Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

You’ll be joining a tight-knit small animal team in Caterham on a fixed-term contract (4 months to 1 year) starting in June. This is a straightforward opportunity: two vets are on maternity leave, and the practice needs someone brilliant to fill the gap while genuinely welcoming you as part of the squad, not just a locum plugging a hole.

The team operates with refreshing honesty about what small animal practice involves—yes, you’ll be busy with complex cases and challenging clients, but you’ll never face it alone. The culture here centers on peer support, celebrating wins, and processing difficult decisions together without judgment or martyrdom culture.

Flexibility matters to this practice. Whether you’re a morning person, night owl, or navigating personal commitments, you’ll discuss shift patterns that actually work for you. This fixed-term role suits vets exploring a new location, between positions, or wanting genuine flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide small animal clinical care alongside 3 qualified vets (not competing with them, collaborating with them)
• Work with an experienced team of 5 RVNs who anticipate clinical needs and maintain high standards
• Engage with a supportive practice management structure that removes unnecessary barriers to good care
• Contribute to a culture where clinical autonomy and peer consultation are the norm, not the exception
• Support clients and colleagues through routine and complex cases in a practice that values thoroughness and wellbeing equally

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Surgeon (RCVS registered)
• Experience in small animal practice (no specific minimum stated; newly qualified vets encouraged to discuss)
• Ability to work collaboratively and communicate openly with a close-knit team
• Willingness to engage with flexible scheduling and discuss shift patterns that suit you

Benefits

• Time Off: 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays, plus your birthday off
• Professional Development: £1,250 CPD allowance plus 40 hours paid CPD time annually; access to Vetlexicon online resources; support for certificates and advanced learning; £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet
• Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
• Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance; enhanced family-friendly leave and pay; 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Colleague Perks: Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies); retail discounts and cashback offers; reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets
• Professional Support: Access to world-leading IVC Evidensia Training Centres

About the Practice

Vet On The Hill is a small animal practice in Caterham, South East England, treating dogs, cats, and small pets. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, a global network of over 2,500 clinics and hospitals across 20 countries. Despite being part of a large group, Vet On The Hill maintains a distinct local identity with a 14-person team: 3 vets, 2 clinical directors (who consult clinically), 5 RVNs, 3 receptionists, and 1 practice manager.

The practice operates with an explicit commitment to clinical autonomy and genuine support—rejecting the gap between recruitment messaging and day-to-day reality. The leadership leads by example, and the culture emphasizes respect, collaboration, and transparency about both the rewarding and challenging aspects of veterinary work.