Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Do you want to enjoy being a great GP vet in a practice where you can stroll down to the beach during your lunch break (which we insist you take) with no OOHs and a flexible rota?

About us and our reputation

Julia opened The Mewes Vets in Haywards Heath in 1996 and, over the years, has built it into a multi-award-winning, RCVS-accredited practice with a reputation for being a great place to work. Many of our team members are extremely long-standing; some have been with us from the start, and others have trained here and stayed. We encourage everyone to be the best they can be and to follow their own dreams and goals while enjoying the autonomy to make the best decision for each patient without the need to worry about targets.

We were crowned Best Vets In West Sussex in 2021, in the top 25 in the UK in 2019, 2020 and 2023, and shortlisted in 2024! This could be down to our ‘One pet, one vet’ policy – meaning every time a client visits; they’ll see a familiar face, ensuring continuity of care for the patients and allowing us to build strong bonds with both our patients and their owners, while also helping to make it a lovely place to work.

But we know it’s not all about the clients and pets; we prioritise the care of each other, as our team is the foundation of the practice. We want everyone to feel nurtured and supported in everything they do and to be able to spread their wings, so we absolutely put each other first.

Julia is joined by a familiar face, Marc Abraham, who was recently awarded the OBE for his outstanding contributions to animal welfare. Jacob, who joined us earlier this year, is interested in diagnostic imaging, medicine and ECC. We currently have three experienced RVNS, with another on maternity leave, and have two more RVNs joining us shortly, plus a team of receptionists to keep everything running like clockwork.

Here’s what some of our team say about working at The Mewes Vets:

“The Mewes is a practice that genuinely listens to, encourages, nurtures and cares about their vets. We have scheduled lunch breaks, which are rarely missed. Scheduled and protected paperwork time. We get paid overtime and are also thanked for it! We have regular vet meetings in which all vets are involved in identifying problems and working on solutions. The rest of the team is great as well. This is a real gem of a working environment at a time where these are hard to come by.” Dr Sarah Reed MRCVS

“I have really enjoyed working at the Mewes over the past two and a half years. I felt very well supported when I moved here as a recent graduate, and I enjoy the one pet-one vet policy, which allows excellent case follow-through. The day is managed very well, with a focus on making sure everyone gets a break and allowing a great work/life balance, and the management team are always open to new suggestions. I enjoy working as part of an enthusiastic team and often have interesting case discussions with my colleagues, including at our journal club, which takes place in a pub every 6 weeks or so!” Dr Alice Denning

“I love working at The Mewes Vets! I love that I get clinical freedom - Julia sets high standards but creates a supportive, no-pressure, no-blame culture and encourages me to develop my skills to become the best vet I can be. Julia is kind, compassionate, and understanding. She is extremely flexible, open to ideas, and genuinely listens to suggestions put forward by the team. I could not ask for a better boss!” Dr Ali Carter MRCVS

The Role

We are looking for a vet with some experience to join our existing team on the coast at Rottingdean and Peacehaven. Whether you’re looking for full or part-time hours, we’re happy to chat with you about the options available. All we ask is that everyone in our team does at least one evening surgery per week (but only until 6.30 pm) and just 1:3 on Saturday mornings; the rest is up for discussion.

We’ll always ensure you have dedicated time to catch up on paperwork and make phone calls. We always reserve time in the diary for 'on the day only' appointments to fit those urgent cases or emergencies without the pressure of squeezing extra appointments in or expecting our team to work late. We’ll also insist you have a proper lunch break so you can clear your head, get some fresh sea air, or spend it however you want. In fact, we’re so confident in our scheduling that if something stops you from getting a lunch break, we’ll pay you for it instead!

There are no out-of-hours as this is outsourced to another clinic 20 minutes away. If we run late, which is pretty unusual, any overtime is paid; you are absolutely not expected to work overtime for free. You will be encouraged to develop and maintain a good work-life balance; overtime is definitely not the norm here. 

We’d love for you to join our Haywards Heath journal club. We will have regular practice meetings and vet meetings as well. We also encourage everyone to follow their interests, so if you have a particular passion or are looking to take on a certificate, we will fully support this.

Outside of work

We love being active in the community and regularly participate in local events, including dog shows and school talks. We also enjoy catching up with everyone over hot chocolate and mince pies as we celebrate the festivities at our client's Christmas party. We’re a friendly team and enjoy getting together outside of work, whether for a meal, a dog walk or ice skating.

The gorgeous villages of Peacehaven and Rottingdean sit over the chalk cliffs at the foot of the South Downs National Park, surrounded by pretty farmland with many dog walks and riding options, equine and pedal-powered. You can reach the beach in just a few minutes as the Rottingdean practice backs onto the coastal path. We are a stone’s throw from Brighton, with its Pavilion, theatres, festivals, pier and beach. We are also lucky to have excellent public transport connections and are within easy reach of central London and the rest of the world via Gatwick.

What we are offering

• Salary of £41,600 to £70,000, depending on experience, before overtime and bonuses
• Five weeks holiday plus bank holidays
• £2,000 annual CPD allowance for both full-time and part-time vets, with certificates supported and funded
• Professional fees paid for

If you are looking for somewhere to put down roots, where you will be supported by a friendly, close-knit team, call us for an informal chat or apply now.