Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

Bramble and Bear Vet Care is looking for a fifth vet to join its growing independent practice. This is a small animal role with a varied mix of consults and operating, and the team will support you as you build confidence in routine surgery and more complex cases.

You will work a 4 day week from 8.30am to 6.30pm. The practice currently runs its own out-of-hours service on a shared rota of 1 in 4 weekends plus one weeknight on-call, with the Saturday consult shift running from 9am to 12pm for non-routine or urgent cases only. Once the hospital opens and the dedicated night team is in place, there will be no on-call requirements.

The setting includes a brand-new Hospital and Rehab Centre, with free consultations, fixed-cost hospitalisation and surgery, and a calm farm-based location in the Staffordshire Moorlands. The team describes the caseload as large and varied, with support available and encouragement to follow certificate interests if you want to develop further.

Key Responsibilities

• Join the small animal vet team as the fifth vet in the practice.
• Carry out a mix of consultations and surgical work across a varied caseload.
• Handle routine surgical procedures and develop confidence in more complex surgery with support available from colleagues.
• Take part in the shared out-of-hours rota, including 1 in 4 weekends and one weeknight on-call until the dedicated night team is in place.
• See urgent and non-routine cases during the Saturday consult shift.
• Work with a team that treats a wide range of emergency and critical care cases in-house.

Requirements

• You should have some experience.
• You should be confident performing routine surgical procedures.
• Interest in certificate study is welcomed, with support available if you wish to pursue one.

Benefits

• Salary from £40,000 to £80,000, depending on experience.
• 4 day working week, 8.30am to 6.30pm.
• 5.6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays.
• Shared out-of-hours rota, 1 in 4 weekends plus one weeknight on-call, with no on-call once the night team is in place.
• Uncapped CPD budget, with certificates supported and funded.
• Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS and BVA or BSAVA.
• Bupa private healthcare.

About the Practice

Bramble and Bear Vet Care is an independent, forward-thinking practice in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The business was started by Matt and Hannah, both experienced vets, and has grown from a mobile surgical unit to its first hub, with a new Hospital and Rehab Centre now being developed.

The practice is Fear-Free accredited and is expanding its facilities to include two theatres, a dental suite, an imaging suite with DR X-ray, Doppler ultrasound and endoscopy, separate cat and dog wards, and rehab provision including an underwater treadmill, hydrotherapy and a physiotherapy space. The team also includes 3 RVNs, 1 SVN and a Head Nurse, and the practice reports regular visits from an orthopaedic surgeon for fracture repairs and cruciate surgeries.