Veterinary Care Assistant in Glasgow

Join Our Team at the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital. Are you passionate about working with animals? Would you like to build on your skills while enjoying excellent pay, generous benefits, and a supportive team environment? The University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital is looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate, and motivated individual to join our team of Veterinary Care Assistants. You’ll work alongside Veterinary Surgeons, Registered Veterinary Nurses, student vets, nurses, and fellow Care Assistants to deliver high-quality care within our state‑of‑the‑art hospital.

About the Role: This varied and rewarding position involves a mix of animal husbandry, assisting with patient observations, treatments, and diagnostic investigations. You'll also help maintain clinical areas through cleaning, restocking, and general upkeep. You’ll gain hands‑on experience across several departments, including Wards, Treatment Areas, Theatre, and ICU.

What We’re Looking For:

• Prior experience in animal care or the veterinary field is essential
• Confident handling skills with cats and dogs
• A team player with strong communication and a compassionate nature

What We Offer:

• 41 days of holiday per year (including bank holidays, pro rata)
• 35-hour flexible working week
• Excellent pension scheme
• 20% staff discount on veterinary products and services
• A fantastic and supportive working environment
• 24/7 confidential employee support and access to a health & wellbeing app
• Access to exclusive discounts from major high street retailers through the University benefits scheme

Additional Info: This is a permanent, open‑ended position. Includes weekend working on a 1‑in‑4 rota (with a 6% weekend shift allowance). Participation in the public holiday rota is required (enhanced pay provided).

Ready to make a difference in the lives of animals while developing your career? We’d love to hear from you! For further information or informal chat please contact Sharon Smith at sharon.smith@glasgow.ac.uk or call 0141 330 5848.

Job Purpose: Deliver high standards of organisation and cleanliness within the Small Animal Hospital by performing routine cleaning and maintenance duties. Undertake daily animal care duties under supervision when required and provide a high standard of daily care to all patients.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Day to day husbandry and care of animals using best practice techniques and standards of care.
• Ensuring all areas of the hospital, examination/treatment rooms, outside areas and isolation units are kept clean and tidy, understanding, and adhering to biosecurity protocols.
• Perform basic patient monitoring including demeanour, temperature, pulse, respiration rate, capillary refill time and mucous membrane colour.
• Ensure that feeding plans advised by clinicians are adhered to, making sure that overnight rations are prepared.
• Restraining animals with varying temperaments for clinical and nursing staff when performing various procedures.
• Perform basic practical and technical tasks including administering oral medication, disconnecting, and reconnecting intravenous fluids.
• Adhere to hospital protocols to ensure high levels of hygiene are maintained in all areas of responsibility.
• Ensuring that all animals are appropriately identified and labelled on admission.
• Use a range of equipment including in‑house laboratory analysers as required.
• Supervising students while they are handling patients to ensure Health and Safety protocols are being adhered to.
• Any other tasks within the level of responsibility to their role as deemed suitable by their line manager.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Essential: Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role.
• Desirable: Veterinary Care Assistant qualification.
• Essential: Excellent animal handling skills to ensure safety of clients, staff and students.
• Essential: Evidenced ability to clean to a high standard.
• Essential: Good observation, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Essential: Evidenced ability to use initiative.
• Essential: Basic IT skills.
• Essential: Good organisational skills and an ability to prioritise work.
• Essential: Substantial and relevant work experience in a kennel, cattery or veterinary environment.

Terms and Conditions: Salary will be Grade 3, £24,685 - £25,249 per annum + 6% allowance for working weekends. This post is full time and open ended.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect a warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University.