ECC Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a weekend-only ECC position at Vets Now Southampton, perfect for vets seeking emergency and critical care experience or looking to grow their skills alongside a permanent role elsewhere. You’ll work within a dedicated emergency team supported by mentorship from experienced colleagues, with a varied caseload that sharpens your diagnostic and clinical abilities.

Two rota options give you genuine flexibility: backshift work (18:00–00:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, working as second vet on shift and sharing knowledge on complex cases) or day shifts (12:00–18:00 on Saturdays, 08:00–18:00 on Sundays, with options to work every or alternate weekends). Bank holidays are shared fairly across the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver emergency and critical care assessment and treatment across a mixed caseload
• Work collaboratively with the Southampton ECC team on complex cases, particularly during backshift rotas
• Contribute to a supportive, mentorship-driven environment where learning is prioritised
• Maintain high clinical standards in an out-of-hours setting
• Participate in ongoing professional development and case-based learning

Requirements

• Current RCVS registration as a Veterinary Surgeon
• Interest in emergency and critical care (experience welcome but not essential)
• Ability to work effectively within a team and respond to mentorship
• Professional communication and clinical judgment

Benefits

• Salary: Up to £45 per hour depending on experience
• Leave: 7 weeks pro rata annual leave, plus birthday as a paid day off
• Professional Development: £1,500 CPD allowance plus 35 paid hours pro rata; financial and study leave support for ECC certificates
• Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance, membership of employee wellbeing programme, enhanced sick pay
• Family Support: Enhanced maternity policy (6 months full pay), paternity and adoption pay schemes
• Professional Fees: RCVS fees, VECCS membership, and VDS cover included
• Additional Perks: Up to 50% discounted staff pet care, Vets Now For You rewards gateway (discounts and cashback with 100+ retailers), 5 paid volunteering days, death in service benefit (2× annual salary)
• Pension: UK Standard Pension contributions (5% employee, 3% employer)
• Development Programmes: Access to AdvantEdge (blended practical training and e-learning for confident emergency practice entry) and other Edge programmes, with full salary during participation

About the Practice

Vets Now Southampton is part of the Vets Now Group, a leading UK emergency and critical care provider. The Southampton clinic operates as a dedicated ECC facility with a skilled emergency team available when pets need them most.

Vets Now is passionate about continuous professional development and creating a flexible, supportive culture. The group operates across the UK with multiple ECC locations and actively invests in training programmes like AdvantEdge and Cutting Edge to support vets at all career stages. Vets Now Group Limited is registered under company number SC218632 (registered office: Penguin House, Castle Riggs, Dunfermline, KY11 8SG).