Skip to main content

This job has expired

Veterinary Surgeon - Somerset

Employer
White Lodge Veterinary Clinic
Location
Minehead, Somerset
Salary
Salary from £32,000 to £55,000
Closing date
31 Aug 2022

Job Details

Whether you are newly graduated or an experienced vet looking for the next stage in your career, we’d love you to come and join us at the White Lodge Veterinary Clinic in West Somerset, close to the Devon border. Whilst we’re a mixed practice, we are currently looking for a small animal vet to become part of our team at our a purpose-built, hospital-standard practice in Minehead. This is a newly created position as we’re growing. The role is full-time; however, we can be very flexible and because it’s an addition to the team we are open to chatting about part-time or flexible hours that suit you. We also be happy to chat to if you’d like to do mixed practice with a small animal bias. 

White Lodge Vet Clinic

We are an independent RCVS accredited practice, and our two owners, Paul and Tom are determined to keep us that way. We are very forward thinking and don’t like to prescribe to rigid clinical protocols - everyone has a different area of expertise, and we support each other where we can and really support clinical freedom. We are fortunate to have Simon, a former partner and very experienced surgeon, who takes on most of our orthopaedic cases (we rarely refer anything out) and Elsa who enjoys mixed practice with a special interest in exotics as well as Sonia who is currently undertaking a certificate in small animal surgery. Supporting them are our two part-time vets; Jenny who is a whizz with our ultrasound machine and Rebecca who has a keen interest in ophthalmology. If further study and certification is where you’d like to go, then we will absolutely support you in this and have the caseload to boot. We have a great relationship with a local wildlife park so there is plenty of opportunity to get involved in these cases too. 

The practice is purpose built so we’ve been able to think about things like the flow of work through the building and things like air-conditioning throughout - no more long sweaty dental procedures! We also have a separate dental area with tub table, a dedicated imaging suite and two theatres with positive pressure ventilation. We’re also silver IFSM cat friendly. We have some great kit including a laparoscope, DR Xray and DR dental x-ray. We have rigid and flexible scopes, with which with have become rather adept at removing gastric and oesophageal fish hooks picked up on the beach. 

Our full-time vets work a 4.5 day working week, starting at 9am and finishing by 5pm, unless it’s your on call, when it’s a 6pm finish. With this new role, the on-call rota will be 1:5. The 1:5 weekends include a Saturday morning shift (9am – 12pm) and there are no additional Saturdays. You get 2 days back for your weekend on call, and we are very flexible when you take this, and it is added to your annual leave. Our RVNs are always on call for any night checks and more often than not, are able to take care of any inpatients and you would only be consulted to give direction for medications. The calls you receive will have first been screened by our answering service, so no direct client calls and you will only be contacted in a genuine emergency. Generally, OOH is not too busy and for every client you see, you will get an extra £25 per consult. For a new graduate you would spend 2- 3 months shadowing before going on the rota and you would always have full back up.  

We love having new graduates in the practice and are able to offer excellent support. Both Paul and Tom are Vet GDP Advisor and they both really enjoy teaching.  

White Lodge Vet ClinicWe’re really proud that our colleagues like working here and stay with us a long time. Here is Jennie one of our vets has to say about working with us; 

‘I have worked for White Lodge for the last 9 years and have no plans to move. The team is friendly, the rural client base (and general pace of life) tends to be more laid back than in previous urban areas I have lived and worked in before. The practice is well equipped and forward thinking, and the surrounding area is beautiful. Exmoor, the Quantocks and the sea are all within easy reach. I am very happy here!’ 

  • Salary from £32,000 for a new graduate up to £55,000 for an experienced surgeon 
  • Yearly bonus 
  • 5 weeks holiday. 
  • Professional membership fees paid including BVA, BSAVA plus one other.  
  • Practice subscription to Vetstream 
  • Private medical insurance 
  • Fully funded CPD, certificates supported  
  • Short-term accommodation if needed 
  • Use of practice vehicle OOH if required.  

From practice meetings with a takeaway, to our two annual Christmas parties, we really like to socialise together where we can. West Somerset is a really fantastic place to live and there is so much to explore here, which is great as you are welcome to bring your dog to work. Exmoor National Park is on our doorstep and is famous for its wild ponies and deer and is a perfect area for an outdoor enthusiast. There is also plenty of opportunity to get involved in local team sports in the area. Tom is a big cricket and rugby player and participates in both locally, plus there are some great running groups too!

For the water sports lover, Woolacombe beach is about an hour away and was voted one of the best surfing beaches in the UK and with a 5pm finish you can easily get here for an evening surf. The pretty Devon coastal towns Lynton and Lynmouth are just 20 minutes away.  We are also only 40 minutes from Taunton and the M5.  

We’d love to talk to you, come and meet the team for an uncensored chat and an expenses paid visit.  

Company

We are a small animal, equine and farm veterinary clinic based in the South West of England, within the stunning scenery of Exmoor National Park. We have established ourself amongst the local community of West Somerset, and now provide care to thousands of pets every year across our three flourishing clinics. 

Our nine-vet clinic offers a wealth of expertise and experience in all areas of veterinary work across Somerset and Devon. 

Company info
Website
Telephone
01643 703649
Location
Stephenson Road
MINEHEAD
Somerset
TA24 5EB
GB

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert