At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, team-orientated Veterinary Care Assistant to join our team at Donnington Grove on a full-time basis.
We are a busy equine referral hospital based in Newbury, West Berkshire and are looking to expand our team. We are looking for an enthusiastic, hard-working and dedicated person with a passion for horses and their welfare. The ideal applicant will have experience and confidence working with a range of horses, ideally to include racehorses, foals and competition horses.
As a Veterinary Care Assistant, you will play an important role in supporting the clinical team to deliver high standards of patient and client care, while helping to ensure the practice environment runs smoothly and safely.
Working under the direction of a veterinary surgeon or registered veterinary nurse, you'll support inpatient care, assist with patient handling and restraint, help maintain clinical areas and equipment, and contribute to a positive and compassionate experience for both patients and clients.
This is a full-time position, working 39 hours a week, which involves supporting our team of veterinary surgeons, both in the hospital and out on the road, 24/7/365 days a year, to provide routine and emergency care to our patients. The role includes shift work with both nights and weekends where start and finish times will vary.
General responsibilities include:
- Performing clinical checks
- Admitting and discharging patients
- Helping to acquire diagnostic images both in the hospital and on the road
You are a reliable and motivated individual who enjoys working as part of a team and is keen to develop within a veterinary environment. You’ll bring:
- A caring, professional approach with a genuine interest in animal welfare
- Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage tasks effectively in a busy environment
- A proactive attitude to learning, with openness to feedback and development
- Experience of working with animals in either a clinical or non-clinical setting would be advantageous
The applicant will be required to hold a grade 4-9 or A*-C in 5 GCSEs to include maths, English and Science as well as have a UK driving license. You will receive full training for the role to study for and achieve a Level 3 Qualification in Equine Veterinary Nursing. Current training is a blend of on-line/on the job training and face-to-face teaching with our apprenticeship provider.
At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:
- Structured development opportunities, including access to VCA development programmes and apprenticeships
- Clear career pathways with progression opportunities into Student Veterinary Nurse roles and beyond
- Supportive, collaborative teams focused on delivering high-quality patient and client care
- A values-led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement
- 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off
- Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
- Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
- Employee wellbeing initiatives including - Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
- Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
- Discounted veterinary care
- Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you - including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers
£25,865.11 per annum
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
