Weekend Patient Care Assistant

Linnaeus; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 9,100 - 12,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks holiday + bank holidays

Career progression opportunities

Staff discount schemes

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Enhanced sickness pay

E-car salary sacrifice

Wellness program

Job summary

Linnaeus, via DWR, is seeking a Weekend Patient Care Assistant to join our busy veterinary hospital. The role covers care from admission to discharge for dogs and cats, including basic husbandry and assisting with procedures.

You will work 16 hours per week, Saturdays and Sundays, with shifting times and occasional bank holidays. Training is provided; progression opportunities exist within the Linnaeus network.

Qualifications

• PCA experience is not necessary; full training will be provided.
• Must be over 18 years old and able to cope with a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Care for canine and feline patients from admission to discharge.
• Support patients during procedures and administer oral medications.
• Maintain ward cleanliness and stock levels following infection control protocols.
• Rotate across wards including Surgery, Medicine, Neurology, and Critical Care.

Skills

Organised

Stamina

Team player

Animal care basics

Job description

Job Title: Weekend Patient Care Assistant (PCA)

Type: P** ermanent** (16hrs per week)

Salary: £10,680.40 per annum

Job Location: Newmarket/Cambridge

Shift Pattern: 16 hours per week, working 8-hour shifts every Saturday & Sunday; either 6.30am–2.30pm or 10.30am-6.30pm, generally alternating each weekend. Participation in the bank holiday rota is also required.

Splitting the role would be considered on application, e.g. just a Saturday or Sunday or working both days every other weekend.

Develop your career with DWR and be part of something special!

We are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Weekend Patient Care Assistant to join our vibrant PCA Team working within a ward-based setting at our busy, purpose-built specialist veterinary hospital.

As a Weekend PCA, you would be involved in all aspects of the care of our canine and feline patients, from their admission through to discharge. This is a varied, hands‑on role including everything from basic animal husbandry through to supporting patients during specialist veterinary procedures and administering oral medications. Alongside patient care, you would also be responsible for ensuring that the cleanliness and stock levels within the wards are maintained, following infection control protocols to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for the patients.

Within wards, as a Weekend PCA, you will rotate across the different wards, caring for our canine and feline patients across all disciplines, including Surgery, Medicine, Neurology, Critical Care, Oncology, Cardiology, Dermatology and Dentistry, allowing you to develop a broad range of experience and knowledge of working in a veterinary referral hospital.

What we’re looking for

To be successful in this role, you need to be highly organised, have the physical, mental and emotional stamina required to work with sick animals, and have the ability to cope with a fast‑paced working environment. You should be a highly motivated team player and have the passion and drive for delivering outstanding care for clients and their beloved pets.

If you have a desire to build a career working with and caring for animals, with in‑house training, we are the ideal working environment to help you flourish. Although not a requirement of the role, many of our PCAs eventually progress onto further education programmes as Student Veterinary Nurses or take their PCA pathway into a different role within DWR.

PCA experience is not necessary as full training will be provided, although it would be beneficial to have a basic knowledge of animal care and handling.

Due to H&S considerations, applicants must be over 18 years old. We offer an inspiring and friendly working environment together with career development opportunities.

What we offer

• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and Birthday Leave
• Career progression opportunities
• Staff discount schemes
• Life Assurance
• Group Pension scheme
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Employer contribution pension scheme

Wellness program including:

• Employee assistance program
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Free annual Flu jab
• Cycle to work scheme
• Recruitment referral reward scheme.

DWR is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family‑owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long‑term as opposed to being focused solely on short‑term profits.

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets.

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse. We care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individuals, but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.

All applications with the relevant skills and qualifications will be carefully considered. If you need any support in completing your application or simply want to find out more about DWR, Linnaeus or the role, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].

#LI-OH1 #LI-Onsite

Salary Value:£10,680.40 per annum;