Veterinary Care Assistant

About the Role

You'll be joining a highly collaborative and well-equipped Pet Hospital in Derby, supporting the clinical team across all aspects of daily animal care. In this role, you'll help maintain a clean, safe and hygienic environment, assist with animal handling, provide hands-on support to veterinary nurses and surgeons, and work on reception as needed. This is a full-time permanent position offering an excellent foundation if you're looking to build a career in veterinary practice.

You'll be working in a purpose-led environment where your contribution directly impacts the lives of pets and owners in financial hardship. The hospital features separate dog and cat kennelling facilities, in-house radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, piped gases and extensive orthopaedic equipment, giving you exposure to modern veterinary practice. You'll also be comfortable discussing financial contributions with clients, always with empathy and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the hospital team in all aspects of day-to-day animal care
• Maintain a clean, safe and hygienic environment at all times
• Assist with animal handling and patient care
• Provide hands-on support to veterinary nurses and surgeons during procedures
• Work on reception duties when required
• Discuss financial contributions with clients with empathy and professionalism
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment focused on shared learning and case discussion

Requirements

• Veterinary Care Assistant Level 2 Diploma (or equivalent qualification)
• Experience working within a veterinary practice
• Must be aged 18 or over due to varied shift patterns
• Highly self-motivated with strong customer service skills
• Caring and practical approach to animal welfare
• Organised, reliable and able to work effectively as part of a supportive team
• Passionate about animal welfare and keen to learn and grow

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £26,278 to £27,130 per annum
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays
• Three paid special days off annually: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day
• Generous pension options with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%
• Life assurance providing four times your annual salary
• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 wellbeing support
• Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts through the Fetch benefits platform
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• 10% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services

About the Practice

PDSA is the UK's leading veterinary charity, providing vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship. For over a century, PDSA has treated over 2.7 million pets annually. The organisation is committed to expanding its reach to support even more people and their beloved pets, whilst building a stronger, future-focused organisation.

PDSA Derby is a modern, well-equipped Pet Hospital with separate dog and cat kennelling facilities, in-house radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, piped gases and extensive orthopaedic equipment. The team is highly collaborative and supportive, with varied clinical interests giving team members access to a broad pool of knowledge and experience. The charity is committed to embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion, offering family-friendly and inclusive employment policies.