Ready to join a practice where clinical excellence and genuine work-life balance go hand in hand? Chess Veterinary Clinic offers a surgical caseload, supportive team, and a predictable rota so you can actually enjoy your medicine.
1 in 4 Saturdays, 1pm to 6pm only (not overnight on-call)
This is a full-time permanent position at Chess Veterinary Clinic, a small animal practice in Rickmansworth with a charming, characterful base set in a converted stable. You'll work a structured 40-hour week with 1 in 4 Saturdays (1pm to 6pm only), giving you genuine work-life balance while maintaining a surgical caseload of 40 to 50%. The practice serves an affluent, loyal, largely insured client base that values gold-standard medicine, and you'll have time to work up cases thoroughly rather than facing pressure to refer early. You'll spend most of your time at the Rickmansworth site, with 1 to 2 days per week at the Chorleywood branch, which features recently refurbished facilities and spacious consulting areas.
Located near the Rickmansworth Aquadrome and Chorleywood Common, the practice offers excellent access to London alongside village charm and countryside walks. You'll join an experienced, collaborative team with a culture of open case discussion, including a Nursing Manager with 14 years' experience and RVNs with over a decade in practice.
Chess Veterinary Clinic has served the Hertfordshire community for over 75 years, building trusted relationships with generations of clients. The practice operates two sites: Rickmansworth (a characterful converted stable building) and Chorleywood (recently refurbished with spacious facilities). Both locations are fully equipped for high-quality medicine, featuring in-house laboratory capabilities (thyroid, cPLI, cortisol, routine haematology and biochemistry), digital radiography including dental imaging, ultrasound for abdominal and cardiac scans, endoscopy equipment, a dedicated theatre, and separate areas for dentals and ultrasonography.
Chess Veterinary Clinic is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Linnaeus comprises highly respected primary care and referral practices across the UK and Ireland, with a community of over 6,000 associates committed to excellence and the purpose of creating a better world for pets. The company prioritises inclusive culture, comprehensive wellbeing support, and access to specialist networks alongside worldwide development opportunities.
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