Small Animal Vet Surgeon

About the Role

Riverside Veterinary Care is looking for a small animal vet to join its supportive first opinion team in Monmouthshire. The role suits someone who enjoys the variety of general practice, whether you are building confidence after VetGDP or bringing stronger surgical experience to a practice with growing ambitions.

The rota is designed for work life balance, with a full-time pattern of 4 days a week and 1:6 weekends. Weekends count toward your 4 day week, so a full weekend reduces weekday working to 2 days, and you will work one late shift each week from 1 pm to 10.30 pm rather than being on call. After 10.30 pm, calls go to Vets Now in Newport.

The practice is investing in its future, with a major building project underway at the Abergavenny branch to create a new surgical hub, separate dental suite with dental X-ray, three additional consulting rooms and improved dog and cat kennels. You will be part of a team that values collaboration, ideas and continued clinical development.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver small animal GP work across consulting, surgery and medical case work ups.
• Support the development of the practice's growing surgical service.
• Contribute to advanced soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures if you have the relevant experience.
• Work within a collaborative team across the Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale clinics.
• Take part in the late shift rota, including evening surgery and emergency cover until 10.30 pm.
• Help shape the expanding surgical hub and wider clinical service as the new building project progresses.

Requirements

• Veterinary surgeon interested in small animal general practice.
• Open to applicants at different stages of their career.
• VetGDP completed if you are earlier in your career.
• Strong surgical skills are welcomed for candidates who are further along in practice.

Benefits

• Salary of £40,000 to £60,000.
• 8% employer pension contribution.
• Generous CPD allowance, with certificates supported and funded.
• Personal improvement allowance for physical and mental wellbeing.
• Future shareholder and ownership prospects for the right person.
• RCVS and VDS fees paid.
• Full private health insurance.
• 4 day week for full-time vets, with 1:6 weekends.
• Higher rate pay for hours worked after 6.30 pm or on weekends.

About the Practice

Riverside Veterinary Care is a proudly independent small animal practice in beautiful Monmouthshire, with two standalone clinics in Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale. The practice is part of the Vet Dynamics community and has been recognised with Best Vet in County at the Best UK Vets Awards in 2023 and 2024, plus the John Sheridan Award at the Vet Dynamics Conference 2023.

The team includes 7 vets and a co-director RVN, with interests spanning medicine, imaging, behaviour, surgery, ultrasound and more. The practice has digital X-ray, ultrasound, an in-house laboratory and laser therapy, and the Abergavenny site is being expanded to improve theatre, dentistry and kennel facilities.