Veterinary Ward Assistant

IVC Evidensia; Antrim; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks leave + birthday off

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Healthcare cash plan

Cycle to Work scheme

Learning and development opportunities

World-class learning resources

Job summary

Earlswood Veterinary Hospital is seeking a Ward Assistant to join our Belfast team on a full-time or part-time basis. The role supports inpatient care, cleanliness across four kennel areas, and assists Veterinary Nurses and Surgeons in daily work.

The ideal candidate has 1 year of animal care experience, GCSEs in Maths and English, and some veterinary practice exposure. We offer development opportunities within a collaborative, patient-focused environment.

Qualifications

• 1 year of animal care experience (employed or voluntary) in kennels, rehoming centre or veterinary practice.
• Minimum of 3 GCSEs grade A–C in Maths and English; animal care qualification or working towards one.
• Some veterinary practice experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Care for inpatients alongside Registered Veterinary Nurses and support rehab/pain management teams.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness in kennel areas and assist Vets and Nurses in daily tasks.
• Work in a busy environment with multitasking across inpatient care and clinical support.

Skills

Animal care

Teamwork

Multi-tasking

Communication

Education

GCSEs A-C in Maths & English

Animal Management qualification / in progress

Job description

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, team‑orientated Ward Assistant to join our team at Earlswood Veterinary Hospital on a full time or part time basis.

Earlswood Veterinary is a leading, RCVS‑accredited, general and referral hospital in Belfast. Our diagnostics and treatments are second to none and our clinical team is highly trained and experienced to ensure our patients receive the very best treatment. Our referral work encompasses the fields of orthopaedics, ophthalmology, internal medicine, neurology, cardiology, soft tissue surgery, rehabilitation, and pain management.

• Joining a team of over 20 nurses, ward assistants working with 9 Veterinary Surgeons.
• Our facilities include three operating theatres, an x-ray, on-site 16 slice CT, visiting high field MRI, ultrasound, arthroscopy, fluoroscopy, endoscopy and a water treadmill.

How You’ll Make a Difference

This position will involve working alongside our Registered Veterinary Nurses to provide care for our inpatients and supporting the rehab / pain management team. This is a busy and varied role, and will include inpatient care, maintaining high standard of cleanliness in our 4 kennel areas and assisting Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Surgeons in their daily work.

Working Pattern

A full time role comprises 5 days a week, working 8 hour shifts between 7.30 and 19.30 + Saturday morning on rota. We would also be happy to consider part time applications up to 3 days per week + Saturday morning on rota.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

Our ideal candidate must have 1 year of animal care experience (full time equivalent) which was either employed or voluntary for example working in a kennels, rehoming centre or veterinary practice.

• A minimum of 3 GCSEs grade A - C in at least Math's and English, an Animal Management qualification or working towards a qualification and the ability to work in a busy environment whilst multi-tasking.
• Some experience in a veterinary practice would be preferred.

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Structured development opportunities, including access to development programmes and apprenticeships
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities
• Supportive, collaborative teams focused on delivering high-quality patient and client care
• A values-led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• Learning and development opportunities via the inspiring vet care Academy
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world‑class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

£0 - £0 a year

Up to £25,000 pro-rata

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.