Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Are you an experienced vet ready to embrace a consult-only role that allows a more relaxed way of working, with time to build lasting relationships with your patients and their owners?

About us

Doorstep Vet is an independent mobile consult-only practice covering Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding area. We are an innovative, modern mobile practice that allows you to deliver clinic-level care at clients’ homes. Our mission is to provide stress-free, convenient, contextualised care for pets by bringing the consulting room to them. Since opening in 2022, we’ve grown quickly; we now have a fabulous head office in Prestwick Park (near the airport) and our second van has just arrived, and it’s time to expand our team. We pride ourselves on being a fantastic place to work and hugely value our team, actively promoting a healthy work-life balance. That’s why we don’t work weekends, bank holidays or out-of-hours.

We may be small, but we’re mighty, too! So far in 2024, we’ve been shortlisted for the 2024 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards and were a finalist in the UK Startup Awards 2024. We're incredibly proud of the strong bonds we've formed with our clients. Their loyalty and support have been instrumental in our success, as evidenced by our 5-star ratings on Google and Facebook and our three Petplan award nominations. Here are just a few examples of what our clients have to say:

“Doorstep Vets are amazing. It takes the stress out of visiting the vet for both the pet and owner. Cannot recommend them enough and we're really grateful we discovered them. Thank you!"

“You’re a lovely, kind and caring bunch. Would 100% recommend.”

“I can't speak highly enough of the service.”

“Couldn’t ask for a better vet, and with the added convenience, I can’t think of a reason not to call Doorstep Vet.”

Our vans have been specially converted to create a modern, fully-equipped consulting room that would rival that of any standard practice. This allows us to focus on what we do exceptionally well: consulting. We leave operations and hospitalisation to static practices, which are better placed to provide this. For any urgent cases or out-of-hours, we have the support of Westway Vet Group in Newcastle, ensuring our patients always receive the care they need. We utilise a peripatetic scanning service, allowing us to perform echos and abdominal scans within the van and have access to three referral centres locally: Bridge, Moorview, and Wear Referrals.

Our Team

Our friendly, supportive team has a wealth of experience. Joanna (Jo) is our practice owner and vet. Inspired by a desire to create a more stress-free and personalised experience for pets and their owners, she founded Doorstep Vet. Our Practice Manager, Jess, qualified as an RVN in 2010 and has worked in both first opinion and referral practices. Gabby (RVN), Johanna, and Lorna (both Client Care Advisors) make up the rest of our team, and we can’t wait to welcome two more team members over the next few months.

“I had the pleasure of joining Doorstep Vet in July 2023, and I can honestly say it's been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The company culture is incredibly supportive and collaborative, fostering a positive work environment. It's a joy to be part of a company that prioritises building strong relationships with clients and their pets to provide the highest quality experience possible.” Jess RVN & Practice Manager

The role

Our environment is not only a lot less stressful for pets and their owners, but it’s also much more relaxed for us, too. Jo even provides a coffee fund for when you’re on the road! We start and end our days at our lovely head office, where our vans (and the fancy coffee maker) are kept and where you can write up your notes, make phone calls, etc., all while enjoying the rural view. We typically see between 6 and 8 appointments daily, with up to 30 minutes for each appointment and time set aside for a proper lunch break, and you will always have someone to assist you. Our catchment area is split into three zones so the office can plan visits efficiently and minimise travel time between appointments.

We will soon welcome a new vet and RVN, who will join us at the end of the year. However, the practice is still growing, so we're looking for an experienced vet to join our team and contribute to our continued success. We can be really flexible with the rota, so whether you’re looking for full or part-time hours or have other commitments to work around, we’re happy to chat about the options available. We can offer an excellent work-life balance, with no weekends, OOH or bank holidays.

We offer

• A salary up to £65,000, depending on experience (pro rata for part-time hours)
• Full or part-time hours, with no weekends, OOH or bank holidays
• 6.6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays
• CPD supported
• Professional fees paid for RCVS and VDS
• Private Health Insurance
• Staff discount
• Coffee fund for when you’re on the road

Outside of work

Luckily, our location offers the best of both worlds, giving us plenty of options for things to do. Whether enjoying city life with Newcastle’s vibrant culture and the bustling bars and restaurants on the Quayside or heading outdoors to experience the stunning countryside and coastline of Northumberland, like nearby Bamburgh, which was voted as the UK’s best seaside destination by Which? Readers for the fourth consecutive year. We also benefit from excellent transport links, with the A1 motorway connecting us to Edinburgh and London and the metro for local travel. And with our office so close to the airport and your weekends free, you can easily escape for a weekend away. You can even avoid the airport parking fees by leaving your car at work!

Ready to join our team? Call us for an informal chat, or apply now!