About the Role
This part-time maternity cover position offers a genuine escape from the intensity of full-time practice. You'll work 30 hours across three days (Monday, Tuesday, Friday 08:15–18:30) plus one Saturday morning per month on a 1:4 rota—and that's it. No out-of-hours duties means your evenings and most weekends are yours.
You'll be joining Paws Colchester, a tight-knit first opinion practice near the town centre with easy access to the Essex coast. The practice is family-run, genuinely invested in their team, and equipped with everything you need: digital X-ray, ultrasound, in-house lab work, and multi-parameter monitoring. With three vets and five nurses on the team, you'll have clinical support and camaraderie without feeling lost in a corporate machine.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver inpatient nursing care with attention to detail and patient welfare
- Provide theatre support and assist during surgical procedures
- Conduct veterinary nurse consultations and health checks
- Support the three veterinary surgeons with clinical duties and examinations
- Maintain high standards of hygiene and infection control across the practice
- Communicate effectively with clients and the wider team to ensure excellent care experiences
Requirements
- Current RVN registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
- Strong team player with excellent communication skills
- Demonstrated commitment to high standards of patient care and clinical practice
- Reliable, proactive, and enthusiastic approach to nursing
Benefits
- Annual Leave: 6.6 weeks inclusive of bank holidays, with additional holiday accrued based on length of service. Your birthday is a paid day off
- Professional Development: £550 CPD allowance with 24 hours paid CPD leave (pro rata), certificate support, and access to the IVC Evidensia Academy and Vetlexicon online resources. All staff can apply for research funding
- Wellbeing: Private medical insurance, 24/7 employee assistance programme, and enhanced family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and surrogacy pay
- Professional Memberships: VDS cover and RCVS fees paid
- Pension & Benefits: Company pension scheme with employer contribution, cycle-to-work scheme, green cars scheme, voluntary benefits package, retailer discounts and cashback, and discounted treatment for your own pets at any IVC Evidensia practice
- Salary: Up to £31,000 per annum FTE, depending on experience
About the Practice
Paws Colchester Veterinary Centre is a family-run first opinion practice serving the Colchester area with a genuine commitment to personal, compassionate care. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, a leading veterinary group, which brings access to academy training, research funding, and wider professional networks while maintaining the intimate, friendly culture that defines Paws.
The team prioritises animal welfare and client experience—they even use Feliway and Adaptil diffusers to keep anxious pets calm. With air-conditioned facilities, free parking, and a full range of diagnostic and surgical equipment on-site, they can handle most procedures without referring patients elsewhere.
