Patient Care Assistant

About the Role

Join Avonvale Veterinary Centres’ Stratford practice as a Patient Care Assistant on a fixed-term, part-time basis. You’ll be embedded in a 7-practice group serving Warwickshire, working across all areas of the clinic with a team of RCVS-qualified vets and nurses who specialise in small animal care. This is a busy, hands-on role where you’ll gain real experience in theatre preparation, instrument care, patient husbandry, and lab work—all essential foundations if you’re considering a path into veterinary nursing or further roles within the practice.

Based in the heart of Warwickshire, you’ll enjoy easy access to the Cotswolds, Birmingham (30 mins drive), and London via direct train. The practice is known for its close-knit culture with regular team socials and a genuine focus on staff wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare theatre for surgical procedures and maintain surgical instrument quality and cleanliness
• Assist with patient care and husbandry across the practice
• Run in-house laboratory tests and process biological samples
• Support the smooth day-to-day running of the practice
• Work under instruction from various team members across multiple clinic areas
• Travel to other Avonvale branches as required (driving licence essential)

Requirements

• Valid UK driving licence (travel between branches is necessary)
• Willingness to work across all areas of practice and follow instruction from a variety of team members
• No specific qualifications required—enthusiasm and reliability matter most

Benefits

• Time Off: 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• Professional Development: RCVS and VDS fees paid; external CPD funded; access to extensive free online Linnaeus CPD programme
• Financial & Pension: Employer contribution pension scheme; life assurance; enhanced sickness pay
• Wellbeing & Lifestyle: Enhanced equal family leave; employee assistance programme; eyecare voucher scheme; free annual flu jab; cycle to work scheme; e-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Other Perks: Staff discount schemes; recruitment referral reward scheme; career progression opportunities

About the Practice

Avonvale Veterinary Centres is a group of seven small animal primary care practices across Warwickshire, with over 40 years’ experience. The team takes pride in continuous professional development and holds multiple RCVS certificates in surgery, imaging, and medicine. Avonvale is part of Linnaeus, the UK’s largest family-owned veterinary company and subsidiary of Mars Veterinary Health.

The practice culture is distinctly collegial and social—regular team events, summer gatherings, visits from ice cream vans, and festive celebrations create a supportive environment where staff feel valued. The Stratford location is particularly well-positioned, offering the best of both Warwickshire’s historic charm and countryside beauty with easy commuting links to major cities.