Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

You’ll be joining Orchard House across three welcoming branches in Hexham, Stocksfield, and Bellingham—working primarily from the recently refurbished Stocksfield location with occasional shifts at the other sites. This is a daytime-focused role with manageable evening and weekend on-call duties (one evening per week 6–10 pm, plus one weekend in five, 7 am–10 pm). No overnight on-call means you’ll actually sleep properly—the night service is outsourced.

Nestled in picturesque Northumberland just 30 minutes from Newcastle, the practice has earned a trusted reputation since 1998 for exceptional small animal care. You’ll encounter a genuinely varied caseload across surgical and consulting work, supported by modern facilities including laparoscopy, digital radiography, dental imaging, and a fully equipped in-house lab. Weekly specialist ultrasound and endoscopy services add further diagnostic depth.

This team isn’t transient—several colleagues have been here 15–20 years, and five have returned after working elsewhere. That’s the kind of culture worth staying for. With certificate holders in medicine, ophthalmology, and dentistry already on the team, you’ll have mentors and learning partners throughout your week.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver primary small animal veterinary care across three branches, mixing consulting and surgical shifts
• Perform surgical procedures using modern theatre facilities and equipment
• Participate in diagnostic imaging and laboratory work using in-house resources
• Contribute to the practice’s commitment to compassionate care—including the annual “pets in need” allowance for financially challenged clients
• Engage with the supportive team culture, sharing knowledge and mentoring where appropriate
• Cover one evening per week (6–10 pm on-call) and one weekend in five (7 am–10 pm on-call, including Saturday morning consults 9 am–1 pm)

Requirements

• Seeking a veterinary surgeon, ideally with some experience and having completed your VetGDP
• Strong communication skills and genuine passion for small animal medicine
• Willingness to engage in a collaborative, supportive team environment
• Flexibility to work across three locations

Benefits

• Salary: £40,000–£60,000 pro rata depending on experience
• Out-of-Hours Bonus: Generous OOH bonus for evening and weekend shifts
• Leave: Five weeks plus Bank Holidays
• CPD & Professional Development: Fully funded CPD, including certificate support to advance your skills in medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, or other specialisms
• Working Hours: Ideally three days per week (8:30 am–6:00 pm), with flexibility to discuss four-day full-time arrangements for the right candidate
• Pet-Friendly Workplace: Well-behaved dogs welcome; generous staff discount
• Wellbeing Support: Flexible arrangements, regular check-ins, protected lunch and admin time, and a rota designed around your need to recharge
• Community Involvement: Be part of a practice that actively sponsors local events and charities

About the Practice

Orchard House Veterinary Centres is an independent, family-owned practice serving around 9,000 families across Tynedale. Founded in 1998 by Clinical Director Tim, the practice has built its reputation on high-quality medicine delivered with genuine kindness and expertise. Their three branches—Hexham, Stocksfield (recently expanded with spacious theatre and prep facilities), and rural Bellingham (recently renovated)—combine to offer variety and breadth of caseload.

The practice was recognised in its 2024 Investors in People assessment for fostering a genuinely supportive team culture where staff feel valued and heard. They’re proud to be independent in an increasingly consolidated sector, and that translates into a close-knit team ethos, commitment to mentorship, and real investment in staff wellbeing. From social events (Christmas parties, pizza lunches, summer paddles, Newcastle nights out) to professional development and flexible rotas, this is a practice built on people, not just procedure lists.