Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon in Newport

Fancy working at an award-winning practice with a unique, flexible rota with no OOHs? Then read on…

About us

Riverside Vet Care is a modern small animal practice in beautiful Monmouthshire. We are proudly independent and have a strong ethos of looking after our team and supporting each other. We also pride ourselves on understanding the individual needs of each patient and tailoring their treatment plans to meet their specific circumstances. Our clients really value this approach, and we were delighted to be awarded Best Vet in County at the Best UK Vets Awards in 2023 and again in 2024. As part of the Vet Dynamics community, we always look for ways to improve and evolve. Winning the John Sheridan Award for our dedication to advanced business development and outstanding leadership at the Vet Dynamics Conference 2023 was a testament to our hard work.

We have two standalone clinics, based in Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale. We have all the usual kit, including digital X-ray, ultrasound, in-house laboratory and laser therapy. We’re growing and are currently in the throes of a major building project at the Abergavenny branch. Having purchased the unoccupied house next door, we are adding a connecting wing which will create a new surgical hub, allow us to have a separate dental suite with dental X-ray, add three more consulting rooms and improve our dog and cat kennels. The project is due for completion in October 2026.

About our team

Bernice moved to South Wales in 1997 and soon realised that she had found her home both in the hills of this beautiful area and at Riverside Vet Care. Becoming a partner after three years, Bernice went on to be the sole owner in 2015. Bernice loves being a vet, especially the variety that comes with being a GP and practice owner. Eight years ago, Helen Rippin became co-director, and together, this partnership between vet and RVN is creating a surgery where all the team members are encouraged to develop and do the job they love.

We have an experienced team of 7 vets:

• Bernice enjoys being a GP vet and currently juggles clinical time with practice management tasks.
• Sian originally came to us as a locum and loved it so much that she decided to join the team permanently. Sian holds an AVP medicine certificate and particularly enjoys imaging.
• Louise has been with the practice since 2015 and is a member of the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists. She has a postgraduate certificate in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling and finds getting to the bottom of a pet's behaviour and giving the owner the tools needed to deal with it is very rewarding.
• Kristine works with us part-time and runs her own business, providing home-visiting veterinary service to clients in the area.
• Lluis graduated in 2017 and is so enthusiastic about all aspects of veterinary care, especially surgery. He is always the first to volunteer to handle an emergency GDV! He’s currently studying for an Imaging Certificate.
• Catarina returns from maternity leave in September. She worked in large animal practice and management before pursuing small animal work three years ago. She is developing a medicine bias.
• Nora joined us a year ago and has become a valuable member of the team. She loves getting into complex medical cases and is developing her ultrasound skills.

Our ethos

We have a strong social conscience and are proud of our respected position within the communities of the Welsh Valleys and Monmouthshire. For us, ‘Contextualised Veterinary Care’ isn’t anything new – it’s what we’ve always done. In an area where many people are on low income, open and frank conversations about the costs of veterinary treatment and the different options available are just part of what we do every day. Keeping costs as fair as possible means that we do work hard, but our clients repay us with their loyalty and respect. Two years ago, we introduced a low-cost monthly plan for clients to improve access to veterinary care.

Good teamwork is also key to our approach. We close the practice for one afternoon every month for a full practice meeting, and feel that we have a flexible management approach which is open to new ideas. During the development of the new building, we have included the whole team in the decision-making process, allowing them to decide the layout of the rooms, how to manage stock and even how to restructure the team to improve workflow.

We’re a supportive bunch who are always willing to share our knowledge and experience. Whether you’re looking to develop your skills in a particular area or focus on being a great GP, we are proud to support the ongoing development of our team through in-house mentoring and by supporting continued learning and certificates. Our Co-Director and RVN, Helen, has an anaesthesia and critical care nursing certificate and is now pursuing her Advanced Surgical Nursing diploma.

About the role

With our exciting building expansion underway to create a dedicated surgical hub with improved facilities, we're looking for an experienced small animal vet who enjoys the variety of general practice but has a particular interest in surgery and would love the opportunity to help us develop our growing surgical service. This investment reflects our ambition to continue expanding the services we can offer locally, allowing more patients to receive advanced care closer to home within a well-equipped first-opinion practice.

This role would suit a confident GP vet with strong surgical skills, ideally someone with a surgical certificate or equivalent experience, who enjoys tackling a wide range of cases. You'll have the opportunity to perform and further develop advanced soft tissue surgery and orthopaedic procedures. As our new surgical hub takes shape, you'll benefit from upgraded theatre facilities, a dedicated dental suite, and the opportunity to influence how the service develops. We're always open to introducing new techniques, investing in additional equipment and supporting new areas of clinical interest.

Our vets enjoy a varied caseload, splitting their time between consulting, surgery and working up interesting medical cases. Depending on your interests, there's scope to spend more of your time in theatre as your caseload grows. It's an exciting opportunity to influence the future direction of an ambitious independent practice while developing a surgical service that will benefit both our patients and the local community for years to come. For the right person, there is also genuine scope for future shareholder opportunities as the practice continues to grow.

Work-life balance

We've designed a unique rota that gives our vets time to enjoy life outside of work while still providing excellent service to our clients. Our full-time vets generally work a 4-day week, with just 1:6 weekends (8.30 am – 6 pm), which initially sounds pretty standard. However, weekends count toward your 4-day week, so if you work a full weekend, you’ll only work 2 weekdays! That’s only 16 shifts a month! We’re flexible with the rota and are happy to discuss what works best for you and us. If you want to split your weekend, we’re happy for you to work either Saturday or Sunday, with three weekdays.

Rather than being on call, our vets work one late shift a week (1 pm – 10.30 pm), running an evening surgery and fielding emergencies. After 10.30 pm, calls are forwarded to Vets Now in Newport, who cover our out-of-hours. We keep the practice fully staffed with both an RVN and receptionists on hand until we close every day, and we pay a higher rate for any hours worked after 6.30 pm or on weekends. We will also arrange your late shift so you have a late start following your weekend.

What we offer

• Salary of £45,000 to £60,000 plus 8% employer pension contribution
• Generous CPD allowance, with certificates supported and funded
• Personal improvement allowance that can be used for your physical and mental wellbeing
• Future shareholder/ownership prospects available for the right person
• Professional fees paid for RCVS and VDS
• Full private health insurance

What our team say about us

“The leadership team recognises their team as their greatest resource, and they’ve worked incredibly hard on workplace culture so everyone feels safe coming to work and safe talking and expressing their own views. They’ll be listened to and valued. I haven’t come across this degree of openness and growth mindset in practice before.” Sian MRCVS

“I have been at Riverside for over four years now, and I can honestly say I have enjoyed every day of it. While some days can be challenging, they are always rewarding, and we have such a fantastic team that you can always rely on for support. I truly appreciate the time and patience everyone has shown me throughout my career here, and I've made friendships that I know will last a lifetime. Riverside actively encourages professional development and progression, which is something I value enormously. As an independent practice, every member of the team has the opportunity to contribute ideas and help shape how the practice grows and operates, making you feel genuinely valued. With the exciting new building extension on the horizon, it's a fantastic time to join Riverside. It would be wonderful to welcome more people with the same enthusiasm and passion, helping us make an already great practice even better.” Rio, Lead Nurse

“Joining Riverside Vets in Abergavenny means becoming part of an independent, community-focused practice that prioritises both animal welfare and professional growth. Unlike corporate practices, Riverside offers a personal touch, with a close-knit team dedicated to providing high-quality care. Our collaborative work environment ensures that every team member is valued and encouraged to contribute their expertise. As a local practice deeply embedded in the Abergavenny community, I feel that Riverside fosters strong relationships with pet owners and their beloved animals. Here, you will have the chance to build meaningful relationships with clients and their pets, making a real difference in their lives. Join us and be part of a team that truly cares about making a positive impact in the world of veterinary medicine.” Tamsin, Receptionist

“Within 24 hours of working at Riverside I knew that I wouldn’t want to leave. I wanted to be a part of the exceptional, inspirational and loving team. They are dedicated to their patients, always treating them with the love and respect they would give to their own beloved pets. The compassion and affection shown towards each animal is truly heartwarming.” Claire, ACA

The local area

We live in a beautiful area with the Black Mountains as the backdrop. Abergavenny is a town that has become a mecca for foodies, with plenty of gorgeous gastro pubs, inns and restaurants to try. As the gateway to the Brecon Beacons National Park, it’s a great area to explore and enjoy outdoor activities, including walking, climbing and cycling. We are also within easy reach of Cardiff, Hereford and Bristol so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Interested?

If you're looking for a role where you can influence the future direction of an independent practice, develop your surgical interests with the backing of an ambitious and supportive team, and help build a service that benefits both patients and the wider community, we'd love to hear from you. Call us for an informal chat or apply now.