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Job Description
Nursing Auxiliaries
(Veterinary Care Assistant / Kennel Assistant)


General description of reception role
As a nursing auxiliary, you'll be involved in hands-on nursing care of a range of animals, ensuring their care & wellbeing is catered for throughout their stay within the practice. You'll work alongside the whole veterinary team to promote animal health and welfare. The practice cannot be successful without competent & caring nursing auxiliaries.
You will be expected to be professional, calm and courteous at all times, maintaining a neat & tidy appearance. A high standard of behaviour and appearance is required at all times to ensure client confidence & the welfare of patients under our care.

Your tasks will include:
• Confidently handle & restrain patients.
• Assisting veterinary surgeons & veterinary nurses in surgical or medical procedures.
• Providing nursing care to hospitalised patients, including exercise, nutrition, etc.
• Sterilisation & maintenance of equipment and instruments.
• Stock control of consumables.
• Laundry.
• Maintaining the cleanliness of all areas of the practice.
• Maintain health & safety within the practice, including yourself, other staff members, members of the public and patients.
• Ability to contribute as part of the team, helping with various tasks as required
• Receptionist duties, if required to cover holidays or sick leave.

Whilst you may be required to discuss veterinary care of patients, you are not expected to diagnose conditions or prescribe medications. You should pass on any veterinary related enquiries to the relevant clinical staff.

Company Location
You will be based at our Linlithgow branch, at Unit 42 Mill Road Industrial Estate, Linlithgow EH49 7SF

Hours / Days of Work
Our ideal candidate would be a full time employee (Mon-Fri, 40hr/week), but the right person, we could be flexible with hours to suit.

Rate of Pay
The rate of pay will be based on the National Minimum Wage or Real Living Wage, depending on the applicants age. A pay review will take place every 6 months, and pay will increase with any training undertaken & qualifications gained.

Employee Assistance Programme
Staff discounts on veterinary treatment

We are looking for someone that will fit in with our core values and work ethos. We have high standards of patient care and amazing client focus.

Whilst a VCA qualification would be amazing, it is not essential as we will provide full training and enrolment onto VCA course for the right candidate

Stuart originally came to Westport Vets, Linlithgow in 2011, as an assistant veterinary surgeon, and quickly made partner, after the original owner sadly passed away. In 2018, WPVC acquired two additional branches, in South Queensferry & Edinburgh, after the owner retired. In 2020, Stuart accomplished his dream by buying out his old partner, who was also retiring, and became sole owner to Westport Veterinary Clinic.

Stuart's aim at WPVC is to make the workplace as enjoyable as possible and to achieve this, he has invested heavily both in the team and the equipment. With our team, we ensure their health and wellbeing is looked after by regular in practice events and a healthy social life. All the branches, including the tiny one in Edinburgh, have a fantastic range of equipment to help the team carry out their daily job well.
Stuart's aim is to keep as much of the veterinary work in-house and refer as little as possible, which allows the team to build and develop their skillset and allows our clients to spend their money wisely, rather than referral fees.

The whole team is valued and encouraged to pursue their interests - whatever they may be. Lifelong learning is an integral part of the WPVC ethos and is strongly supported both morally and financially!

As we have an amazing team, and have trained many of our own nurses, we have been fortunate to grow without the need to actively advertise very often. Whether we are advertising or not, if you like what you see please just get in touch. We are always happy to meet up, show you around and discuss opportunities.