About the Role
This is a permanent position as part of the Night team at Valley Veterinary Hospital, a busy multi-disciplinary facility serving South Wales. You'll work a structured rota of 7 shifts on, 7 shifts off, combining Monday–Friday twilight shifts (until midnight, 40 hours per week) with full night shifts on weekends (11–13 hours). This is a genuine shift pattern that protects your downtime.
You'll be part of a large, established team of vets, RVNs, ACAs, and reception staff providing seamless 24/7 care to the hospital's own patients and emergency referrals from local practices. The caseload is wide-ranging—both medical and surgical—meaning you'll encounter diverse, interesting cases and have the scope to develop your clinical expertise continuously.
Valley Vets sits in a beautiful part of South Wales, with Cardiff's vibrant city life on your doorstep or peaceful coastal towns and mountains of the Vale of Glamorgan and Brecon Beacons nearby—perfect if you want both professional challenge and access to outdoor relaxation.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide advanced nursing care to critical and high-acuity patients during twilight and night shifts
- Work independently with confidence, managing patient care in collaboration with the veterinary and nursing team
- Contribute to first opinion and ECC patient management across dedicated speciality areas (orthopaedic, soft tissue, exotic, dental)
- Support inpatient care, monitoring, and recovery across the hospital's 24/7 wards
- Assist with rehabilitation services including physiotherapy and hydrotherapy cases where relevant
- Maintain the highest standards of patient care and client communication during your shifts
Requirements
- Current RVN registration (RCVS)
- Substantial clinical knowledge and advanced nursing skills—this is not an entry-level role
- Proven ability to work independently and manage critical patients with confidence
- Flexibility to work twilight and overnight shifts including weekends
- Team-oriented mindset with strong communication skills
Benefits
- Salary: £28,000 upwards, depending on skills and experience
- Leave: Paid holiday exceeding statutory minimum
- Sick pay: Average of 2 weeks full pay and 4 weeks half pay
- CPD: £600 annual allowance plus up to 3 days (pro rata) for certificate study
- Professional fees: VDS and RCVS fees paid, plus one additional professional subscription
- Discounts: 50% off services at Valley Vets; products at cost price
- Pension: Workplace pension scheme
- Family support: Enhanced paternity, maternity, adoption, shared parental leave and surrogacy pay
- Wellbeing: Health Cash Plan covering dentistry, sports massage, and other treatments; Group Health Insurance; Life Insurance at 1× annual salary
- Additional perks: Paid Volunteering Day; My Perks discounts on shopping, travel and entertainment; Cycle to Work scheme
About the Practice
Valley Veterinary Hospital is part of Valley Vets, a practice with deep roots in South Wales—serving the region since the 1940s. The team is notably stable, with many staff members having been with the practice for 10–30 years, reflecting a genuine commitment to team care and practice values. Valley Vets is a proud member of the VetPartners family, which named the group Employer of the Year in the Press Business IQ Awards.
The hospital is a multi-disciplinary facility with state-of-the-art infrastructure: CT scanner, advanced ultrasonography, endosurgery facilities, extensive blood analysis (including TEG and blood gases), dedicated ECC wards, and specialist theatres for orthopaedic, soft tissue, and exotic cases. In-house rehabilitation services (physiotherapy and hydrotherapy) and a dedicated dental suite complete the picture. The environment actively encourages collaboration between first opinion and emergency teams, providing excellent case workup and opportunities to pursue clinical interests.
