At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide exceptional veterinary care and collaborate with a supportive team.
- Company: Join an independent practice known for high clinical standards and community care.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, private medical insurance, and a 4-day work week.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and potential pathways to practice ownership.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal welfare while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon with strong clinical judgement and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 75000 £ per year.
The Woodbridge Vets is seeking a Veterinary Surgeon to join our growing clinical team. We are an independent small animal practice with a strong reputation for clinical standards, client care and communication within our local community. Since opening a little over four years ago, the practice has grown significantly and now has a team of 6 vets, 4 of whom are certificate holders, supported by an exceptional nursing team and brilliant client care colleagues.
This role would suit a vet who enjoys practising good medicine, values clinical freedom, communicates well with clients and colleagues, and wants to be part of a supportive, clinically ambitious independent practice.
The Role
Veterinary Surgeons at The Woodbridge Vets are responsible for delivering safe, thoughtful and appropriate clinical care to our patients and clients. Responsibilities include:
- Consulting and working up first opinion medical and surgical cases
- Developing clear and appropriate treatment plans
- Communicating diagnoses, options, risks and costs clearly with clients
- Working collaboratively with RVNs, Client Care and the wider clinical team
- Maintaining accurate and contemporaneous clinical records
- Using professional judgement to make responsible clinical decisions
- Escalating or discussing complex cases where appropriate
- Supporting safe delegation and effective clinical workflow
We believe vets should be trusted to use the skills and judgement they have trained for, while also having the support of an experienced team around them.
Our Clinical Environment
We have invested heavily in the practice and are proud to offer a fantastic working environment, including a modern building, excellent facilities and advanced equipment. Our services and facilities include CT, endoscopy, laparoscopy, high-quality ultrasonography, a full in-house laboratory, ventilators and multiparameter monitoring for every general anaesthetic. From a veterinary perspective, there is excellent scope for training, development and clinical progression.
We have a strong team of experienced vets, each with their own interests and areas of expertise, creating a supportive environment where colleagues can learn, develop and pursue the areas of practice they enjoy most. We are happy to support professional development in a chosen area of clinical interest, whether that is medicine, surgery, imaging, cardiology, dentistry or another area that would add value to both the individual and the practice.
Our approach to clinical care prioritises careful decision-making, clear communication, and doing what is genuinely in the patient’s best interests. We place importance on helping clients understand their options, including likely costs, risks and benefits, so that treatment decisions can be made openly and collaboratively.
Our Team
While we take clinical standards seriously, we also believe that good veterinary medicine depends on a supportive working environment. Our nursing team is central to the care we provide. They have outstanding clinical ability, excellent communication skills and play a vital role in ensuring our patients receive exceptional care throughout their time with us.
We aim to maintain a practice culture where:
- Vets are trusted as professionals
- Nurses are respected as skilled clinical colleagues
- Clinical decisions are guided by patient welfare and professional judgement
- Communication between vets, nurses and Client Care is open and collaborative
- Team members are encouraged to discuss cases and learn from one another
- Busy clinical days are managed through teamwork rather than blame
We understand how demanding it can be to work in a busy clinic. We believe people should be rewarded not only for the hours they work, but also for the effort, care and commitment they bring to the practice. Our model means everyone at The Woodbridge Vets shares in the success of the business, from our reception team to our nurses and vets. This helps create a genuinely motivated team, all working together to deliver exceptional patient and client care.
Development & Progression
We believe career satisfaction looks different for different people. For some vets, that may mean developing a special interest, working towards a certificate, taking on mentoring responsibilities or progressing into a future leadership role. For others, it may mean doing excellent first opinion work within a supportive team, with clear boundaries and a healthy work-life balance.
Veterinary Surgeons joining The Woodbridge Vets will have opportunities to develop through:
- Clinical case discussion and informal mentoring
- Support from experienced certificate holders
- Funded CPD and certificate study
- Development of a chosen clinical interest
- Contribution to service improvement and clinical protocols
- Leadership, mentoring or advanced practitioner pathways where appropriate
For vets who are interested in practice ownership or starting their own practice in the future, there may also be opportunities to explore this through VetLaunch. This is not an expectation of the role, but it may be an exciting pathway for the right person. We want people to feel able to build a career here, not just fill a rota space.
What We’re Looking For
- RCVS registered Veterinary Surgeon
- Confident first opinion clinical skills, or the willingness to develop them with support
- Sound clinical judgement and commitment to patient welfare
- Clear and compassionate client communication
- Collaborative approach to working with vets, nurses and Client Care
- Good attention to clinical records and professional standards
- Interest in ongoing development and learning
We would be happy to hear from experienced vets, as well as less experienced vets who are looking for the right environment to grow.
Why Join Us?
- Independent practice where clinical decisions are guided by patient welfare and professional judgement
- Supportive team with experienced certificate holders
- Advanced clinical services including CT, endoscopy, cardiology, laparoscopy and orthopaedics
- Genuine support for CPD, certificates and clinical development
- Collaborative working culture with strong nursing and client care teams
- 4-day working week
- No out-of-hours or bank holidays
- RCVS and professional subscriptions paid
- Private medical insurance
- Salary £45,000–£75,000 per year, depending on experience
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk
Position: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Start date: By arrangement
For further information or to apply, please contact us for a completely confidential conversation.
Veterinary Surgeon in Ipswich employer: The Woodbridge Vets
The Woodbridge Vets is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment where veterinary surgeons can thrive. With a strong emphasis on clinical standards and patient welfare, our practice provides ample opportunities for professional development, including funded CPD and mentorship from experienced colleagues. Located in the charming town of Woodbridge, Suffolk, we pride ourselves on maintaining a healthy work-life balance with a 4-day working week and no out-of-hours commitments, making it an ideal place for vets to grow their careers while enjoying a fulfilling personal life.
