Receptionist – Part Time

About the Role

You'll be the first point of contact for clients arriving at Vets Now Sutton during emergency situations—whether they're calling ahead or walking through the door with a worried pet. This part-time role offers flexible evening and weekend shifts that fit around your life, with a manageable rota that includes Monday evenings, Saturday and Sunday daytime-to-evening shifts, and select Friday evenings. You'll be part of a highly skilled emergency team in one of the UK's leading out-of-hours providers, serving the London area. This isn't just about answering phones and booking appointments—you'll be a reassuring, friendly presence during what's often a stressful time for pet owners. You'll work alongside dedicated veterinary professionals in a supportive environment where your role genuinely matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the initial point of contact for clients, greeting them warmly and answering emergency calls with professionalism and empathy
• Book appointments and manage client enquiries efficiently
• Handle financial transactions and maintain accurate administrative records
• Keep veterinary staff updated on patients arriving and clients requiring additional support
• Provide friendly liaison between clients and the clinical team, offering reassurance and information when needed

Requirements

• Strong communication skills and a calm demeanor under pressure
• Ability to manage administrative duties accurately
• Customer-focused approach with genuine empathy for worried pet owners
• Flexibility to work the rota pattern: Monday 19:00–23:00, Saturday 12:00–23:00, Sunday 14:00–23:00 (Week 1), plus Tuesday and Friday 19:00–23:00 (Week 2), plus bank holidays

Benefits

• £15.46 per hour
• 7 weeks' pro-rata annual leave
• Your birthday as a paid day off
• Cash Health Plan provided by Simply Health
• Vets Now For You reward gateway offering discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
• £780 pro-rata CPD allowance and 10 hours paid CPD annually
• Family-friendly policies including sick pay, maternity, paternity and adoption pay schemes
• UK Standard Pension contributions (5% employee/3% employer)
• Up to 50% discounted staff pet care
• Paid volunteering days
• Death in service benefit of two times annual salary

About the Practice

Vets Now Sutton is part of Vets Now, the UK's leading provider of emergency pet care. The organisation operates over 60 dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals, serving over 1,700 veterinary practices across the country. The Sutton clinic brings together a highly skilled emergency team dedicated to delivering compassionate care when pets need it most. 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 prides itself on flexibility—whether you're looking for one shift per month or full-time work.