Veterinary Surgeon in Chelmsford

Veterinary Surgeon

Location: Primarily Althorne, with occasional support at Purleigh and Maldon, Essex

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week over 5 days | 2 Saturdays in every 9 (TOIL) | No Sundays | No out-of-hours commitments/bank holidays

Practice: Edgewood Veterinary Group

Salary: £60,000 DOE

Sign on bonus of £5000 for direct applicants

Are you an experienced Veterinary Surgeon looking for a first opinion role where you can enjoy clinical variety, develop your skills and be part of a team that genuinely values collaboration?

Edgewood Veterinary Group is looking for a Veterinary Surgeon to join our established clinical team, primarily based at our Althorne branch in Essex, with occasional support across our Purleigh and Maldon practices.

This is an opportunity to become an important part of a close-knit clinical team, working with a varied first opinion caseload in an environment that values thorough case work-ups, clinical discussion and continuity of care.

You’ll have the autonomy to manage your own cases and build relationships with clients and their pets, while benefiting from the knowledge and experience of colleagues across the wider practice. Whether you’re looking to consolidate your experience or continue developing particular clinical interests, there’s plenty of opportunity to learn from those around you.

With a structured working week, just two Saturdays in every nine, no Sunday working, no out-of-hours and the practice closed on bank holidays, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding clinical career alongside a good quality of life outside work.

Why join us?

• A genuinely collaborative clinical team: Work alongside vets with a broad range of experience, from developing clinicians through to colleagues with decades in practice. Case discussion and shared decision-making are part of everyday working life.
• Supportive nursing provision: Our experienced nursing team of 13 RVNs and 4 VCAs play an active role in anaesthesia, patient monitoring, inpatient care and clinical support, helping you deliver high standards of patient care.
• A diagnostic-led approach: We invest in our in-house facilities and encourage thorough investigation and management of cases, rather than simply treating symptoms.
• Clinical variety and development: Enjoy a broad first opinion caseload, with opportunities to develop your interests and learn from colleagues undertaking further qualifications in areas including surgery and cardiology.
• Experienced clinical support: Benefit from the expertise of our wider veterinary team and access to visiting orthopaedic and soft tissue surgical specialists, helping us manage a varied range of cases in-house.
• A rota that supports life outside work: 40 hours over five days, two Saturdays in every nine, no Sundays, no out-of-hours and bank holidays off.
• A beautiful location to call home: Enjoy the best of rural Essex and the nearby coast, with countryside, sailing, vineyards and local communities on your doorstep.

The practice & team

Edgewood Veterinary Group is an established small animal practice within the Linnaeus group, with branches in Purleigh, Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch, serving the surrounding communities across the Dengie Peninsula in Essex.

What began as a small, 3-vet practice has grown into an established team of 10 Veterinary Surgeons, supported by 13 RVNs and 4 VCAs and a dedicated reception team.

You’ll be primarily based at our Althorne branch, with occasional support at Purleigh and Maldon as required. You’ll also be part of a wider clinical team, bringing together a breadth of experience and knowledge across the group.

Our veterinary team has a real mix of experience, from colleagues earlier in their careers through to highly experienced clinicians with up to 30 years in practice. We see this diversity of experience as a real strength. There’s plenty of opportunity to discuss cases, share ideas and learn from one another, while retaining the clinical autonomy and responsibility that make first opinion practice so rewarding.

Clinically, we’re a diagnostics-led practice with a focus on working cases up thoroughly and managing as much as possible in-house. Our facilities include digital radiography, dental radiography, high-spec ultrasound, endoscopy facilities including gastroscope and bronchoscope, in-house laboratory diagnostics and multi-parameter anaesthetic monitoring.

We’re also supported by a visiting orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeon, allowing us to offer a broader range of treatment options and manage more advanced cases within the practice, where appropriate.

Our nursing team is a real asset to the clinical environment. Led by our Clinical Nurse Manager, Nicola, they are highly involved in patient care, including anaesthesia, monitoring, inpatient management and clinical support. They’re an integral part of the clinical team, helping ensure patients receive excellent care and vets have the support they need throughout the day.

We place real importance on learning and clinical development. Monthly clinical governance meetings provide opportunities to discuss cases, share knowledge and reflect on clinical practice, while access to the BSAVA library supports ongoing learning. Across the team, vets are undertaking further qualifications in areas including surgery and cardiology, alongside nurses developing their own clinical interests through surgical and behavioural certificates.

Beyond the clinical environment, Edgewood has a genuinely welcoming and social team culture. We’re based in a beautiful rural and coastal part of Essex, with sailing in Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch, countryside walks, vineyards and plenty of local community events. London is approximately an hour away by train, with Stansted Airport also within easy reach.

And then there’s the garden and our slightly infamous pizza oven! It's a well-used part of practice life and a good reflection of the team spirit we've built over the years.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for an experienced Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys first opinion practice and wants to be part of a collaborative, supportive clinical team.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• At least three years’ experience in small animal practice.
• Confidence in routine consultations and general surgical procedures.
• The ability to manage your own caseload and make sound clinical decisions, while recognizing the value of discussion and collaboration.
• A genuine interest in diagnostic work-ups and delivering high standards of patient care.
• Good communication skills and the ability to build lasting relationships with clients.
• An enthusiasm for continued learning and developing your clinical interests.

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who enjoys being part of a team, takes pride in their clinical work and wants to contribute positively to the practice.

Benefits

• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave
• RCVS & VDS fees paid
• CPD allowance and 4 days each year to attend events plus Linnaeus CPD Programme (including certificate holder level CPD)
• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
• Career progression opportunities
• Staff discount schemes
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Wellness program including:
• Employee assistance program
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Free annual Flu jab
• Cycle to work scheme

About Us

Edgewood Vets is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best - care for pets.

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.

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