About the Role
You'll join Hamilton Specialist Referrals as a Senior Clinical Equipment Veterinary Care Assistant, leading the management of surgical kits, clinical equipment, and sterilisation across a purpose-built 24-hour veterinary hospital. Located just outside High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, this large referral team is committed to fostering a friendly and supportive culture centred on clinical excellence and gold-standard patient care.
This full-time role involves a manageable 4 by 9.25-hour shifts per week, plus a 1-in-6 weekend rota and occasional bank holiday cover. You'll work with state-of-the-art facilities treating cats, dogs, and small animals, with an emphasis on advanced surgical procedures, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy services.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage preparation, maintenance, cleaning, sterilisation, and storage of surgical kits and clinical equipment
- Support care and processing of flexible and rigid endoscopes in line with manufacturer guidelines and infection control protocols
- Ensure all surgical instruments and equipment are available, functional, and ready for clinical use
- Monitor equipment performance and coordinate servicing, repairs, and replacement
- Maintain accurate records of equipment maintenance, sterilisation cycles, and compliance requirements
- Support clinicians and veterinary nurses with theatre and procedural equipment needs
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures for equipment handling and care
- Deliver on-the-job training and ongoing support to Veterinary Care Assistants on equipment use, handling, cleaning, and maintenance
- Assist with induction and competency assessment of new team members
- Champion best practice in infection prevention, health and safety, and clinical governance
Requirements
- Previous experience working as a Veterinary Care Assistant within a referral or veterinary hospital
- Extensive knowledge of surgical instruments, sterilisation processes, and clinical equipment management
- Experience handling and maintaining endoscopic equipment is highly desirable
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience delivering training, coaching, or mentoring colleagues
- Commitment to maintaining high standards of patient care and clinical support
- Ability to work independently whilst collaborating effectively with the wider clinical team
Benefits
- 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
- Enhanced family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
- Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
- Learning and development opportunities via the inspiring vet care Academy
- Pension scheme
- Discounted veterinary care
- Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers
About the Practice
Hamilton Specialist Referrals is a purpose-built, 24-hour veterinary hospital equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, delivering advanced treatments and exceptional rehabilitation and physiotherapy services for cats and dogs. Part of inspiring vet care (IVC Evidensia), the UK's number one vet care provider trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, the practice maintains a large, dedicated team whilst fostering a genuinely friendly and supportive culture that emphasises growth, clinical excellence, and gold-standard patient care.
