Ready to join a tight-knit team in the stunning North Pennines? This is small animal nursing with genuine support, no corporate pressure, and a rota that actually respects your time.
Out-of-hours emergencies shared with two other local independent practices and handled at Scott Mitchell Vets 24-hour facility in Hexham. No on-call from Old Stone Vets base.
Old Stone Vets is seeking an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse to join their small but capable team in beautiful rural Cumbria. This full-time position offers a four-day working week (8am to 6pm) with genuine supervisory and nursing management responsibility. You'll work across their three surgeries in Alston, Stanhope, and Allendale, nestled in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The role includes some reception duties and Saturday morning rota cover (typically 1 in 6), but out-of-hours emergencies are now shared with two partner practices and handled at the 24-hour staffed facility at Scott Mitchell Vets in Hexham, meaning no unsociable on-call from your practice base.
The practice has built its reputation on genuine care since 2005, growing from a one-man mixed operation to a well-established small animal clinic. The team is collaborative, supportive, and genuinely invested in each other's wellbeing. If you value fresh air, stunning views, and a workplace where targets take a back seat to patient care and staff welfare, this could be your place.
Old Stone Vets has been caring for pets and their owners since 2005, built on genuine commitment to excellent and affordable care. The practice operates three branches across the North Pennines: the main surgery in Alston, plus consult-only clinics in Stanhope and Allendale. In July 2025, the team transitioned to small animal focus, allowing the vets to specialise fully. The practice is independently owned and proudly free from corporate targets or pressure.
The team includes Karl (founder, experienced mixed practitioner with DEFRA background), Rachel (clinical lead and strong mentor since 2007), and Ed (qualified 2019). They're supported by six experienced CAW-qualified animal care assistants and anaesthetic monitoring assistants who bring humour, heart, and genuine collaboration. The practice invests in modern equipment, actively encourages new therapies, and creates an environment where work genuinely feels like being part of a close-knit family.
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