Experienced Full-Time Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Do you want to work in an independent practice with clinical freedom and where your opinion counts?

Do you like helping people by giving advice on their new puppy/kitten and building a relationship with them so you can keep their pet healthy and comfortable into old age?

Do you engage well with clients and have the ability to explain things clearly and simply?

Are you able to add value to the team beyond your clinical skills and help those around you to have a good day and get better at what they do?

Do you want to work somewhere where you are supported, valued & listened to by the management team?

…….  If so, then please read on as we may just be what you’re looking for.

The fundamentals

100% small animal, first opinion, proudly independent, rural practice.

Situated in Upper Caldecote in Bedfordshire, just off the A1 with easy access to Luton Airport, London and Cambridge.

Our Team: 7 Veterinary Surgeons (including Director/owner and Clinical Director), 6 RVNs, 2 experienced Veterinary Nursing Auxiliaries, 1 student RVN, 6 Receptionists and a Practice Manager.

Shifts follow a fixed 3 week rolling rota: 9am – 7pm four days a week with a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday off each week.

Saturdays 1:8 9am – 5pm sole charge.

15-minute consultations.

Salary from £33,000 for 1 years’ experience increasing depending upon skills, experience and advanced qualifications.  RCVS fees paid and an annual CPD budget of £1500 plus travel/accommodation.  Certificates fully funded.  Benefits include: 32 days holiday (including bank holidays), two weeks paid sick pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Pension and cost price veterinary treatment for your own pets.

Ideal start time is from the end of November 2021 onwards.

The role

You’ll be expected to consult, perform medical workups, dentals and soft tissue surgery. We undertake some first opinion orthopaedic operations as well - all aided by our in-house laboratory, dental and digital x-ray and ultrasound (including cardiac), with a team of experienced vets and nurses for support.

You’ll have good time management skills and the ability to prioritise and get work done each day.

You’ll manage your own cases to achieve better clinical outcomes, greater satisfaction and establish bonded clients which we strongly encourage.

What we can offer

A friendly working environment where you can make a real difference.

Clinical freedom to try new drugs or techniques.

Support and guidance of a senior vet at all times.

Encouragement to undertake special interests, further qualifications and certificates, as we’d love you to develop and share your new skills with us.

Continuous access to managers to put forward suggestions, discuss concerns, chat with, laugh with and cry with.

Regular all-staff and departmental meetings and annual reviews.

A good work-life balance and a set 3 week rolling rota for the year ahead, so you can plan your all-important time off and holidays well in advance as well as known consulting times/op days etc.

Time to sit down and eat your lunch and unexpected emergencies aside, leave on time too!

About you

You’ll be the type of vet who can work with and help to advance our standards of care to improve patient outcomes and client consistency

You’ll enjoy working with the public and be confident in yourself and not embarrassed to discuss money, as although it isn’t our priority, it is a necessary conversation.

We are looking for someone who ‘gets’ what we are trying to achieve and can fit our team culture and values because team harmony is very important to us.  We want you to be able to have a drink with us or go for a dog walk or party with us at Christmas.

We need someone who can work effectively with colleagues; someone who builds trusting relationships with ease; someone who can help clients understand what the right things to do is by communicating clearly and simply; and someone who likes to learn and help others grow too.

Equally, we want you to be able to accept that you will make mistakes and that’s ok, as long as you are honest and reflect and learn from them.

Ultimately, the owner and management team here care deeply about our staff and helping them to achieve their career ambitions.  If you like the sound of what we have to offer and you have what we’re looking for, then please get in touch by emailing your CV and covering letter to Elizabeth (Libby) Ambrose (nee Smith) at esmithvet@btconnect.com or telephone Libby on 01767 627317 for more information