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No out-of-hours or on-call requirement. Weekend work: 1:5 rota (Saturday and Sunday mornings only, 8:30am–4pm), with time off in lieu during the week.
About the Role
Penmellyn Vets is seeking a Veterinary Surgeon to join its friendly and supportive team across a six-site small animal practice serving mid-Cornwall for over 130 years. This full-time role works four days per week with a 1:5 weekend rota (Saturday and Sunday mornings, 8:30am–4pm), with time off in lieu during the week. There is no out-of-hours or on-call requirement, and part-time applications are also welcome. You'll be based at the flagship St Columb Major Hospital whilst enjoying access to satellite surgeries in St Austell, Newquay, Pool, Bodmin and Padstow—variety within a close-knit team.
Your caseload will be genuinely varied: cats, dogs, rabbits, small furries and occasional local wildlife patients. You'll work a rewarding mix of consultations and surgery, with plenty of opportunity to develop clinical interests. As a hospital practice that accepts referrals, cases range from routine procedures through to orthopaedics and advanced soft tissue surgery, allowing you to work up to a high clinical standard with excellent equipment at your fingertips.
Living in Cornwall means working against a backdrop of stunning coastlines and countryside, with a lifestyle that blends outdoor adventure and a genuinely relaxed pace of life—all without sacrificing career development or clinical challenge.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide small animal veterinary care across a range of presentations, from routine consultations to advanced surgical cases
- Work alongside a collaborative team of 28 vets, experienced RVNs and a dedicated client care team
- Utilise hospital-level facilities including CT, laparoscopy, endoscopy, digital and dental X-ray, and laser therapy
- Contribute to the practice's referral centre work, particularly via the A30 Referrals service (orthopaedic, spinal, soft tissue surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology)
- Support emergency and critical care cases at the St Columb Major Hospital (clinical staff on-site 24/7, 365 days)
- Maintain the practice's reputation for combining excellent clinical care with genuine focus on the client journey
- Engage in knowledge sharing and continuous professional development within a supportive culture
Requirements
- Qualified Veterinary Surgeon (RCVS registered)
- Small animal clinical experience (no specific years stated; all experience levels welcome)
- Genuine interest in developing clinical interests and further study
- Collaborative approach to teamwork and knowledge sharing
Benefits
- Salary & Bonus: Up to £65,000 DOE, plus welcome bonus up to £5,000
- Leave: 6.6 weeks annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays, pro rata), additional holiday entitlement for your birthday
- CPD & Development: £1,250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave (pro rata); certificate support; learning and development via IVC Evidensia Academy; access to Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia; research funding available; £1,250 per annum Care Fund spend
- Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, RCVS fees covered
- Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance; 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme; enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, surrogacy pay); colleague wellbeing initiatives
- Pension: Company pension scheme with employer contribution
- Colleague Benefits: Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme; voluntary benefits (flexible to suit you); discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers; discounted treatment for your own pets at any IVC Evidensia practice
- Infrastructure: Infection Prevention and Control Programme; Quality Improvement Programme
About the Practice
Penmellyn Vets is a well-established six-site small animal practice with over 130 years of history serving mid-Cornwall. The flagship St Columb Major Hospital is a purpose-built referral and emergency centre with clinical staff on-site 24/7, 365 days a year. It features six consultation rooms (including a dedicated RVN consult room), a spacious prep area with four theatres, dental and scanning suites, separate dog and cat wards with isolation facilities, and a fully equipped in-house IDEXX laboratory. The practice also operates satellite surgeries in St Austell, Newquay, Pool, Bodmin and Padstow, each with established clinical and reception teams. A30 Referrals, based at St Columb Major, provides advanced expertise in orthopaedic, spinal and soft tissue surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology and hospitalised case management throughout Cornwall and South Devon. The practice motto—'Best of Care: Modern Medicine, Traditional Values'—reflects its commitment to clinical excellence, client care and staff development.
Penmellyn Vets is part of IVC Evidensia, a leading veterinary care group. The practice is committed to investing in its people, premises and processes, with a strong culture of knowledge sharing and support for professional development.
