At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide exceptional veterinary care, perform surgeries, and build lasting client relationships.
- Company: Join Village Vet Chiswick, a supportive and vibrant veterinary practice in West London.
- Benefits: Enjoy 5 weeks holiday, wellness programs, and career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Work in a modern practice with excellent facilities and a friendly team.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in pets' lives while working in a collaborative team.
- Qualifications: Must be MRCVS registered with at least three years in UK small animal practice.
The predicted salary is between 66000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: Chiswick, West London
Hours: 42 hours per week | 4 or 5-day week considered | 1 in 3 weekends (Saturday 8am-1pm & Sunday 10am-4pm consults only)
Practice: Village Vet Chiswick
Salary: £66,000 - £70,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
Build the kind of veterinary career where you have the time, support and freedom to do your best work. At Village Vet Chiswick, we’re looking for an experienced Veterinary Surgeon to join our close-knit team. If you’ve spent at least three years in UK small animal practice and you’re ready for a role where you can genuinely work cases up, enjoy a varied surgical caseload and become part of a practice that’s firmly rooted in its local community, we’d love to hear from you. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys the variety of first opinion practice.
On any given day you could be performing surgery in the morning, seeing an interesting medicine work-up in the afternoon and finishing the day catching up with long-standing clients whose pets you’ve cared for over the years.
Why join Village Vet Chiswick?
- Enjoy a genuine 50/50 mix of consulting and surgery, with the opportunity to work up your own cases.
- Join a proactive clinical team that believes in keeping cases in-house wherever appropriate.
- Work alongside an experienced Lead Vet team, Associate Vets and visiting advanced certificate holders in surgery.
- Be supported by an exceptional nursing team, including three RVNs (one of whom is a Clinical Coach) and an SVN joining the team soon.
- Our nurses run their own consultations and schedule procedures, allowing vets to focus on delivering excellent clinical care.
- Benefit from a supportive, collaborative culture where questions are encouraged, ideas are welcomed and everyone enjoys helping one another develop.
- Work from a modern, well-equipped practice in the heart of one of London’s most vibrant and desirable high streets.
The role
As an Associate Veterinary Surgeon, you’ll play an important role within our experienced team, managing a varied first opinion caseload while building lasting relationships with both clients and colleagues.
You’ll Be Involved In:
- First opinion consultations, diagnostics and medical case management.
- Routine and more advanced soft tissue surgery alongside dentistry.
- Working up cases to a high clinical standard with support from the wider Village Vet network where needed.
- Sharing a fair weekend rota of just 1 in 3 weekends, consisting of short consult-only shifts (Saturday 8am-1pm and Sunday 10am-4pm).
- Sole charge is limited to weekends only.
- Only 1 bank holiday per year with TOIL (at Village Vet Hampstead).
- Contributing to the positive team culture that makes Village Vet Chiswick such an enjoyable place to work.
The team and practice
Village Vet Chiswick is a busy, well-established small animal practice with an incredibly loyal client base and a reputation for delivering exceptional care. Located in the centre of Chiswick’s bustling high street, you’ll be surrounded by independent cafés, restaurants, boutiques and excellent transport links, making it one of West London’s most sought-after locations to work. Inside the practice, you’ll find a young, enthusiastic and welcoming team who genuinely enjoy working together. Our ethos is simple: provide excellent patient care, support one another and never stop learning. Clinical discussions are encouraged, development is actively supported and you’ll always have experienced colleagues to bounce ideas off. Our practice is fully equipped with digital radiography, ultrasound, an in-house laboratory, modern dental equipment and comprehensive surgical and anaesthetic monitoring, allowing us to confidently investigate and treat a wide range of cases. We also benefit from regular visiting advanced certificate holders in surgery, helping us deliver even more advanced care for our patients.
What we’re looking for:
- MRCVS registered (or eligible to register) with the right to work in the UK.
- At least three years’ experience working in UK small animal practice.
- Confident with consultations, diagnostics and routine surgery.
- Comfortable with occasional sole charge during weekend consulting shifts.
- A collaborative team player who enjoys building relationships with clients and colleagues.
