About the Role
Valley Vets is a busy 24/7 referral hospital providing out-of-hours coverage for approximately 40 local practices across South Wales. You'll enjoy a genuine blend of first-opinion GP work and hospital-based inpatient care and surgery, with a genuinely diverse and complex caseload featuring medical and surgical cases that will keep you clinically engaged. This is a 4-day per week role (36 hours) with just one 9-hour weekend consulting shift every fifth weekend, making it one of the few hospital positions that actually respects your time off.
Located in Gwaelod-y-garth, near Cardiff, the practice sits in an area offering something for everyone—vibrant city living, coastal tranquility in the Vale of Glamorgan, and mountain scenery in the Brecon Beacons within easy commuting distance. You'll never work alone; you're always supported by experienced colleagues, a large RVN team, ACAs, and dedicated reception staff.
This role is ideal for an experienced vet who's confident managing complex cases independently but thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys mentoring less experienced team members.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a varied caseload of complex medical and surgical cases, providing first-opinion and referral-level care
- Work collaboratively with multiple experienced veterinary surgeons across the 24/7 service
- Conduct inpatient consultations, diagnostics, and surgery in a hospital setting with access to advanced facilities
- Support and mentor less experienced veterinary team members
- Contribute clinical expertise to a large team of RVNs, ACAs, and support staff
- Occasional weekend consulting shifts (1 x 9 hours every fifth weekend) and 1 x 12-hour bank holiday shift annually
Requirements
- Qualified Veterinary Surgeon with significant post-qualification experience
- Strong clinical decision-making skills and confidence managing complex cases independently
- Solid experience working in a hospital or referral environment
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team while maintaining clinical autonomy
- Willingness to mentor and support colleagues with less experience
- Flexibility to work the outlined shift pattern, including occasional weekends and bank holidays
Benefits
- Salary: Up to £65,000 (dependent on experience and qualifications)
- Holiday: Minimum 6.6 weeks inclusive of bank holidays, with buy/sell options
- CPD: 5 days per year with £1,750 budget; certificate study support via formal application
- Professional Fees: RCVS and VDS fees paid; two additional professional subscriptions (e.g., BSAVA)
- Colleague Discount: 50% discount on services; products at cost price
- Sick Pay: 2 weeks full pay and 4 weeks half pay
- Pension: Workplace pension
- Family Support: Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Wellbeing: Health Shield employment benefit scheme, health and wellbeing support, optional private health insurance (via payroll)
- Additional Perks: Life insurance (1x annual salary), Cycle to Work scheme, My Perks discount and cashback, paid volunteering day
- Relocation: Relocation allowance for direct applicants
About the Practice
Valley Vets operates a state-of-the-art 24/7 referral hospital serving South Wales, providing out-of-hours coverage for a large network of local practices. The practice is part of the VetPartners group and has recently been recognized as Employer of the Year, reflecting their commitment to creating a supportive, progressive workplace where staff can thrive.
The hospital facilities include a CT scanner, advanced ultrasonography, endosurgery theatres, extensive in-house laboratory equipment (including TEG and blood gas analysis), dedicated orthopaedic/soft tissue/exotic theatres, dedicated ECC wards, a modern dental suite, and in-house rehabilitation services including physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Valley Vets invests heavily in both people and facilities, providing the equipment, support, and clinical freedom needed to pursue individual interests and work cases thoroughly.
