Veterinary Patient Care Assistant

About the Role

You’ll be joining ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists, a large multi-disciplinary small animal referral hospital based in Chester. This is a permanent position working weekdays only (Monday–Friday, 10am–6pm), giving you predictable evenings and weekends free. Bank holidays are part of the roster, as the practice operates year-round, but there’s no night shift or weekend on-call required.

While you may support other departments as needed, your primary focus will be assisting the Internal Medicine team—working directly with RVNs and veterinarians to deliver gold-standard patient care. You’ll gain exposure to advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment including CT, fluoroscopy, arthroscopy and full imaging capabilities. This is an ideal opportunity if you have previous animal care or PCA experience and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced referral setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist RVNs and vets during clinical procedures—restraining patients, helping with blood sampling, catheter placements and medication administration
• Support Internal Medicine workflows including patient preparation, diagnostic procedures and sample handling
• Run and prepare in-house laboratory tests (bloods, urinalysis) and manage external sample submission
• Maintain cleaning and infection control standards across clinical areas
• Provide general patient care support such as moving patients, grooming and dog walking when required
• Provide theatre or reception cover as operational needs arise

Requirements

• Strong empathy and excellent communication skills—confidence in supporting distressed clients and patients
• Proven customer service experience and comfort interacting with the public
• Hands-on animal care experience (cleaning, feeding, handling, medicating) with understanding of animal welfare
• Resilience and emotional robustness when dealing with challenging situations
• Positive, can-do attitude with solid teamwork skills
• Desirable: prior experience working in a veterinary or clinical environment, particularly as a PCA

Benefits

• Salary up to £24,784 (NMW dependent on age)
• Staff discount scheme on veterinary bills and products
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to 400+ Mental Health First Aiders
• Access to CVS Employee Benefits platform for additional perks and support

About the Practice

ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists is a leading small animal referral centre serving the Cheshire region. As part of CVS Group, it combines the resources of a large corporate organisation with a collaborative, supportive workplace culture. The team includes specialists, vets, nurses, PCAs and receptionists all working together to achieve excellent patient outcomes.

Located in the heart of Chester with excellent transport links, the practice benefits from advanced facilities and a strong local community. The workplace is characterised by a friendly, team-oriented approach where staff are encouraged to be themselves and develop their skills. Note: visa sponsorship is not available for this role.