*The Veterinary Hospital, Lincoln is recruiting for another vet*

100% small animal independent hospital

Purpose built premises

Opportunities for support and progression

£32-65k + extra benefits

Full or Part Time

Read on for full, honest details…

Anneli and Carolyn are in search for another vet to join the VH team! We’re a (relatively) young and (relatively!) vibrant team of 15 vets (9FTE) working a variety of shift patterns with the sole aim to provide the best care we can for our patients. We’re proudly independent, 100% small animal, working out of purpose-built hospital premises with all the usual kit, and supported by our branch practice a couple of villages away. The directors do their full share of the clinical work.

Two of our lovely vets are expecting new members of their own family so the role will initially be for 1 year for maternity cover, but as we are fortunate to be growing it is likely to be a permanent position if mutually agreeable. Don’t rule us out if you don’t want to work full time – we are very open to part time and flexible working.

Some of us vets have our own specific interests, with certificate holders in surgery, feline medicine and ECC, one who has completed her masters' in behaviour and others undertaking their exotic, surgical and cardiology certs. Equally we have some fabulous all-rounder GPs who are frankly excellent at everything - and we all regularly share our knowledge with daily inpatient rounds, regular vet meetings and in house cpd. If you want to do a certificate, we will support you with that. If you don’t – that’s also fine.  Our 2 year New/Recent Graduate program has been a roaring success, with our second graduate joining us just this month and our new graduate from last summer having finished her vetGDP already. Supporting new members of the profession is essential and we will continue to do so, with a position open each year.

Continuity is important for our vets, clients and patients. We know that staff wellbeing and having time at home to switch off from work is essential. So, we aim to strike a balance – we use Vets Now for our out of hours cover for any new emergencies, whilst keeping all of our inpatients on site, and pledging to see any patients who have had surgery with us in the past week if their owners have concerns out of hours.  In reality this means it’s rare to get called in out of hours. We are so lucky to have a fabulous nursing team who stay on site when we’re closed, take the phones, and will call the on-call vet only if needed.

Breaks in the working day are so important. Vets are apparently notoriously bad at having them, as it always seems that there is something else pressing for our time. We’re doing our best to make it easier - consulting days have a 90-minute gap over lunch and 60-minute gap in the afternoon, for catch ups, coffee and phone calls. When you’re on a theatre shift, the ‘Boss Nurse’ (who changes each day) who manages the ops list will tell you when to go to have your lunch and breaks. We strongly advise you listen to her.

On the topic of our nurses – they are also frankly excellent. They focus on providing nursing care so we can do the vetting. They have additional skills and qualifications in exotics, ECC and schedule 3 procedures. We could not do what we do without our nurses, and we empower them to do what they do best. We’re a nurse training practice and have excellent kennel assistants supporting the nursing team for inpatient care so that all our patients are always appropriately fed, watered, walked and clean.

Our receptionists are the face of the practice, standing on the frontline every day - please look after them.  They know their stuff - they’re all members of the British Veterinary Receptionists Association, working towards (or having achieved) their accredited Veterinary Receptionist Award.  Our team answer the phones in the dedicated phone room so they can focus on clients, and so that the reception area is calmer and quieter for our patients. Our Practice Secretary and Practice Manager look after all of us and support our front of house team, as well as keeping the place running day to day.

The last few years have brought challenges to everyone, for our clients, our team and our families. We strive to be a practice which asks for, and listens to the opinions and ideas of every single member of staff to face these head on - and so far we seem to be thriving despite the uncertainty. We’ve adapted to virtual team meetings (optional, held in the evenings, and paid of course), we’ve consciously tried to give plenty of thank you's so our team know they are appreciated, and started the tradition of an annual family BBQ with obligatory bouncy castle as well as the usual Christmas do and vet/nurse/reception dinners.

The nitty gritty which you’re waiting for – our full-time vets work 40 hours a week, 4 week-days, plus 1 in 4 Saturday mornings, 1 in 10 weekends and nights OOH, just for inpatient cover. Shifts vary on a rota pattern which overlap to cover our opening hours, 8-5, 9-5, 9-6, 10-6.30, 10-7(on call). Shifts can be swapped amongst ourselves to suit outside commitments.

You’ll get benefits – BUPA healthcare, income protection, pension, BVA (or other membership), VDS cover, RCVS fees paid, 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays. Cost price treatment for your pets. CPD –min £1k per year, more if needed. Uniform. Free parking. Transparent salary scale from £32-65k pro rata depending on experience.

We know vetting is tough. We can’t promise to be perfect, but we are doing what we can to make it better. We will listen and support you. In return we are asking for someone to join our team who loves being a vet, and who wants to do their best for their patients and clients. We think that is you.

Want to know a bit more? Follow us on Facebook or have a look at our website.

Email carolyn.myers@vhvets.co.uk if you have any questions, and to apply.

We’ll have a chat and invite you to spend a few hours with us, getting to know the team.

*The Veterinary Hospital, *175 Newport, Lincoln, LN1 3DZ

*The Skellingthorpe Surgery,* 32 Lincoln Road, Skellingthorpe,LN6 5UU

www.vhvets.co.uk

Job Types: Part-time, Full-time

Pay: £32,000.00-£65,000.00 per year

Benefits:
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Private medical insurance
Schedule:
* Day shift
* Monday to Friday
* Night shift
* Weekend availability

Work Location: In person

The Veterinary Hospital, Lincoln

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