Veterinary Human Support Worker

Langford Vets is the clinical teaching platform of the University of Bristol and provides first-opinion clinical care to all species, with the largest Specialist-led multidisciplinary Small Animal Referral Hospital in the South-West of England. Our teams provide outstanding clinical care whilst teaching the next generation of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

In the UK, veterinary medicine and social work have traditionally been distinct fields, with veterinarians primarily focusing on animal welfare and social workers on human welfare. However, the human-animal bond and its influence on decision-making within veterinary teams and with clients has led Veterinary Social Work to become an emerging specialism that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration.

We are excited to recruit the first fully embedded Veterinary Human Support Worker role in the UK, based on the successful Veterinary Social Work model used in the USA, Canada, and Australia. This role will assist our teams in managing the emotional challenges that arise in their work and support our clients as they navigate complex situations involving their animals. Suitable candidates will need relevant qualifications and experience from a human services background, such as Social Work. A clinical background is beneficial but not essential. A strong interest in animal welfare and a demonstrable understanding of the human-animal bond are essential.

While we expect this to be a full-time role supporting our 102 vets and 95 nurses, as well as our wonderful reception and support teams, Langford Vets is a flexible employer open to a variety of working patterns. The nature of this role will require on-site work at Langford for most of the week. The salary for this role is £45 – 50k per annum depending on experience.

What we can offer you

• 5 weeks holiday per year (plus bank holidays)
• Additional holiday entitlement for Long Service
• On-site Employee Well-being Champions
• EDI committee
• Employee Forum – to ensure all employees voices can be heard
• Menopause Café
• Wellbeing talks and events
• Cycle to work scheme
• Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and paternity pay (after 2 years’ service)
• SimplyHealth Cashplan membership
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Free Specsavers eye test voucher
• Free onsite parking
• U2 bus service link to Bristol
• Annual CPD allowance
• Employee discount
• Generous pension scheme – we match up to 8% pension contributions
• Reimbursement of one professional membership fee per year

How to apply

If this role sounds like the right fit for you, don’t delay, click ‘Apply’ and begin your career with Langford Vets. If you would like to discuss this role in more detail before applying, please contact Hattie Lawrence on hattie.lawrence@bristol.ac.uk.

Interviews: Online first interviews on either 24th February 2026 (AM) or 25th February 2026 (PM), with in-person second interviews w/c 2 March 2026.

Langford Vets is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Job Purpose: The Veterinary Human Support Worker will play a key role in supporting the human-animal bond by providing emotional and practical support to Langford Vet’s clients, staff and members of the wider community during difficult circumstances. The postholder will also help embed trauma-informed practice across the company, promoting resilience, compassion and wellbeing within the team, while improving outcomes for both animals and their owners.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide support to clients who are dealing with emotional and complex challenges involving their animals that impact their well-being and ability to care for their pets.
• Provide support to clients and their family members, including children, during consultations, diagnostics, treatments, visits to the intensive care unit, quality of life assessments, and the euthanasia process.
• Provide individual grief support to clients during pet loss and facilitate support groups for pet loss and clients caring for animals with terminal or chronic conditions.
• Provide immediate support and crisis intervention in challenging and emergency situations.
• Assess risks and address safeguarding concerns related to clients.
• Offer resources and guidance to help clients navigate the emotional aspects of pet ownership.
• Develop and maintain a referral system, fostering strong relationships with external social services and other relevant support organisations and signpost clients to community resources, support groups, or additional services as needed.
• Ensure consistent documentation of client communication while maintaining confidentiality.
• Act as a liaison between clients and the veterinary team.
• Attend team meetings and ward rounds and contribute a human services perspective to decision-making processes.
• Assist staff in supporting clients during end-of-life planning for their pets.
• Provide debriefing after emergency situations, individually and/or in groups.
• Provision of individual and group reflective practice discussions.
• Support the well-being champions in developing and enhancing wellness practices.
• Providing consultation on unclear and ethical situations, including situations of suspected animal abuse and potential risk of harm to human clients and family members.
• Development of resources and provision of training, in collaboration with the HR team, on compassion fatigue and burnout, self-care, human-animal bond, grief and loss, human safeguarding, and effective client communication during difficult interactions.

Person Specification:

• A recognised qualification in a human services profession such as social work, psychology, mental health, counselling or other related helping profession.
• Experience in developing safeguarding protocols and practices and delivering training.
• Knowledge and application of trauma-informed practice, with the ability to work sensitively with grief, loss, crisis and emotional distress.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to a supportive and compassionate working environment.
• Awareness of professional boundaries, safeguarding responsibilities and ethical practice.
• Resilience and emotional intelligence, with the capacity to manage challenging situations and support others effectively.
• Knowledge of the human-animal bond and its impact on wellbeing.
• Experience contributing to organisational wellbeing initiatives or embedding trauma-informed practice across teams.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, promoting the welfare of animals.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and advocacy skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with clients, colleagues and external partners.
• Demonstrated experience in providing emotional and psychosocial support to individuals or groups experiencing distressing or complex situations.