At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead surgical services, manage clinical governance, and mentor junior vets.
- Company: Swayne & Partners, a state-of-the-art veterinary practice in Bury St Edmunds.
- Benefits: Generous CPD allowance, enhanced leave, pension contributions, and discounts for pets.
- Other info: Join a supportive community of 24 practices focused on clinical excellence.
- Why this job: Shape the future of surgical care while making a real impact on animal health.
- Qualifications: RCVS-registered Vet with surgical experience and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
This role involves taking the lead for the practice’s surgical services, including first opinion, emergency, and certificate-level referral cases.
Where: Our Bury hospital offers a broad range of clinical care, including first opinion services, inpatient care, emergency treatment, and certificate-level referrals, in state-of-the-art facilities.
Who: We’re looking for a confident surgeon who is experienced in a range of soft tissue and emergency surgeries, and can lead an enthusiastic team in providing evidence-based care to a range of patients.
About the Practice
Swayne & Partners in Bury St Edmunds is a large, purpose-built practice with extensive facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. In addition to a strong first opinion base, we run a full night service that takes cases from around 25 other local practices, have a high inpatient caseload, and offer a certificate-level referral service in internal medicine, imaging, and orthopaedic surgery.
On-site provision:
- Five consult rooms
- Large prep area
- Two sterile operating theatres
- Dental suite (including x-ray)
- Pharmacy
- Two imaging rooms
- Cat and dog wards
- Full isolation ward with separate yard
- Extensive in-house lab including full range of IDEXX blood analysers and Imagyst cytology
- New CT scanner installed last year
- High-quality ultrasound
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced small animal vet ready to take the next step into a leadership role, or for an existing clinical leader seeking a new challenge. The role will involve leading on both clinical and operational matters relating to surgical care, including first opinion, emergency, and referral surgery. You will also be jointly responsible for developing the practice’s referral service, alongside the Inpatient Lead. There will be dedicated time set aside for the non-clinical aspects of the role. As part of the practice leadership team, reporting to the Clinical Director and alongside the Head Nurse, Practice Manager and other Service Leads, you will help to set and deliver the practice’s strategic priorities. The role is a new one within the practice, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape and develop it over time.
Responsibilities
- Developing and maintaining high, evidence-based clinical standards in our surgical services, whilst encouraging a contextualised approach to patient care.
- Leading on clinical governance matters relating to surgical care, including clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives.
- Organising and running Morbidity & Mortality rounds within the practice.
- Working with the Theatre Manager to ensure efficient booking and running of the theatre schedule, maintenance of surgery.
- Working with the Head Nurse to ensure high standards of surgical and anaesthetic nursing.
- Working with the Clinical Director to ensure good billing practices for surgical procedures and post-op consults for auditing purposes.
- Dealing with complaints relating to the above areas of responsibility.
- Participating in the training of our recently graduated vets and student nurses.
- Participating in our out-of-hours rota.
About You
- RCVS-registered Veterinary Surgeon with a certificate in Small Animal Surgery or similar.
- Confident with a variety of surgical procedures, including routine and advanced soft tissue procedures, general dentistry, emergency surgeries, and basic orthopaedic surgeries including fracture repair.
- Excellent communication and team-building skills.
- Passionate about clinical excellence and team development.
- Previous leadership and mentoring experience, including as a VetGDP Adviser, is preferred.
Salary & Benefits
- Generous CPD allowance, including support for certificate study.
- RCVS fees & VDS cover paid by practice.
- 5 weeks annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro rata).
- Additional annual leave earned with service.
- 3 weeks occupation sick leave (pro-rata).
- Enhanced pension contributions.
- Enhanced maternity/paternity leave.
- Generous colleague discount scheme for up to 5 registered pets.
Our Group
Kin Vet Community is a network of 24 practices across the South and East of England. We are committed to clinical excellence, teamwork and continuous professional development.
Surgical Lead in Bury St Edmunds employer: Kinvet
Swayne & Partners in Bury St Edmunds is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and innovative work environment for veterinary professionals. With state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to clinical excellence, employees benefit from generous CPD allowances, enhanced leave options, and opportunities for leadership development within a collaborative team. The practice fosters a culture of continuous learning and teamwork, making it an ideal place for those looking to advance their careers while providing high-quality care to patients.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Surgical Lead in Bury St Edmunds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the veterinary field, especially those who might know about openings at Swayne & Partners. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your leadership skills and surgical expertise. Think of examples from your past experiences where you’ve led a team or handled complex cases. We want to see how you can bring that confidence to our practice!
✨Tip Number 3
Show us your passion for clinical excellence! During interviews, share your thoughts on evidence-based care and how you’ve implemented it in your previous roles. This will help us see how you align with our values at Swayne & Partners.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at Swayne & Partners right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace Surgical Lead in Bury St Edmunds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for veterinary surgery shine through! We want to see your passion for clinical excellence and team development, so don’t hold back on sharing why you love what you do.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Surgical Lead role. Highlight your experience with soft tissue and emergency surgeries, as well as any leadership roles you've held. We’re looking for someone who can lead a team, so showcase those skills!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our practice and what we stand for.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kinvet
✨Know Your Surgical Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your surgical knowledge, especially around soft tissue and emergency procedures. Be ready to discuss specific cases you've handled and how you approached them, as this will show your confidence and expertise.
✨Show Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team, think about examples where you've successfully led or mentored others. Prepare to share how you foster teamwork and maintain high clinical standards, as this will demonstrate your readiness for a leadership position.
✨Understand the Practice's Values
Familiarise yourself with Swayne & Partners' commitment to evidence-based care and clinical excellence. Be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their mission of providing top-notch surgical services.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about their approach to clinical governance or how they support ongoing professional development. It shows you're genuinely interested in the role and the practice.