- Passionate about providing excellent patient care and continuing to develop professionally.
- An interest in internal medicine would be welcomed, although this is by no means essential.
Benefits:
- 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays and birthday off (pro-rata for part-time).
- No out-of-hours (OOH).
- RCVS and VDS fees paid.
- External CPD funded.
- Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program.
- Career progression opportunities.
- Staff discount schemes.
- Enhanced sickness pay.
- Enhanced equal family leave.
- Wellness program including: Employee assistance program, Eyecare voucher scheme, Free annual flu jab, Cycle to work scheme, Recruitment referral reward scheme.
Village Vet is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits. At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets. We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.
Veterinary Surgeon employer: Village Vet
At Village Vet Highgate, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for our Registered Veterinary Nurses. With a focus on professional development and a commitment to high standards of patient care, our team enjoys a varied clinical caseload and the opportunity to grow within the world’s largest family-owned veterinary group. Join us in delivering outstanding client service while thriving in a positive, close-knit team culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Veterinary Surgeon
✨Get Involved in Local Health Initiatives
Dive into local health initiatives or volunteer at community health events. This not only boosts your practical experience but also gets you noticed among professionals in human medicine who may have leads on full-time positions like Veterinary Surgeon at Village Vet.
✨Connect with Professionals via Medical Associations
Join professional associations related to human medicine, such as the Royal College of Physicians. Attend their conferences and networking events to meet potential employers in a relaxed setting. Who knows, you might just bump into someone from Village Vet!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise Online
Build a personal website or a professional blog where you can share your insights on human medicine topics. This portfolio can catch the eye of recruiters looking for dedicated individuals for full-time roles like Veterinary Surgeon.
✨Leverage University Career Services
If you’re still in or recently graduated from university, don’t hesitate to use your career services. They often have exclusive listings and contacts in the human medicine field that can help you land a full-time gig at places like Village Vet.
We think you need these skills to ace Veterinary Surgeon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for the Veterinary Surgeon at Village Vet, focus on highlighting your clinical experience and any specific training you've undergone. Include any relevant placements or internships you’ve completed, as well as any certifications that bolster your qualifications in human medicine.
Highlight Your Soft Skills:In the field of human medicine, soft skills are just as crucial as technical knowledge. Mention your communication skills, empathy, and teamwork experiences in your CV and cover letter. This shows that you can work well in a clinical setting and with patients, which is super important in this industry!
Tailor Your Cover Letter Thoughtfully:Be sure to personalise your cover letter for the Veterinary Surgeon at Village Vet. Mention why you’re passionate about human medicine and how you align with the company’s mission. This is your chance to convey your enthusiasm and make a case for why you'll be a valuable addition to the team!
Include Continuing Education:Make sure to mention any ongoing education or courses you’re taking to keep your skills sharp. In human medicine, staying updated with the latest practices is key. It shows you’re dedicated to your field, which employers like Village Vet will definitely appreciate!
How to prepare for a job interview at Village Vet
✨Brush Up on Clinical Knowledge
Since you're aiming for a role in human medicine, make sure you’re sharp on the latest clinical guidelines and practices relevant to the position. Be prepared to discuss case studies or scenarios you might encounter in the role. This will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also ready to apply that knowledge in real-life situations.
✨Demonstrate Soft Skills
In human medicine, technical skills are crucial, but don’t forget to showcase your soft skills like communication, empathy, and teamwork. In your answers, share specific examples of how you've worked effectively with patients or colleagues in the past, as these traits are highly valued in clinical settings.
✨Know Your CV Backwards
As you’re applying for a full-time position, your CV should tell a story. Be ready to discuss every part of it, especially your clinical experiences, the impact you had, and what you learned. Employers want to see how your journey has prepared you for this role, so think of it like you're taking them through your professional narrative.
✨Prepare for Ethical Scenarios
Ethics are a big deal in human medicine, so expect questions that assess your decision-making in tricky situations. Think about how you'd handle ethical dilemmas or patient confidentiality concerns. Prepare a few examples that illustrate your thought process and how you prioritise patient welfare in your decision-making.
