Veterinary Care Assistant

About the Role

As a Veterinary Care Assistant at PetMedics, you'll be a vital member of a large, thriving first-opinion practice in Worsley, Manchester. Working on a one-in-four annualised pattern, you'll support our exceptional clinical team of 37 vets and 41 nurses in delivering outstanding patient care. This is a hands-on role that combines practical animal care with day-to-day practice support, giving you real insight into how a leading veterinary hospital operates.

You'll work across a modern, fully equipped facility featuring four theatres, six consulting rooms, intensive care and specialist wards (including dedicated cat, dog, exotics, and isolation areas), CT and X-ray imaging, endoscopy, and an extensive in-house laboratory. The practice holds Cat Friendly Clinic Gold status and Rabbit Friendly Silver status, reflecting its commitment to animal welfare.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care and support to patients across all wards and recovery areas
• Assist vets and RVNs in restraining animals safely for treatment and examination
• Clean, exercise, and feed hospitalised patients with attention to individual welfare needs
• Prepare and maintain emergency and operating theatre facilities to clinical standards
• Perform general cleaning and maintenance throughout the hospital
• Run internal laboratory samples and support diagnostic procedures
• Answer emergency calls and provide initial support to incoming patients
• Cover reception duties, including answering enquiries, booking appointments, and processing payments

Requirements

• Excellent communication and empathy skills
• Strong customer service experience and comfort dealing with the public
• Practical experience in animal care: feeding, cleaning, medicating, and handling animals safely
• Solid understanding of animal welfare principles and how to meet the needs of different species
• Resilience and emotional maturity to handle potentially distressing situations
• Positive attitude, strong teamwork, and willingness to learn
• Experience in a veterinary environment is desirable but not essential
• Right to Work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available for this role)

Benefits

• Salary in line with the National Minimum Wage
• RCVS registration fees paid in full
• Generous CPD allowance, Knowledge Hub access, BSAVA library, and funded advanced training opportunities
• Excellent Nursing Career Pathway with support for professional development
• Up to 33 days' holiday annually, with the option to buy or sell additional days
• Health cash plan and Employee Assistance Programme for physical and mental health support
• Wellbeing Champions network, Pastoral Support Vets, and personal mentors available
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Staff pet care discounts: 50% off veterinary services, MiPet food, and medications
• Monthly line-manager check-ins and access to wellbeing resources

About the Practice

PetMedics is a large, modern veterinary hospital operated by CVS Group Plc, one of the UK's leading veterinary care providers. The practice brings together a team of 37 veterinary surgeons, 41 registered nurses, and support staff including PCAs, receptionists, and an ambulance team. The hospital is purpose-built with extensive facilities: four surgical theatres, six consulting rooms, dedicated wards for cats, dogs, exotics, and isolation cases, plus an intensive care unit, digital radiography, CT scanning, ultrasound, endoscopy, laparoscopy, mechanical ventilation, and comprehensive in-house laboratory capabilities.

CVS is committed to putting people first, offering industry-leading learning and development, hands-on training, and mentorship. The practice invests significantly in staff wellbeing through a network of 400 Wellbeing Champions, pastoral support, and a Health Shield programme. Central support teams handle HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance, and procurement, freeing clinical staff to focus on patient care.