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- Tasks: Provide care to pets, assist in lab work, and support clients at the reception.
- Company: Join Blue Cross UK, a leading animal welfare charity with a great workplace culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 38-43 days holiday, mental wellbeing support, and free GP access.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal welfare while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in veterinary support or customer service is preferred but not essential.
- Other info: Full-time role with a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.
The predicted salary is between 22000 - 26000 £ per year.
By joining our animal hospital in Merton as an Animal Care Assistant, you’re joining a team who won the first BVA Wellbeing award for being a great place to work! If you’re passionate about animal welfare, working with the public and are wanting to make a difference every day – this is the role for you!
Application Deadline: 15 June 2025
Department: Veterinary Services
Location: Merton animal hospital
Compensation: £30,826 / year
Contract: Permanent, full time
Salary: £26,208 plus £3,954 London Weighting Allowance per annum
More about the role:
Since June 1999, we’ve been a cornerstone of the Merton community, delivering veterinary services to approximately 6,000 unique pets every year. From routine procedures like neutering to intricate surgeries and advanced diagnostics, our hospital offers a comprehensive range of treatments.
As an Animal Care Assistant (ACA), you have a key role in our fast-paced hospitals, providing a high standard of care to the pets in our hospitals and providing support to their owners. You’ll do this by providing the highest level of animal care and customer service with empathy and a non-judgmental mindset in all situations.
Each day will see you providing care to the pets in our hospitals which includes cleaning, feeding, exercising, grooming, laundry and administering treatment. Another part of this role is where you will be based on our reception, working with customers face to face, answering the phone, using the computer, dispensing medication and taking payments.
Our ACA's are responsible for managing the laboratory as part of their shifts so your duties will include processing and documenting all samples at the hospital. To do this, you will use our in house lab machines to run blood samples, staining and preparing microscope slides for inhouse analysis, perform urine testing, prepare samples for external analysis and maintain accurate records of sample handling and reporting.
This is a full time role working 42 hours a week with a one hour paid lunch break on a rota to include weekends and public holidays. Due to the nature of the work of Blue Cross, and this post, it may be necessary to exceed these hours when the workload demands.
About you:
The ideal candidate for this role is someone who has previous experience in a veterinary support role which may have been in a vet practice, or kennel setting. As well as the practical animal handling skills, we would ideally like someone who has experience working in a busy reception alongside their animal care role who feels confident in both animal facing and customer facing environments, however this is not essential.
As mentioned in the 'More about the role' section, lab work is an important part of this position, therefore having an understanding of urinalysis and use of a centrifuge for example would be advantageous.
With great communication skills you will be able to speak to a wide variety of people including senior vets, members of the public and your team. Working in an animal hospital can involve supporting clients that are distressed and you will be working in an emotionally challenging environment therefore you will need the ability to keep calm under pressure and re-prioritise tasks where needed.
Knowledge, skills, and experience:
- Experience working or volunteering in a veterinary practice or within a similar role
- Good communication skills, both written and verbal
- IT literate with MS Office and web-based databases and platforms
- The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values
Although not essential, it would be great if you also had:
- Experience within a reception or client care role
- Qualification in Animal Care or similar
- The ability to observe changes in animals health and wellbeing
- The ability to interact face to face with clients and visitors and communicate effectively with a range of people
How to apply:
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 15th June 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
Blue Cross benefits:
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.
In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:
- Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Free physiotherapy advice and face to face intervention
- Health cash plan
- Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support
- Life assurance
- 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Recognition scheme
- Annual volunteer days
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.
Animal Care Assistant - Merton animal hospital employer: Blue Cross UK
Contact Detail:
Blue Cross UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Animal Care Assistant - Merton animal hospital
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific services offered at the Merton animal hospital. Understanding their routine procedures and advanced treatments will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their team during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any previous experience you have in veterinary support roles or customer service. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've handled challenging situations, especially those involving distressed clients or animals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your knowledge of lab work, particularly urinalysis and the use of a centrifuge. Even if you don't have direct experience, showing a willingness to learn and an understanding of these processes can set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your passion for animal welfare and your ability to work under pressure. Think of examples where you've maintained composure in stressful situations, as this is crucial in a busy animal hospital environment.
We think you need these skills to ace Animal Care Assistant - Merton animal hospital
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in animal care or veterinary support roles. Emphasise any specific skills related to animal handling, customer service, and lab work that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for animal welfare and your desire to make a difference. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to handle both animal care and customer-facing tasks.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since the role requires great communication skills, provide examples in your application of how you've effectively communicated with clients or team members in previous roles, especially in stressful situations.
Showcase Relevant Qualifications: If you have any qualifications in Animal Care or similar fields, be sure to mention them. Even if not essential, they can set you apart from other candidates and show your commitment to the field.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross UK
✨Show Your Passion for Animal Welfare
Make sure to express your genuine passion for animal care during the interview. Share any relevant experiences you've had with animals, whether through work, volunteering, or personal anecdotes. This will demonstrate your commitment to the role and align with the values of Blue Cross.
✨Prepare for Customer Interaction Scenarios
Since the role involves working closely with the public, be ready to discuss how you would handle various customer service situations. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated with clients or resolved conflicts, as this will showcase your interpersonal skills.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Lab Procedures
Given that lab work is a significant part of the role, brush up on basic lab procedures such as urinalysis and using a centrifuge. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're prepared and knowledgeable about the responsibilities you'll be taking on.
✨Demonstrate Calmness Under Pressure
Working in an animal hospital can be emotionally challenging. Prepare to discuss how you manage stress and maintain composure in high-pressure situations. Providing specific examples from past experiences will help illustrate your ability to prioritise tasks effectively.
