Veterinary Surgeon | Essex

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Veterinary Surgeon to join an award-winning, independent small animal practice in Essex.

Offering a salary of £45,000-£70,000 per annum depending on experience and skill set, this permanent position can be worked across either three or four days per week, with a fixed weekday off, just 1 in 4 Saturday mornings and no out-of-hours.

The practice offers an exceptionally supportive working environment, an appreciative and loyal client base and genuine clinical freedom. Visa sponsorship and free seaside accommodation are available, making this an excellent opportunity for both UK-based Veterinary Surgeons and vets looking to relocate to the UK.

Key Highlights

• Salary of £45,000-£70,000 per annum DOE.
• Permanent full or part-time Veterinary Surgeon position.
• 3 or 4 days per week.
• Fixed weekday off.
• Just 1 in 4 Saturday mornings.
• No out-of-hours.
• Award-winning independent small animal practice.
• Visa sponsorship available.
• Free two-bedroom seaside accommodation available.
• 6.6 weeks' annual leave.
• Additional unpaid leave available by agreement.
• £1,000 annual CPD allowance with flexibility for additional funding.
• RCVS and VDS fees paid.
• Health Shield.
• Excellent nursing support.
• Supportive, clinically active practice leadership.
• Loyal and appreciative client base.
• Excellent opportunity for UK and overseas Veterinary Surgeons.

The Practice

This independently owned small animal practice has established an exceptional reputation for high-quality veterinary care, personalised client service and creating a genuinely enjoyable environment in which to work.

The practice achieved national recognition by winning a Best Vet UK award during its opening year and has continued to receive awards and excellent client feedback since.

Its reputation locally is equally impressive. The practice has such strong demand from pet owners that new client registrations are managed through a waiting list. This creates an established client base that values the service being provided and trusts the clinical team to make appropriate recommendations for their pets.

Remaining independent provides the Veterinary Surgeons with genuine clinical freedom and allows the team to focus on what is right for each individual patient rather than working around corporate targets or protocols.

The practice owner remains fully clinical and works alongside the veterinary team on a day-to-day basis. This creates a collaborative environment where vets can readily discuss cases, ask for another opinion and support one another with more challenging patients.

You'll also benefit from an experienced and highly supportive nursing team, with excellent teamwork between vets and nurses throughout the working day.

Facilities & Clinical Development

The practice is equipped to investigate and manage a varied first opinion small animal caseload, providing Veterinary Surgeons with opportunities across consultations, surgery, medicine, dentistry and diagnostic investigations.

Clinical development is actively encouraged, and the practice takes a flexible approach to CPD rather than viewing the annual allowance as an absolute ceiling.

The standard CPD allowance is £1,000 per annum, but additional investment can be considered where worthwhile training will benefit the Veterinary Surgeon and their patients.

The practice has previously funded additional in-house clinical training, including ultrasound development, demonstrating a genuine willingness to invest in individual team members and help clinicians develop areas of particular interest.

The Location

Located in Essex, the practice offers an attractive combination of village and coastal living while retaining excellent connections across the South East.

Central London can be reached in approximately 1.5 hours by train, while Stansted Airport is around an hour away by car, providing excellent connections for Veterinary Surgeons who enjoy travelling or have family overseas.

The Essex coastline is within easy reach, alongside attractive countryside, coastal towns and numerous opportunities for walking, cycling and outdoor activities.

For Veterinary Surgeons relocating to the area, one of the biggest benefits is the availability of free accommodation.

The accommodation is a lovely two-bedroom flat in a nearby seaside town, approximately 10 minutes from the practice. The property is directly opposite the seafront, with sea views and the beach literally across the road.

Train and bus services are available close to both the accommodation and practice, although having a car provides additional flexibility for exploring the surrounding area.

The Role

This is a permanent Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon position available across either three or four days per week.

The practice is looking for a Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys being a good all-round GP and is comfortable managing both consultations and routine surgical cases.

