Veterinary Surgeon

Mixed Veterinary Surgeon for practice in Orkney Islands. Full time or 3 or 4 day week, and would consider an Experienced Small Animal vet.

The Practice

At Flett & Carmichael we are a kind, friendly, hard-working team, who value and care about each other, our clients and their animals. We enjoy coming to work, with our normal workday hours of 9 to 5.30.  We are a RCVS PSS accredited practice, a Vet Nurse Training Centre and support Vet GDP. We are well equipped for all species seen. We are very happy to invest in training and CPD as our team is our greatest asset. Our practice is expanding and we have started converting a new building into a larger surgery, with completion hoped to be in summer 2025.

The Role

Our team of 7 full time and part time vets currently are providing 5 full-time-equivalent cover. We provide our own out of hours emergency service which is generally quiet, with a busier time in our seasonal calving and lambing in spring. We have an equally shared rota which will be 1 in 6 with our new vet. We are looking for an additional vet as we anticipate our move into bigger premises.  

We are a very mixed practice, with approx 65% small animal, 25% farm and 10% horses. We see all species, but mainly pets, beef cows, sheep and horses, with some dairy, exotics and wildlife. We have great links with helpful referral centres with all species who are happy to advise us while dealing with more complex cases. We all have our own interests and there is room for developing an interest in any area of mixed practice with us.  

We are investing in our practice with new premises being converted and good equipment. We have DR digital xray, dental xray, Ultrasound scanner, endoscope, Cardell BP monitor, ECG, multi-parameter monitors, tonopen vet, drip pumps and syringe drivers, patient warmer, equine motorised dental equipment, bull and ram ejaculators, on site hospitalisation. We aim to be a gold standard cat friendly practice in our new surgery and will have 4 consult rooms, space for a floating x-ray table, space for more equine and large animal equipment, dedicated small animal dental room etc. 

We have regular whole practice and team meetings, and have 5 experienced RVNs and 2 SVNs, an admin team of 4 and 2 care assistants.

We are looking for a vet who likes to work as part of a team. We like to work in a collegiate way and support each other. We see a great variety in cases working in mixed practice and maintain our skills for all species, so someone who enjoys that challenge would be ideal. We have experienced vets who can offer support in all areas to a more recent graduate, and equally would welcome a more experienced vet looking to settle and take a role developing interests in any veterinary area. As our small animal side now needs at least 3 vets working every day, we would also consider an experienced small animal clinician that could bring their skills to enhance our practice. 

We are located in Kirkwall the main town in Orkney. Orkney is an amazing place to live with great facilities, a population of 23,000. Many local activities very well supported: music, sports, outdoor activities, crafts, nature, wildlife, archeology, beaches, walking, cinema, theatre and folk music. 2 indoor schools, liveries available and active riding and pony club scene. Excellent primary and secondary schools. Good local shops as well as Tesco, Lidl, Coop, Boots, etc  Orkney.com/life 

Over 20,000 high quality beef cows with followers live here plus sheep and dairy cows, and our farming is some of the most densely populated in the UK. Our farmers are generally progressive and keen to do the best for herd health. Many animal lovers are in our great community! 

Our transport links are very good with 3 different boat routes as well as planes from all Scottish airports.

The Package

• Salary of £32,000 to £65,000 depending on experience for a 4.5 day working week (35 hours) and equal share of on call rota.
• We can offer help with relocation and finding accommodation
• A practice vehicle or mileage payment for own vehicle
• Generous CPD funded including travel away and accommodation at a relevant course or conference annually
• Annual 4 weeks sick leave funded
• Medicines and goods provided at Net price and reduced fees for procedures
• Practice pension plan

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