Ready to join a friendly, family-run practice with a 4-day week, genuine work-life balance, and access to a beachside hut? The Beck Veterinary Practice offers mixed small animal and equine work in beautiful coastal Whitby with mentoring from experienced clinicians.
1 night on call per week, 1 weekend in 4. Small animal OOH cases transferred to dedicated provider Friday evening to Monday morning. Equine emergency cover provided in-house 24/7. Less experienced vets have backup support.
This is a permanent full-time position with a genuinely manageable 4-day week (8.30 am to 6.30 pm), with a set day off each week. You'll work in a friendly, independent 4-vet mixed practice located in the picturesque coastal town of Whitby, North Yorkshire. The caseload is approximately 85% small animal and 15% equine, giving you a strong small animal focus with the opportunity to develop equine skills in lameness investigations, routine dentistry, vaccinations and general practice.
The practice also works closely with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue to treat marine wildlife and has strong connections with the local wildlife sanctuary. You'll benefit from a supportive culture: the day is structured with dedicated time for admin, phone calls and a proper lunch break. Consults finish at 6.15 pm with phones going over at 6 pm, so you'll often leave early. On-call duties are shared with one night on call per week and 1 weekend in 4. Small animal out-of-hours cases transfer to a dedicated OOH provider from Friday evening through Monday morning, while the practice continues its own equine emergency cover 24/7. Less experienced vets have backup support in place, with senior clinicians available to discuss cases and provide guidance.
Whitby is a charming coastal town famous for the 199 steps up East Cliff, the gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, award-winning fish and chips, and excellent outdoor activities including paddleboarding, surfing, and access to the North York Moors National Park.
The Beck Veterinary Practice is a long-established, independent family-run business stretching back over seven decades. Founded in 1946 by Jimmy Beck and his wife Shirley, the practice has seen three generations of Beck vets dedicate themselves to the local community. Owner Simon Beck relocated the practice to its current purpose-built Whitby location in 1997 and opened a branch surgery in Loftus. The practice remains a true family affair with Simon's wife Sue as practice manager and daughter Libby, a fully qualified veterinary surgeon, serving as clinical director.
The purpose-built main practice at Whitby features a full range of modern facilities: separate cat and dog areas, digital and dental x-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy, multi-parameter monitoring, equine digital radiography with dental x-ray capability, and modern equine dental equipment. The team is highly experienced and treats a wide range of species from dogs and cats to rabbits, birds, reptiles, equine and farm animals, plus occasional wildlife including hedgehogs, deer, badgers and seals. The practice's values of providing high-quality care backed by sound clinical judgement and experience remain as strong today as when it was founded.
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