Animal Care Assistant – Part time Weekends

Vets Now; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading emergency pet care provider in Gateshead is seeking an Animal Care Assistant for weekend shifts. You will play a vital role in supporting clinical teams to provide a comfortable environment for patients while assisting with surgical procedures and diagnostic tests. The role offers competitive pay and a range of benefits including annual leave, CPD allowances, and family-friendly policies. Ideal candidates will possess a passion for animal care and the ability to work flexibly during busy clinic hours.

Benefits

Pro-rata annual leave

Paid day off on your birthday

Cash Health Plan

Discounts with retailers

CPD allowance

Paid CPD hours

Family-friendly policies

Pension contributions

Discounted staff pet care

Paid volunteering days

Death in service benefit

Qualifications

• Ability to work under guidance of Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons.
• Experience in handling patients for basic procedures and assisting with diagnostic tests.
• Knowledge in assisting setting up and clearing down theatres for surgical procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist clinical teams in providing a comfortable in-patient environment.
• Attend to basic husbandry needs of in-patients.
• Support clinical team during busy shifts in an emergency clinic.

Job description

Animal Care Assistant – Weekends

£12.60ph plus benefits

Join the Team at Vets Now – Providing Exceptional Emergency Pet Care

Vets Now is the UK’s leading provider of emergency pet care, serving over 1700 veterinary practices through 60 plus dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals. Join our clinic team in Gateshead and contribute to the vital emergency and critical care service we provide.

Key Responsibilities

As an Animal Care Assistant at Vets Now, you will play a crucial role in assisting our clinical teams with providing a comfortable and stress‑free in‑patient environment whilst negotiating busy shifts in an emergency clinic. Your responsibilities will include:

• Working under the guidance of Vet Nurses and Vet Surgeons.
• Handling patients for basic procedures and assisting with running diagnostic tests.
• Assisting in setting up and clearing down theatres for surgical procedures.
• Ensuring all in‑patients have their basic husbandry needs attended to.

Rota Pattern

Week 1: Sunday 9am – 6pm

Week 2: OFF

Week 3: Saturday 12p – 6pm

Week 4: OFF

What we offer

• 7 weeks pro rata annual leave
• Your birthday as a paid day off
• Cash Health Plan provided by Simply Health
• Vets Now For You – reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100’s of retailers
• £780 CPD allowance pro‑rata
• 10 hours paid CPD hours annually pro‑rata
• Family‑friendly policies including sick, maternity, paternity and adoption pay schemes
• UK Standard Pension contributions – 5% Employee/3% Employer
• Up to 50% discounted staff pet care
• Paid volunteering days
• Death in service of two times annual salary

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those from diverse and minority groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we encourage candidates with disabilities and health conditions to apply and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.