The successful candidate should be confident with consultations and have good routine surgical skills. As a minimum surgical competency, you should be comfortable independently performing routine bitch spays.

The caseload provides opportunities across:

• Small animal consultations.
• General medicine.
• Routine GP surgery.
• Dentistry.
• Diagnostic imaging.
• Ultrasound.
• Preventative healthcare.
• Medical investigations.
• Surgical case work-ups.
• Ongoing case management and continuity of care.

Teamwork is particularly important within the practice. Veterinary Surgeons regularly discuss their cases with one another, and you'll be encouraged to draw upon the knowledge and experience of colleagues rather than feeling that you have to manage challenging cases alone.

The nursing team is also heavily involved in supporting the vets and provides excellent assistance throughout the clinical day.

Rota & Work-Life Balance

The practice understands the importance of having a sustainable veterinary career and offers an attractive working pattern with plenty of time away from work.

The rota includes:

• Either 3 or 4 working days per week.
• Fixed weekday off.
• 1 in 4 Saturday mornings.
• No routine Saturday afternoon working.
• No Sunday working.
• No out-of-hours.
• No overnight on-call.

The practice also offers 6.6 weeks' annual leave and is happy to consider additional periods of unpaid leave where required.

This can be particularly attractive for vets who enjoy travelling, have family overseas or simply want greater flexibility around their life outside work.

Relocation & Visa Sponsorship

Applications are welcomed from Veterinary Surgeons already based within the UK as well as suitable overseas vets looking to establish their career in the UK.

Visa sponsorship is available, subject to the successful candidate meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.

Free accommodation can also significantly reduce the cost and practical difficulties associated with relocating.

The practice already has experience welcoming Veterinary Surgeons from overseas. One of its current international vets relocated to the UK from Australia and has spoken particularly positively about the support she received when arriving, the friendships she has developed within the team and the collaborative approach to clinical cases.

For an overseas vet, this provides the reassurance of joining a team that understands the practical and professional challenges associated with relocating and adapting to veterinary practice in another country.

The Candidate

The practice is looking for an RCVS-registered, or suitably qualified and eligible to register, Veterinary Surgeon with previous small animal experience.

The successful candidate will ideally:

• Have a couple of years' small animal veterinary experience.
• Be RCVS registered or eligible for registration.
• Be confident undertaking consultations independently.
• Have good routine GP surgical skills.
• Be confident performing bitch spays independently.
• Have excellent client communication skills.
• Enjoy working collaboratively with Veterinary Surgeons and nurses.
• Have a positive and enthusiastic approach.
• Be passionate about delivering excellent patient care.
• Value continuity of care and building long-term client relationships.
• Be keen to continue developing clinically.

Above all, the practice is looking for someone who enjoys being part of a team and wants to build a rewarding long-term career within an independent veterinary environment.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary of £45,000-£70,000 per annum depending on experience and skill set.
• Permanent full or part-time position.
• 3 or 4-day working week.
• Fixed weekday off.
• 1 in 4 Saturday mornings.
• No out-of-hours.
• No overnight on-call.
• Free two-bedroom seaside accommodation available.
• Visa sponsorship available.
• 6.6 weeks' annual leave.
• Additional unpaid leave available by agreement.
• £1,000 annual CPD allowance.
• Flexibility for additional CPD investment where appropriate.
• RCVS fees paid.
• VDS cover paid.
• Health Shield.
• Workplace pension.
• Excellent nursing support.
• Supportive and clinically active practice leadership.
• Genuine clinical freedom.
• Highly regarded and appreciative client base.
• Opportunity to develop individual clinical interests.
• Long-term career development within an award-winning independent practice.

If you're a Veterinary Surgeon looking for an independent practice offering £45,000-£70,000, a 3 or 4-day week, no OOH, visa sponsorship and free seaside accommodation, this is an excellent opportunity to join a highly regarded small animal team in Essex.

Interested?

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Please quote Job Reference: 26-00508

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