Animal Care Assistant

About the Role

You'll become an essential member of the clinical team at Vets Now's emergency clinic in Farnham, working alongside experienced Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons to deliver emergency and critical care to animals when they need it most. This part-time position offers flexible shifts: early mornings Monday to Thursday (06:00–09:00) and alternate Saturday evenings (18:00–00:00), making it ideal for those seeking work-life balance without sacrificing the reward of emergency veterinary work. As part of a clinic that's part of the UK's leading emergency pet care provider, you'll contribute to a service that supports over 1,700 veterinary practices across 60+ clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals. Your focus will be on keeping in-patients comfortable, supported, and stress-free throughout their stay—a vital role in the recovery process.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons with patient handling during basic procedures
• Help with running and preparing diagnostic tests
• Set up and clear down surgical theatres between procedures
• Monitor in-patient welfare and ensure all husbandry needs are met throughout their stay
• Support the clinical team during busy emergency shifts

Requirements

• A genuine passion for animal care and emergency veterinary medicine
• Ability to work calmly and efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to learn and follow guidance from qualified clinical staff
• Flexibility to work the specified shifts, including early mornings and evening weekends

Benefits

• Leave: 7 weeks annual leave (pro rata) plus your birthday as a paid day off
• Health & Wellbeing: Cash Health Plan provided by Simply Health; up to 50% discounted staff pet care
• Professional Development: £780 CPD allowance (pro rata) and 10 hours paid CPD annually (pro rata)
• Financial Security: UK Standard Pension contributions (5% employee / 3% employer); death in service benefit of two times annual salary
• Lifestyle: Vets Now For You reward gateway offering discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
• Family Support: Family-friendly policies including sick pay, maternity, paternity, and adoption pay schemes
• Community: Paid volunteering days

About the Practice

Vets Now Farnham is part of Vets Now, the UK's leading provider of emergency pet care. The clinic operates as a dedicated emergency facility, serving the South East with experienced clinical teams available when pet owners need support most. The practice is part of a wider network of 60+ out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals, all committed to delivering gold-standard emergency and critical care. Vets Now is a Disability Confident Employer that welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds and actively encourages people with disabilities and health conditions to apply, offering reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment.