Patient Care Assistant

About the Role

This is a full-time permanent position working 40 hours per week across a varied schedule (8am–7pm or 9:30am–8:30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 1 in 4 weekends). You’ll be joining Abbey House Veterinary Hospital, a busy small animal practice in Morley, where you’ll gain hands-on experience across multiple areas of veterinary care.

As a Patient Care Assistant, you’ll work alongside Veterinary Surgeons, Registered Veterinary Nurses, and the wider team to keep the practice running smoothly. This role offers genuine scope to develop practical skills in theatre preparation, patient handling, and practice operations – making it an excellent stepping stone for anyone passionate about working with animals and considering a career in veterinary medicine or nursing.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare operating theatres for surgeries and maintain the quality and sterilisation of surgical instruments
• Handle and restrain patients with compassion, ensuring all interactions are stress-free and patient-friendly
• Clean, disinfect, and prepare patient accommodation; maintain infection control standards across the hospital, including deep cleaning and sterilisation duties
• Assist with patient feeding, exercising, and general welfare
• Perform in-house laboratory tests and prepare biological samples for analysis
• Support reception and client care activities: answering telephones, handling enquiries, booking appointments, and processing payments
• Work collaboratively with Veterinary Surgeons, Nurses, and support staff wherever assistance is needed
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients, demonstrating reliability, adaptability, and empathy

Requirements

• Experience in veterinary, medical, or care sectors (desirable)
• Genuine passion for animal welfare and patient care
• Ability to follow instructions from multiple team members including management, vets, and nurses
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Reliability and adaptability in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to accept flexible working including weekend duties

Benefits

• Leave: 5 weeks’ holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• Learning: Extensive internal CPD and career progression opportunities
• Financial: Employer contribution pension scheme, life assurance, enhanced sickness pay, and recruitment referral reward scheme
• Lifestyle: Staff discount schemes, e-car salary sacrifice scheme, cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing: Comprehensive wellness programme including employee assistance programme, eyecare voucher scheme, free annual flu jab, and enhanced equal family leave

About the Practice

Abbey House Veterinary Hospital is located in Morley, Leeds, and forms part of Linnaeus, owned by Mars Veterinary Health – the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. The practice is committed to delivering quality small animal care with a supportive, inclusive culture where team members are empowered to develop their skills and advance their careers.

Being part of Linnaeus means access to a network of over 6,000 associates, specialist support, comprehensive wellbeing resources, and genuine long-term career development opportunities. The practice prioritises clinical excellence and a culture where every team member can be authentic and perform at their best.