Animal Care Assistant – Surgery

About the Role

You’ll be joining the surgical team at Vets Now’s Manchester Pet Emergency Hospital, a 24/7 facility serving emergency and referral cases across the North West. This is a full-time position working Monday to Friday, 12:00–20:00, with a manageable 1:4 weekend rota (Saturday and Sunday, 07:00–20:00). The role sits at the heart of the surgical operation, supporting both routine emergency procedures and more complex referral cases in a busy, energetic environment.

You’ll work alongside experienced Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons, gaining real hands-on experience in theatre management and in-patient care. The hospital’s emergency focus means no two days are the same—you’ll develop resilience, clinical knowledge, and the ability to stay calm under pressure while contributing to patient comfort and recovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons with theatre setup and breakdown for surgical procedures
• Handle patients for basic procedures and assist with running diagnostic tests
• Provide in-patient care including feeding, grooming, toileting, and comfort monitoring
• Maintain and clean surgical equipment and theatre spaces to the highest standards
• Work directly with surgical nurses in and out of theatre during procedures
• Support the emergency hospital workflow during busy shifts

Requirements

• Experience working with animals (formal qualifications or demonstrable hands-on experience preferred)
• Ability to stay calm and focused in a fast-paced emergency environment
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to animal welfare
• Physical fitness for manual handling of animals and equipment
• Willingness to work weekends as part of the rota
• Team player with good communication skills

Benefits

• Salary: From £27,976 depending on experience
• Annual leave: 7 weeks pro rata, plus your birthday as a paid day off
• CPD and development: £780 CPD allowance pro rata, plus 10 hours paid CPD time annually
• Healthcare: Cash Health Plan provided by Simply Health
• Pension: UK Standard Pension contributions (5% employee, 3% employer)
• Staff perks: Up to 50% discounted staff pet care, Vets Now For You rewards gateway (discounts and cashback with 100s retailers)
• Work-life support: Family-friendly policies including sick pay, maternity, paternity, and adoption pay schemes
• Additional benefits: Paid volunteering days, death in service cover (two times annual salary), paid bank holiday share

About the Practice

Vets Now operates the UK’s largest network of dedicated out-of-hours emergency clinics and 24/7 pet hospitals. The Manchester Pet Emergency Hospital is one of two flagship 24/7 facilities, providing both emergency first-response care and specialist referral services across the North West. The team comprises Vet Surgeons, Registered Vet Nurses, Animal Care Assistants, and Receptionists, all working in a collaborative, high-energy environment.

As part of Vets Now Group Ltd, the hospital benefits from access to advanced diagnostics, surgical facilities, and ongoing professional development opportunities. The organisation is a Disability Confident Employer and actively welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities and health conditions.