Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Fancy a 3 & ½ day week and a 2 pm Friday finish two out of three weeks!

Avenues Veterinary Clinic is an independent small animal practice based in Watford. It is built on an ethos of teamwork and well-being. Our team might be small, but we go all out to support each other.

“There's a reason why we retain staff at Avenues, and that's because of our amazing team. We all share the same ethos, values, and sense of humour, which are much needed in our profession. To feel fully supported by a practice in both a professional and personal capacity is rare. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else.” Sarah RVN

We genuinely value our team’s work-life balance and understand how important it is to help them stay happy and fulfilled, and we designed our rota to reflect this. We also get together as a team for a mid-morning tea break. It's a chance to catch up with each other, share a laugh, and recharge, and it's these small moments that have helped us build such a strong, connected team.

“I moved to this kind, independent practice to work with a wonderful team and for a better work-life balance. Having a day off in the week but working slightly longer days really works for me. Not having to work OOH is also a bonus!” Krissy RVN

We have built a lovely, loyal client base who trust us to deliver the exceptional, personalised healthcare their pets deserve. Just take a look at all our 5* reviews on Google! Our clients make working here an absolute pleasure. This is just a tiny sample of their lovely reviews:

“The team at Avenue Vets are efficient, knowledgeable, polite, and simply the best. I would never consider going elsewhere.”

“What a lovely little practice. Always a warm & friendly welcome. Kind staff who are not pushy with products or decisions. Very competitively priced. I can’t recommend highly enough.”

“I had contacted a lot of vet practices before I decided to join Avenue Watford. It was the initial conversation I had with the receptionist that made it for me. I received full information on my request and a beautiful service thereafter. I am very happy I found you. Everyone is professional, friendly and welcoming. I felt supported and reassured every step of the way. Thank you!”

David joined Avenues in 2012 as an associate and really loved how well the small, close-knit team worked together and supported each other. He certainly valued this support during the completion of his surgery certificate. When the previous owner, Greg Maskill, retired in 2020, David took ownership to keep Avenues independent and the amazing team spirit alive.

Gemma started with us as a new graduate after leaving the RVC in 2022. She has been busy completing her VetGDP under David’s mentorship and particularly enjoys surgery.

“I am very lucky to have started my veterinary career at Avenues. Everyone in the team has been extremely supportive in my journey to becoming a confident and competent vet. Being an independent practice allows the autonomy to handle cases to best suit both the patient and the owners.  While the professional aspects are a huge part of the job, what truly makes me not want to work anywhere else is the team and the sense of humour we all share.” Gemma MRCVS

Our Practice Manager, Sarah, has been an integral member of Avenues since 1999 and has built lasting relationships with our clients. She qualified as an RVN in 2001 and loves her role as our clinical coach, mentoring the next generation of nurses, including Niamh, who completed her nurse training with us in 2023.

Our Head Nurse, Krissy, qualified as an RVN in 2010. Having previously worked in larger practices, she has enjoyed getting to know our patients and clients. She also has a keen interest in wound care and bandaging. Claire, our VCA, has been with the team for 20 years. She has completed further training in anaesthesia and is also an SQP. Jasmine completed her Level 3 Diploma in Animal Care and Management before joining us in 2022. She is now undertaking her nurse training.

You will have an equal share of the consulting and operating, so there is plenty of time to hone your skills, and David is always happy to chat through a case, offer advice, or provide an extra pair of hands if there’s a procedure you’re not confident with. We have all the kit needed to work up most cases in-house and are equipped with various toys, including ultrasound with Doppler, digital X-ray, endoscope, ECG, and Tono-Pen. We also have great relationships with both The Ralph and the RVC for those complex cases that need referral.

Ideally, we are looking for a vet with some experience who is comfortable with routine procedures. We understand the importance of work-life balance and have designed our rota to reflect that. We run a 3-week rolling rota; for two weeks, it’s a 3.5-day week, Wednesday off plus a 2 pm finish on Friday, so a long weekend 2 out of 3 weeks. The other days are either a 4 pm or 7 pm finish. Our latest appointment is at 6 pm, so you should have time to catch up at the end of the day and be out the door on time. The 3^rd week is still just 4 days, with the Wednesday off and then a short consulting block of Saturday morning consults (9-12). Our out-of-hours are outsourced to Medivet Watford, who are very local and look after our inpatients too, so your nights, Sundays and bank holidays are free to enjoy.

We don’t limit socialising outside of work to just Christmas (even if Sarah already has this year's venue locked and loaded!); we often get together for meals or drinks to celebrate happy occasions or try something new like axe-throwing. As summer finally arrives, we’re all looking forward to our annual ‘West Fest’, when we all head off to Sarah’s house for a BBQ, and David is hopeful he can convince the team to take on an Escape room soon.

Watford offers a good balance between city life and a more relaxed suburban environment. You can escape the hustle and bustle in Cassiobury Park, one of the UK's top 10 parks, or explore the nearby Chiltern Hills and beautiful local countryside. Watford has excellent transport links, with direct trains to London Euston (just 20 minutes away) and easy access to the motorway (M25 and M1). This makes it a great option for those who want the buzz of the city without the high cost of living in central London.

• A salary of £45,000 - £60,000
• Six weeks holiday, plus bank holidays
• CPD encouraged with no fixed budget and certificates supported
• Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS and one other
• Visa sponsorship considered
• Discounted vet fees

If you want to be part of our friendly and supportive team, call us now for an informal chat or apply now.