Veterinary Patient Care Assistant

About the Role

This Veterinary Patient Care Assistant position sits at the heart of the in-patient wards, supporting Vets and Nurses with day to day patient care across Earls Hall Veterinary Hospital and its surrounding sites. The role is based mainly at the Westcliff hospital, with cover across Ashingdon, Shoebury and South Beech too.

You’ll work 40 hours per week on a varied Monday to Friday shift pattern, with a share in the weekend and Bank Holiday rota. Shifts run between 08:00 and 19:30, and flexibility is needed to cover absence and annual leave when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Support Vets and Nurses in the in-patient wards
• Provide nursing care to hospitalised patients
• Assist with animal restraint when needed
• Walk, feed and clean patients
• Prepare emergency and operating facilities
• Carry out general cleaning and maintenance
• Run internal laboratory samples
• Answer emergency calls
• Support reception tasks when required, including booking appointments, answering telephone lines and processing payments

Requirements

• Animal care and handling experience is essential
• Experience in animal welfare, including feeding, cleaning and handling
• Strong customer service and public interaction skills
• Good communication skills with genuine empathy
• Resilience and professionalism when dealing with emotional situations
• A positive, team focused approach
• Veterinary experience is preferred
• Applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for clinical support roles

Benefits

• Salary at National Minimum Wage, dependent on age
• £12.71 per hour for those aged 21 and over
• £10.85 per hour for those aged 18 to 20
• Five weeks' annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays
• Staff discount on veterinary bills and care
• Staff discount on Animed Direct, including pet medicines, products and food
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support
• Inclusive workplace commitment and a focus on diversity

About the Practice

Earls Hall Veterinary Hospital is part of CVS Vets, one of the UK's leading veterinary groups. The advert also references Earls Hall Veterinary Centre in Ashingdon, Shoebury and South Beech, alongside the hospital site in Westcliff-on-Sea.

CVS Vets says it operates a network of over 500 practices and more than 8,000 professionals, with a mission focused on putting pets first and supporting people to learn and progress.