If you would like to join a practice where we value our team, where everyone is willing to work together to get stuck in but also has the time to enjoy their life outside of work, read on!
About us
We are looking for an experienced vet to join our fantastic 15-vet team at Mount Vets, an independent small animal veterinary hospital in beautiful Somerset.
We have a strong, experienced team with several certificate holders, including three in surgery, two in medicine, two in ophthalmology, and one in dermatology. We also have vets studying towards their certificates in ophthalmology, imaging and oncology. Several of our 16 RVNs have also obtained emergency and critical care certificates. Our 4 SVNs and 4 VCAs complete our fantastic nursing team. In addition to a rewarding and varied small animal first opinion caseload, we also offer referrals in ophthalmology and surgery, including orthopaedics.
Our Directors, James and Eric, both spend two days a week on the clinical rota and are always on hand to offer support. James joined the team in 2009, shortly after graduating, and developed a passion for medicine, earning his medicine certificate in 2013. James works closely with the clinical team to improve our clinical processes and enhance our services. Eric, who has been with Mount Vets for over 30 years, looks after the business aspects and was instrumental in developing our hospital site, which we moved to in 2018. Our large, modern, purpose-built premises have recently been extended to increase our consult rooms to eight and provide an additional waiting room.
We have created a warm and collaborative work environment where everyone is happy to share their knowledge and help each other out. Our shared office is the perfect place to come together, catch up, and discuss our cases. We have a great reputation for mentoring vets and an interesting, varied caseload, so if you’re looking to start a certificate in your area of interest, we can fully support you.
What our team says about us:
“Moving to Mount Vets has been the best decision for both furthering myself clinically and for a better work-life balance. It’s been great to be part of such a supportive and experienced team. There is a diverse range of certificate holders and areas of expertise across vets and nurses; it has been a fantastic environment for clinical discussion and development. Consideration is given to the responsibilities we have beyond consults and procedures, and plenty of time is allocated accordingly. As a vet of 3.5 years, everyone is happy to help out and offer advice on cases if needed, it is such a supportive and welcoming practice.” Georgia MRCVS
“I’ve been nursing for 15 years now, and this is the first place where it's felt like home. I absolutely love it here. The cases are amazing. The team are amazing. The facilities are really top notch and we get to do a lot as nurses. The management is very supportive, both in work and out of work, and it's just a really good place to work.” Erin RVN
The rota
Our full-time vets work a 4-day week, with a set day off. We schedule our clinical work between 9 am and 6 pm, which leaves an hour at the end of the day to catch up if needed. Otherwise, we can head home from 6 pm if we're all finished. Consultations are 15 minutes long, with double appointments for more complicated cases and euthanasia. There are plenty of gaps in appointments, which enables time to catch up if running late or deal with any messages or inpatients. We have two vets operating for the whole day and a third vet who operates for the majority of the day. Each vet has at least one operating day per week.
We offer our own out-of-hours service. After consulting with the team, we have designed an OOH rota that allows everyone to enjoy an excellent work-life balance, including large chunks with no weekends or duties. We also have dedicated night RVNs in the hospital to look after any inpatients, so you can be on-call from home and only come in if required.
For 7 weeks out of the 9-week rolling rota, you will work a 4-day week, with no Saturdays, no weekends, and no on-call night shifts. We’ve achieved this by creating blocks; in Week 1, you do a Saturday morning consult and are on-call for the daytime only for the rest of Saturday and Sunday. Following this, you have a 3-day week, with the Monday off in addition to the Friday. Week 2, you only do nights (no day shifts) and a short consulting shift on Saturday morning; you then have 7 weeks with no weekends or nights.
It’s not as complicated as it sounds and works well for the team. We are also happy to consider a 3-day week for a vet joining the OOH rota.
Outside of work:
We're a friendly team that enjoys spending time together outside of work. We even have a fun budget for team activities like meals out, theatre tickets, or days out at local attractions. We also like to get involved in local events and regularly support local and national charities.
There is lots to explore in Wellington and the surrounding area; we are a stone’s throw from the Quantocks, the Blackdown and Brendon Hills, and just 40 minutes from the South Devon beaches. We are also very well connected; we are 5 minutes from Junction 26 on the M5, so Bristol, Exeter and Taunton are all within easy reach, and we’re less than 2 hours by train to Central London.
The package on offer includes:
* Salary range of £45,000 to £75,000, depending on experience
* 28 days (6.6 weeks) holiday, including bank holidays
* CPD actively encouraged, with certificates supported
* Private health insurance & employee assistance scheme
* Professional fees paid for RCVS and VDS
* Workplace fun budget
* Cycle to work scheme and a discount with the local gym
If you want to discuss the role further, please do not hesitate to call for an informal chat or apply now.
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