Veterinary Patient Care Assistant

CVS Vets; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks' annual leave (pro rata)

Staff discount on veterinary bills and

Care

Staff discount on Animed Direct

Employee Assistance Programme

Other employee recognition perks

Job summary

Dovecote Veterinary Referrals is seeking a Veterinary Patient Care Assistant to join the team at our Castle Donington practice in Derbyshire. This permanent, full-time role supports RVNs and Vets in delivering high-quality care for animal patients.

Typical duties include nursing, animal handling, preparing facilities, lab work, and assisting with reception tasks as needed. A varied 40-hour week with a Monday–Friday pattern and weekend rota.

Qualifications

• Experience in animal welfare including feeding, cleaning and handling.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care to patients.
• Assist Vets and Nurses with animal restraint.
• Walk, feed and clean patients.
• Prepare emergency and operating facilities.
• Perform general cleaning and maintenance.
• Run internal lab samples.
• Answer emergency calls.
• Support reception with bookings and payments.

Skills

Animal welfare

Communication skills

Customer service

Team player

Resilience

Vet environment experience

Job description

Are you ready to put pets first? Join our team as our new Veterinary Patient Care Assistant.

At Dovecote Veterinary Referrals, we make pets a priority every day!

Role Details:

Location: 5 Delven Lane, Castle Donington, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE74 2LJ

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week

Shift Pattern: Monday – Friday on a varied shift pattern, with a share in the Weekend rota

Get a glimpse of what makes us special: Veterinary Referral Hospital | Dovecote Veterinary Referrals

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's in our nature – to care, to support, to learn and 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 and processing payments

Who We're Looking For:

• Experienced in animal welfare, including feeding, cleaning, and handling – this is essential!
• Resilience and the ability to handle emotional situations with kindness and professionalism
• Strong communication skills paired with genuine empathy
• Skilled in customer service and public interaction
• 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
• 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.