Veterinary Care Assistant

About the Role

This is a part-time veterinary support position based at MiNightVet Chester, working an average of 19.5 hours per week on a bi-weekly rota pattern. You’ll work a mix of evening and weekend shifts: Week One includes Monday and Tuesday 7pm–11:30pm plus Saturday and Sunday 3pm–11:30pm, and Week Two covers Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 7pm–11:30pm. You’ll be at the heart of patient care, supporting qualified RVNs and veterinary surgeons to deliver compassionate care to animals in an out-of-hours setting.

As a Veterinary Care Assistant, you’ll prepare surgical facilities, assist with patient restraint and recovery, and provide essential support during consultations and emergency procedures. Your role bridges clinical work with customer care—you’ll manage reception duties, answer queries, and help families feel reassured during stressful moments.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care to patients, including monitoring and comfort measures
• Assist veterinary surgeons and RVNs with animal restraint during examinations and treatments
• Clean, walk, and feed hospitalised patients
• Prepare and maintain operating theatres and emergency treatment areas
• Process laboratory samples and support diagnostics
• Perform general cleaning and hygiene duties throughout the clinic
• Cover reception duties: answer phones, book appointments, process payments, and handle client queries

Requirements

• Demonstrable experience with animal welfare—feeding, cleaning, handling, and medicating animals
• Strong understanding of how to meet the physical and emotional needs of animals in a veterinary setting
• Excellent communication skills with genuine empathy for both animals and their owners
• Proven customer service experience
• Resilience and emotional maturity to handle potentially distressing situations
• Positive attitude and strong teamwork abilities
• Experience working 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: up to £12.21 per hour depending on experience
• 5.5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays
• Buy/Sell Leave Scheme: purchase or sell up to 4 additional weeks of annual leave
• CPD allowance to support your professional development
• Staff discount on veterinary bills and products
• Comprehensive health benefits including private healthcare cover
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to over 400 Mental Health First-Aiders
• Free on-site parking

About the Practice

MiNightVet Chester is part of CVS Group, one of the UK’s largest veterinary employers. The practice specialises in out-of-hours emergency and critical care, providing round-the-clock support to local pets and their families when primary care practices are closed. The team comprises experienced veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses who are committed to nurturing talent and supporting professional development.

CVS is dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel valued and supported. The group invests heavily in staff training, offering industry-leading learning opportunities and hands-on mentorship to help you progress in your veterinary career.