Animal Care Assistant - Maternity Cover until July 2027
– Specialist referrals (small animal orthopaedics and neurology)
Full time (40 hours per week) with 6.6 weeks annual leave pro rata.
At Movement Referrals, we're passionate about delivering exceptional care to pets and outstanding service to their owners and referring veterinary practices. As an independent veterinary referral centre specialising in Orthopaedics and Neurology, we're proud to be led by an experienced team of Specialists, supported by dedicated receptionists, nurses, ACAs, Specialist and Advanced Practitioner vets.
We are looking for a compassionate, enthusiastic, and dedicated Animal Care Assistant to join us on a fixed-term maternity cover contract. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about animal welfare and would like to develop their experience within a busy referral practice.
The Role
As an Animal Care Assistant, you will play an important role in supporting our clinical teams by ensuring our patients receive the highest standard of care throughout their stay.
Responsibilities include, and training will be provided where required:
- Complete daily hospital set up and shut down lists
- Exercising & providing enrichment for inpatients
- Grooming
- Monitoring and providing supportive care to inpatients (to include calculating and administering accurate patient nutritional requirements)
- Ensuring patients are clean and comfortable in their environment
- Administering oral and topical medications when directed
- Handling and restraining patients (adhering to cat friendly policies where applicable)
- Completing and recording patient vital signs and communicating to the nursing team (Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate, Mucous Membrane appearance, Capillary refill time).
- Laundry
- Assist with Theatre ACA duties as required
- Clean, maintain and sterilise surgical instrumentation following SOPs
- Maintain an aseptic environment in the theatre suite
- Maintain consumables within sterile services
- Prepare the surgical team for procedures to include donning surgical PPE and opening sterile packs.
- Assisting in the transportation and positioning of patients into and out of theatre
- Assisting the clinical teams
- Keeping all clinical areas clean and tidy
- Equipment maintenance e.g. ensuring clippers are clean between patients, blades are regularly replaced/sharpened
- Prepare patients for surgery (to include clipping & surgical scrub in accordance with the surgical scrub protocol)
- Completing daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning regimes
- Fulfilling obligations of the rota to include sickness cover, holiday cover and bank holiday cover in any area required
- Carrying out any reasonable requests made by the Clinical Directors, vets, nurses, and any member of the management team.
Essential criteria:
- Experience of working with animals
- Handling customer data in a confidential manner
- The capacity to stay calm in stressful situations
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Being able to work independently, take direction and collaborate within a busy team
- Satisfaction in achieving high standards of cleanliness and organisation
- Ability and willingness to maintain a positive work environment
Desirable criteria:
- Flexibility in assisting other departments when required
- Experience in customer-facing roles
- Knowledge and experience of veterinary administration duties
Salary and benefits: £28,000 pro-rata
We are looking to recruit a balanced team member with a blend of skills and experience. Accordingly, salary offers will be commensurate with experience but competitive.
Informal enquiries to Laura Linck [email protected] & Monique Jones [email protected]
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed Term until July 2027
Full-time hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Staff Discount
- Sick Pay
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday (with the potential of a weekend rota to develop in the future
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Runcorn, WA7 3GH: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience: 2 years minimum of working in a veterinary practice - Please DO NOT apply if you do not have the relevant experience.
Work Location: In person
Closing Date: Monday 10th August 2027 9am
Pay: From £28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
