Veterinary Receptionist

Animal Trust (UK); Blackburn; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Animal Trust (UK) is seeking a compassionate veterinary receptionist to join our busy practice in Blackburn. You will greet clients and pets, manage appointments and diaries, and handle payments while supporting clinical staff with patient care.

Experience in veterinary reception is preferred. The role involves 40 hours per week with 10-hour shifts between 07:45 and 19:00, including a 1:3 Saturday rota and 5.6 weeks annual leave. A supportive, team-based environment awaits.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a medical or veterinary reception.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Empathy, understanding and clear communication are essential when interacting with clients.

Responsibilities

• Welcoming clients and their pets for appointments and maintaining a compassionate and professional attitude.
• Answering telephone calls/queries from clients.
• Handling medication prepared by the veterinary surgeon and handing to clients.
• Maintaining reception, waiting area and consultation rooms to a high standard of cleanliness.
• Dealing with stressed or upset clients and connecting them to the appropriate teams.
• Taking payments, registering new clients and addressing client concerns.
• Organising and restocking the practice as required.
• Complying with health and safety procedures and data protection regulations.

Skills

Veterinary reception experience

Customer service

Organisation

Empathy

Tools

Diary management software

Job description

Are you an enthusiastic advocate for animals, driven by the desire to contribute to our mission of ensuring every pet has access to affordable veterinary care? Blackburn have the role for you!

At Animal Trust, you'll find a supportive and inclusive culture that values each individual's contribution. We operate without hierarchy, fostering an environment where every team member contributes to our shared commitment to clinical excellence.

Why You Matter

Our Receptionists are an important link between the clinical and non-clinical needs of our surgery’s operation. Supported by the management team onsite, you will help shape our primary aim of providing access for sick pets to access our services.

Assisting our clients with appointments, diary management and finance including debt and insurance will be the main duties of this role. Your supportive collaboration with the clinical teams will be paramount to ensure they have everything they need to provide compassionate care to those relying on our services.

Areas of Responsibility

• Welcoming clients and their pets for appointments and maintaining a compassionate and professional attitude at all times
• Answering telephone calls/queries from clients
• Handling medication prepared by the veterinary surgeon and handing to clients
• Working within a team (and at times alone) to ensure the surgery’s reception, waiting area and consultation rooms are maintained to a high standard of clinical cleanliness
• Dealing with stressed or upset clients and connecting them to the appropriate teams where required
• Taking payments, registering new clients and addressing client concerns
• Organisation and restocking of the practice where required
• Complying with all health and safety procedures
• Complying with data protection legislation to ensure client and patient confidentiality is maintained at all times

Are You Our Ideal Candidate?

Experience of working on a medical or veterinary reception is required for this role. Strong organisational skills and ability to work under pressure. We are especially looking for people who have worked with clients in stressful situations. Taking your pet to the vet when they are sick is very difficult, and sometimes our clients have to say goodbye to a pet they consider to be a family member. Empathy, understanding and communicating is therefore especially important and we will probably ask you at your interview about times when you have had to face similar situations.

Job Particulars

• Contracted hours: 40 hours per week
• Rota pattern: 10 hour shifts working between the hours of 07:45-19:00hrs
• Weekend: 1:3 Saturday days
• Annual Leave: 5.6 weeks including bank holidays

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, teamwork, and playing a vital role in supporting both clients and clinical staff in a busy, compassionate hospital environment.