Animal Care Assistant

About the Role

This is a permanent position supporting the emergency and critical care teams at Vets Now Middlesbrough. You'll work on a rotating rota: weekday evenings (Monday to Friday, 18:30 to 01:30), weekend days (Saturday 12:00 to 23:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 22:00), with every third week off plus a share of bank holidays. This pattern suits people seeking predictable shift work in a fast-paced emergency clinic environment without the demands of a traditional 9-to-5.

Vets Now operates the UK's largest network of out-of-hours emergency clinics, serving over 1700 veterinary practices through 60+ dedicated clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals. At Middlesbrough, you'll join a highly skilled emergency team providing round-the-clock care when pets need it most. The clinic handles a varied caseload of small animals presenting with acute and critical conditions.

You'll work closely with Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons, gaining hands-on experience in a supportive clinical environment. This role offers genuine progression for those interested in animal care careers, with opportunities to develop practical skills in patient handling, theatre support, and diagnostic assistance.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons with patient handling for procedures and diagnostic testing
• Set up and clear surgical theatres, ensuring instruments and equipment are ready for procedures
• Provide daily husbandry care for in-patients, including feeding, cleaning, and monitoring comfort
• Support the clinical team during busy emergency shifts, maintaining a calm and professional approach
• Contribute to a stress-free in-patient environment, helping nervous or injured animals settle

Requirements

• No specific qualifications required, but a genuine passion for animal welfare is essential
• Ability to work under supervision in a fast-paced emergency setting
• Physical fitness for lifting, handling, and standing for extended periods
• Reliability and commitment to the advertised rota pattern
• A collaborative attitude and willingness to learn from experienced clinicians

Benefits

• Competitive hourly rate of £13.45 per hour
• 7 weeks pro rata annual leave, plus your birthday as a paid day off
• £780 CPD allowance pro rata, with 10 paid CPD hours annually to develop skills
• Cash Health Plan provided by Simply Health
• Up to 50% discounted staff pet care
• UK Standard Pension contributions: 5% employee, 3% employer
• Family-friendly policies including sick, maternity, paternity, and adoption pay schemes
• Vets Now For You reward gateway with hundreds of retailer discounts and cashback
• Paid volunteering days and death in service benefit (two times annual salary)

About the Practice

Vets Now is the UK's leading provider of emergency pet care, operating 60+ dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals. The Middlesbrough clinic is part of this network, staffed by a highly skilled emergency team committed to providing exceptional care during out-of-hours periods.

Vets Now is a disability confident employer actively welcoming applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from diverse and minority groups, and is committed to providing reasonable adjustments during recruitment.