HallVeterinary Hospital | CVS Vets

About CVS Vets

Joining a CVS Vets-owned practice is more than just starting a job—it's the beginning of a rewarding career with one of the UK's leading veterinary groups.

Our mission is simple yet meaningful: to provide the best possible care for animals, and this dedication guides everything we do.

With a network of over 500 practices and more than 8,000 devoted professionals, you'll become part of a supportive community focused on one goal: putting pets first.

It'sin our nature – to care, to support,to learnand to progress.That's what sets us apart at CVS Vets.

About the role

The Patient Care Assistant position is crucial in any veterinary practice. You'll support our skilled RVN's and Vets in providing exceptional care to our animal patients.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing nursing care to our patients
• Assisting Vets and Nurses with animal restraint
• Walking, feeding, and cleaning patients
• Preparing emergency and operating facilities
• Performing general cleaning and maintenance
• Running internal lab samples
• Answering emergency calls
• Supporting the reception team when needed, including booking appointments, answering our telephone lines and processing payments

Who We're Looking For

• Skilled in customer service and public interaction
• Resilience and the ability to handle emotional situations with kindness and professionalism
• Strong communication skills paired with genuine empathy
• Experienced in animal welfare, including feeding, cleaning, and handling – this is essential!
• Resilient and capable of handling emotional situations
• Positive and a team player
• Preferably have experience in a veterinary environment

Our Offer to You

We understand that benefits matter. Here are just a few of the perks you'll enjoy:

• Salary aligned with the National Minimum Wage (£12.71 per hour for those aged 21 and over, £10.85 per hour for those aged between 18-20)
• Five weeks' annual leave (pro rata) per annum, plus bank holidays
• Staff discount scheme on Veterinary bills and care
• Staff discount on Animed Direct, our online dispensary, where you can benefit from discounts on pet medicines, products and food
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support
• And lots more, as part of our commitment to help you feel recognised, supported and appreciated!

CVS Vets is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their true selves, celebrating diversity and empowering each team member to perform at their best.

We're committed to building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

Please note: We can only accept and progress applications from candidates with the Right to Work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for clinical support roles due to Home Office criteria.