Animal Care Assistant – Weekend

About the Role

You'll be joining the highly skilled emergency team at Vets Now Bradford, one of the UK's leading providers of out-of-hours and emergency pet care. This weekend-based role is perfect for someone who wants flexible, meaningful work supporting animals in crisis. You'll work alongside experienced Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons in a busy emergency clinic, ensuring patients receive the best possible care and comfort during stressful situations. Two working patterns are available: every other weekend working overnight (Saturday and Sunday 20:00–09:00), or a 1:4 weekend pattern working Saturday afternoon and Sunday daytime (12:00–18:00 and 09:00–18:00). Both roles include a fair share of bank holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons under their guidance in the in-patient care environment
• Handle patients for basic procedures and support diagnostic testing
• Set up and clear down surgical theatres between procedures
• Ensure all in-patients have their basic husbandry needs met throughout their stay
• Contribute to maintaining a calm, stress-free environment for emergency patients

Requirements

• Enthusiasm for animal care and supporting clinical teams
• Ability to work confidently in a fast-paced emergency environment
• Flexibility to work weekend shifts (with two working patterns to choose from)
• Willingness to learn and develop under clinical supervision
• Reliability and commitment to your scheduled shifts

Benefits

• Leave & Time Off: 7 weeks pro rata annual leave, your birthday as a paid day off, plus a fair share of bank holidays
• Health & Wellbeing: Cash Health Plan provided by Simply Health, up to 50% discounted staff pet care, paid volunteering days
• Development: £780 CPD allowance pro rata, 10 hours paid CPD hours annually pro rata
• Financial Security: UK Standard Pension contributions (5% Employee / 3% Employer), death in service of two times annual salary
• Rewards: Vets Now For You reward gateway with discounts and cashback across 100+ retailers
• Family-Friendly: Enhanced sick, maternity, paternity and adoption pay schemes

About the Practice

Vets Now is the UK's leading provider of emergency pet care, operating over 60 dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals. The Bradford location serves the local area with a highly skilled emergency team available around the clock. As part of Vets Now's national network, the practice supports over 1,700 veterinary practices across the country and provides essential emergency and critical care services. Vets Now is a Disability Confident Employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those from diverse and minority groups. The organisation is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and values the contribution of people with disabilities and health conditions.