Ready to join a forward-thinking independent practice with genuine work-life balance? Bramble and Bear is building something special: a supportive team, varied caseload, uncapped CPD, and a 4-day week with manageable OOH that disappears once the new hospital opens.
1-in-4 weekend on-call plus one weeknight on-call. Saturday mornings 9-12 for non-routine cases only. Often on-call from home with practice attendance only if needed. No on-call requirement once new hospital opens with dedicated night team (expected autumn 2026).
Bramble and Bear is seeking an experienced small animal vet to join their growing team as they launch a brand-new Hospital and Rehab Centre. This is a permanent position working a 4-day week (8.30 to 6.30), with a mix of consultations and operating theatre time. You'll have the opportunity to develop your skills in routine surgical procedures, with full support available as you build confidence in more complex cases.
Currently, the practice provides its own out-of-hours service on a 1-in-4 weekend and one weeknight on-call basis. The weekend includes a Saturday morning consult shift (9 to 12) reserved for non-routine or urgent cases. Thanks to the practice's free daytime consultation model, out-of-hours work is typically very manageable, usually just one or two advice calls per week. You'll often be able to be on-call from home, attending the practice only if needed. Once the new hospital opens with its dedicated night team in place, there will be no on-call requirements.
The practice is situated in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands, offering a peaceful rural setting while remaining accessible to Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham within an hour's drive. Alton Towers is just 20 minutes away, and the area is perfect for walking and cycling with views from the nearby Roaches overlooking Leek and Tittesworth Reservoir.
Bramble and Bear was founded three years ago by Dr Matt Bayliss MRCVS and Dr Hannah Brooks MRCVS, experienced vets who wanted to create a forward-thinking practice that combines the best aspects of their collective experience with innovative ideas. The practice began as a mobile surgical unit and opened its first hub in the Staffordshire Moorlands in September 2023. A brand-new Hospital and Rehab Centre is currently under construction and will open in autumn 2026, featuring two fully equipped theatres, a dedicated dental suite, DR X-ray imaging with Doppler ultrasound and endoscopy, separate Fear-Free cat and dog wards, and an outdoor space for inpatients and staff. The adjacent Rehab Centre will offer underwater treadmill, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy services.
The team currently comprises Matt and Hannah, Iona (new graduate who joined in 2024), Grace (final-year vet student starting July 2026), Anna (Head RVN with feline nursing certificate), 3 RVNs and 1 SVN. The practice is an accredited nurse training practice. The team sees a large, varied small animal caseload and is supported by regular visits from an orthopaedic surgeon for fracture repairs and cruciate surgeries. The practice is Fear-Free accredited and committed to transparent, affordable pricing with free consultations and fixed-cost hospitalisation and surgery.
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