At a Glance
- Tasks: Support our veterinary team in providing exceptional care to animals.
- Company: CVS, a caring and supportive veterinary practice.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, health cash plan, and staff pet care discounts.
- Other info: Join a diverse team with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal welfare while growing your skills.
- Qualifications: Strong communication, empathy, and experience in animal care.
The predicted salary is between 12 - 12 € per hour.
Location: Barton (Canterbury, Kent)
Hours: Part Time (14 hours per week). This role includes 1:4 weekend shifts (9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday). This averages as an additional 4 hours per week.
At CVS, caring is what we do. For us, caring isn’t just a job—it's in our nature. We put our people first—because when you're supported, you can deliver the very best care. With industry-leading learning, hands‑on training, and guidance, you'll have everything you need to grow your skills and confidence. Whether you’re looking to progress in your current role or explore new career pathways, CVS is the place to nurture your future career.
Life at Barton: We are a unique hospital that has long provided invaluable care for first opinion and referred patients. We offer outstanding diagnostic facilities including CT and radioiodine therapy. The experienced team share a strong sense of teamwork and work‑up culture. The onsite dedicated out of hour's service ensures consistent patient care day and night. The location in Canterbury city centre is perfect for a variety of lunch and coffee venues and is easily accessible from the surrounding villages and coast.
About the role: The Patient Care Assistant role is one of the foundations of an outstanding veterinary practice, and as a PCA you will be involved in supporting our team of qualified RVNs and Vets to provide outstanding care to our patients.
- Qualifications:
- An excellent communicator with strong empathy
- Excellent customer service skills and experience in dealing with members of the public
- Experience in animal welfare, including feeding, cleaning, medicating and handling and a high level of understanding of how to meet the welfare needs of animals
- Resilient with the ability to cope with potentially distressing and emotional situations
- A positive attitude and excellent teamwork skills
- Experience in caring for animals in a veterinary environment would be desirable
Benefits:
- Salary will be in line with the National Minimum Wage.
- Generous CPD allowance, Knowledge Hub access, BSAVA library, and funded advanced training opportunities
- Excellent Nursing Career Pathway
- Up to 33 days holiday (with the option to buy/sell)
- Health cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions, and enhanced family leave policies
- Staff pet care discounts – 50% off services, MiPet food, and medications
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept and progress applications from candidates without the Right to Work in the UK as we cannot provide visa sponsorship, due to our clinical support roles not meeting the criteria set out by the Home Office to be eligible.
Join us at CVS: We're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to do their best work. We foster an inclusive and equitable workplace, where diverse perspectives are invited and people feel safe to speak up. Wellbeing support is always available, from monthly line‑manager check‑ins to our network of 400 Wellbeing Champions, Pastoral Support Vets and personal mentors. We offer leading benefits and policies, such as our Health Shield which provides support for physical and mental health.
Veterinary Care Assistant in Canterbury employer: Southdown Veterinary Group
At CVS, we prioritise our people, ensuring that as a Veterinary Care Assistant in Barton, you will receive unparalleled support and training to excel in your role. Our collaborative work culture fosters teamwork and professional growth, while our location in the heart of Canterbury offers easy access to local amenities and a vibrant community. With generous benefits, including a robust CPD allowance and wellbeing initiatives, CVS is dedicated to nurturing your career in veterinary care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Veterinary Care Assistant in Canterbury
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, check out CVS's values and mission. This will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their caring environment.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! As a Veterinary Care Assistant, you'll need to be an excellent communicator. Try role-playing common scenarios with friends or family to boost your confidence and ensure you can handle those emotional situations with ease.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your empathy! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've demonstrated empathy in past roles, especially when dealing with animals or customers. This will highlight your suitability for the caring nature of the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application directly, so make sure to submit it through the CVS careers page. This way, we can keep track of your application and get you one step closer to joining our amazing team!
We think you need these skills to ace Veterinary Care Assistant in Canterbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Animal Care:When writing your application, let us see your love for animals shine through! Share any experiences you've had in animal welfare or veterinary settings, and explain why caring for pets is important to you.
Highlight Your Communication Skills:As a Veterinary Care Assistant, you'll need to communicate effectively with both the team and pet owners. Make sure to mention any relevant customer service experience and how you handle emotional situations with empathy.
Tailor Your Application to Us:Take a moment to read through our job description and align your skills and experiences with what we're looking for. Personalising your application shows us that you're genuinely interested in joining our team at CVS.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southdown Veterinary Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of animal welfare and veterinary practices. Familiarise yourself with common procedures and terminology used in the field. This will not only show your passion for the role but also demonstrate that you’re serious about contributing to the team.
✨Showcase Your Empathy
As a Veterinary Care Assistant, empathy is key. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you’ve shown compassion towards animals or handled emotional situations with pet owners. This will help you connect with the interviewers and highlight your suitability for the role.
✨Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
CVS values teamwork, so be ready to discuss how you’ve collaborated with others in previous roles. Think of specific instances where you contributed to a team effort, especially in high-pressure environments. This will illustrate your ability to work well within their established culture.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the training opportunities available or how the team supports each other during challenging times. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if CVS is the right fit for you.
