Equine Veterinary Care Assistant

About the Role

Donnington Grove is a thriving equine referral hospital based in Newbury, West Berkshire, seeking an enthusiastic Veterinary Care Assistant to join the clinical team on a full-time basis. This is a shift-based role working 39 hours per week across a 24/7 operation, including nights and weekends, supporting routine and emergency equine care.

You'll work alongside veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses, both in the hospital and out on the road, gaining hands-on experience with a diverse range of horses including racehorses, foals, and competition horses. This role offers a clear pathway into a Student Veterinary Nurse qualification, with a blend of online, on-the-job, and face-to-face apprenticeship training.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide inpatient care under the direction of veterinary surgeons and RVNs
• Perform clinical checks and wound care
• Assist in theatre and patient handling and restraint
• Admit and discharge patients
• Help acquire diagnostic images both in the hospital and on outreach calls
• Maintain clinical areas and equipment to high standards
• Contribute to a positive and compassionate experience for patients and clients

Requirements

• Grade 4-9 or A-C in 5 GCSEs including Maths, English, and Science
• Valid UK driving licence
• Experience working with animals in a clinical or non-clinical setting (advantageous)
• A caring, professional approach with genuine interest in animal welfare
• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage tasks in a busy environment
• Proactive attitude to learning with openness to feedback and development
• Reliability and motivation to work as part of a team
• Confidence and experience working with a range of horses, ideally including racehorses and foals

Benefits

• Salary: £25,865.11 per annum
• 6.6 weeks annual leave plus your birthday off
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• Structured development opportunities and access to VCA development programmes and apprenticeships
• Level 3 Qualification in Equine Veterinary Nursing training
• Clear career pathways into Student Veterinary Nurse roles and beyond
• Learning and development via the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with participating retailers

About the Practice

Donnington Grove is a busy equine referral hospital based in Newbury, West Berkshire, part of IVC Evidensia. The practice operates 24/7 and is expanding its team to meet growing demand. The hospital provides routine and emergency equine care to a diverse caseload including racehorses, competition horses, and foals, supported by teams of experienced veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses.

IVC Evidensia is the UK's number one vet care provider, trusted with the care of over 2 million animals. The organisation is committed to supporting ongoing development and wellbeing, with a values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement.