Veterinary Surgeon – Independent Small Animal Practice, Rochford, Essex

Are you looking for a practice that values your clinical freedom, your time outside work, and your voice in shaping the future? Come and join our team at Rochford Vets – where independent thinking meets everyday support, and where compassion, collaboration and coastal charm come together.

We are looking for a fourth vet to join our supportive and friendly team at Rochford Vets, an independent small animal practice in Rochford, Essex – a historic market town close to Southend On Sea, the Essex countryside and coast, yet with direct trains into London. One of our vets has decided to take another year or two away from practice following maternity leave, so rather than simply filling a gap, we’re taking the opportunity to expand and develop our veterinary team for the future.

Genuinely independent – As an independent, family-owned practice, we love having the freedom to make our own decisions. That means we choose suppliers, decide which medicines we stock, invest in the equipment we think will make a difference, and shape the way we care for our clients and their pets. Being independent means the decisions that shape the practice are made here, by the people who work in it. Everyone has a genuine opportunity to influence how the practice develops.

Meet the team - You’ll be joining a happy, close-knit team. Our practice owners, Ian and Zoe, work day-to-day alongside our vets, five RVNs, three receptionists and Karon, our practice administrator (who you will be submitting your application to!). Our vets bring different interests and experience to the practice: Ian, our owner, graduated from Edinburgh in 1988 and took ownership of Rochford Vets in 1991. He has a particular passion for internal medicine and dermatology cases and also really enjoys diagnostic ultrasound. Catherine, an RVC graduate, brings over 15 years’ experience in general practice and is equally at home with medicine and surgery. She holds a Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology and particularly enjoys all aspects of ophthalmic medicine and surgery. Holly has excellent all-round general practice skills together with a particular interest in exotic patients and holds an Exotics Certificate. But what probably matters more than our individual interests is the way we work together. We’re all about bouncing ideas off each other, learning together and supporting one another – it’s a core part of our culture. You won’t hear “that’s not my case” here. If somebody wants a second opinion, another pair of eyes on an X-ray or blood result, or simply wants to talk through what to do next, we help each other.

Putting patients first – We are an independent practice where everyone puts the animals first. We understand that pets are part of the family and, as a first-opinion practice, we often find ourselves supporting families through some of their most difficult times. We try always to do that with empathy, remembering how much our own animals mean to us and treating our patients with the same care and compassion. We believe that positive atmosphere flows both ways. We aim to communicate clearly with our clients and with each other, building relationships based on trust and confidence.

Your opinion matters – Everyone’s input matters. We hold fortnightly team meetings where everyone can contribute ideas for improving our services and the way we work, using our continuous improvement card system. It’s not a meeting where the management team simply tells everyone what is going to happen. It’s an opportunity to raise ideas, discuss them as a team and decide together how we can make things better. Some ideas are small and simple; others lead to significant changes in the way the practice works. What matters is that everyone has a voice.

Being a great GP vet matters – We recognise the incredible amount of work and dedication it takes to become a veterinary surgeon, and we appreciate the particular skill of being an excellent general-practice vet. One of the best things about this profession is that every day is a school day. That’s why we’re keen to support your ongoing professional development in whatever direction is right for you. You might want to become an even better all-round GP, develop a particular clinical interest, or work towards a certificate. We’ll support you. We also recognise that development isn’t only clinical. Non‑clinical CPD training – whether that’s communication, leadership, well‑being or another area that helps you enjoy and succeed in practice – can be every bit as valuable as another clinical course.

Who are we looking for? – Ideally, you’ll have at least a year’s experience in general practice and be comfortable with routine surgery. But we’re interested in much more than the number of years on your CV. What matters most to us is that you genuinely care about your patients, your clients and the people you work with; that you communicate openly and calmly; and that you enjoy working collaboratively to get things right.

What does the working week look like? – We think veterinary medicine should leave room for a life outside veterinary medicine. Our usual full-time working pattern is:

• 4-day week, averaging approximately 38 hours
• Just 1-in-4 Saturdays, from 9am to 4pm
• No nights
• No Sundays
• No bank holidays
• No overnight inpatient responsibility
• Time built into your schedule for phone calls to clients

Our out of hours service is provided by the local 24-hour veterinary hospital in Southend-On-Sea, which also looks after any patients requiring overnight hospitalisation. The aim is simple: when your working day is over, work shouldn’t routinely follow you home.

What do we offer?

• Salary package of £48,000 to £68,000 depending on experience
• 5.6 weeks’ holiday, including bank holidays
• Relocation package if needed
• CPD actively encouraged and supported, including support towards certificates
• Practice membership of ISFM
• Practice access to Central CPD
• Your own RCVS Knowledge Library subscription
• Group Private Health Insurance Scheme
• Life insurance at 3x your salary
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

What about life outside work? - Rochford is a friendly Essex market town with a strong sense of community, just a stone’s throw away from Southend-On-Sea. Beyond the town itself, we’re surrounded by a mixture of countryside and coastline. For anyone who enjoys getting outdoors, Hockley Woods, Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park and the Essex coast are all nearby. For when you want something rather less rural, there are direct rail links to London in under an hour. Our local Southend Airport is just 10-15 minutes away with a good range of short haul European and UK flight destinations. It gives you the unusual combination of community practice, countryside and coast on the doorstep, with London (and Europe!) still within easy reach.

Rochford vets Independent. Collaborative. And still enjoying being vets.