Would you like to work for a multi-award-winning, well-established practice?
Our client in Colne is looking for a full- and a part-time Small Animal Vet to join their friendly, professional clinical team. Both positions can be considered with or without on-call.
Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience. To give you an idea of their current pay scales: a one-year qualified Vet will be paid £36,700; a Vet who has been qualified for 6 years will be on £51,100.
Why Apply?
They are a well-established practice giving great job security.
They recognise we all spend a lot of time at work, and we want their employees to be happy at work and enjoy a great work-life balance.
They are happy to discuss the hours you work around your needs.
They have a team of RVNs working 24/7 at Colne, which is extremely beneficial to the Vets who do on-call, and greatly enhances in-patient care.
Up to 40 days holiday a year, with a holiday buy back scheme, too, for those who love to travel.
The practice was Pendle’s employer of the year 2016-2017 and runner up for 2018-2019.
They have been highly commended in the SPVS wellbeing awards, twice.
Their main site has undergone extensive refurbishments; you can enjoy using their state-of-the-art equipment in beautiful surroundings.
You would enjoy excellent support and back-up from their well-established clinical team.
They have 15-minute appointments.
They have team meetings so all Their employees can contribute to the success of their practice and ensure everyone is listened to.
For more recently qualified Vets, they have reflective meetings that give Vets a great environment to develop and grow.
They offer a generous CPD allowance of £1,750 per annum, and certificates are encouraged with a higher CPD budget given.
They have a new graduate development programme.
Their main site is cat friendly.
They are RCVS Accredited and a Nurse training centre.
They have several apartments available, all within walking distance of our surgeries.
They are a friendly bunch who love to socialise.
The rota is 1.5 in 8 – they offer generous time off given for on-call.
Employee Perks
Health Shield cash plan
You will have access to an Employee Assistance Programme
You can join our corporate gym membership for only £22.50 a month
Pets are treated at cost (within reason).
You are more than welcome to speak to one of our Vets to see what life is like at the practice
About the practice
The practice was established in 1911 at their current site in Colne, Lancashire.
They are part of the VetPartners group.
They are a first opinion practice, running their Farm and Equine Department and Companion Animal Department totally separately. The practice has 3 Clinical Directors, and they have 80 employees.
They have 3 Companion Animal surgeries in Colne, Barnoldswick, and Burnley. You will only work between 2 surgeries to help maintain case continuity. Sole charge will be required.
You will enjoy the support of a well-experienced team of excellent and dedicated Vets, nurses, and receptionists.
Their facilities allow for good case work up and include a state-of-the-art DR digital x-ray machine with cloud-based image storage, ECG, flexible endoscope, ultrasound scanner, tonometer, infusion pumps, and a well-equipped lab including an electrolyte analyser.
Out-of-Hours and On-Call Vets
Their loyal clients really appreciate their in-house out-of-hours service. They understand how this can impact on Vets and do ensure on-call is kept to a minimum, and that Vets have the following 24 hours off after being on-call. There is accommodation on-site for Vets to use, if preferred.
To further improve overnight care and provide major support to their Vets, they have a team of RVNs who work through the night. This makes being on-call a lot less arduous for the on-call Vet, and greatly improves in-patient care.
Providing in-house OOH care not only gives their clients a better service, but also increases case exposure to their Vets. Thus, allowing them to build experience and confidence in dealing with emergency and critical care patients.
Their weekend OOH rota is approximately 1.5 in 8, with generous time off in-lieu given.
On-call Friday / Work Saturday morning only / Sunday on-call
(Monday & Tuesday off in-lieu)
On-call Saturday
(With a Friday off in-lieu).
Followed by 6 Weekends Off.
In addition, you would be on-call approximately one night every other week, with the following day off. The rota is on a continuous 8-week cycle, allowing you to plan your life ahead. They have an OOH telephone answering service, so you will not be taking calls directly. Recent graduates will be given Veterinary back-up OOH. There is CCTV, so you can remotely keep an eye on in-patients.
Full-time Vets involved in the out-of-hours service do work a variation of 3-4- and 5-day weeks throughout the 8-week rolling rota. If you are a full-time Vet doing on-call, you will only have two 5-day weeks in every 8 weeks. However, many of their Vets choose to have extra days off. They are very open to suggestions and happy to discuss what hours may suit you.
About their Team
They worked with the BVA in the summer of 2016 filming for Veterinary view
They have a friendly and supportive team. As a practice, they do take part in several social events. Over the last few years, they have taken part in the annual charity Pendle Pub Walk covering 13 miles and visiting a few pubs for refreshments on the way! Many of their employees enjoy taking part in activities, often raising money for various charities, including:
Yorkshire Three Peaks
The Major Series
Guide Dog challenge
50-mile Mega Hike
They have taken part in a short film about Euthanasia, which is currently touring various film festivals.
About the Area
They do think it’s important to help employees, especially someone new to the area, find a good work-life balance, and Pendle offers a wide variety of leisure activities.
For walking and hiking enthusiasts, they are situated in the north east of Lancashire. Nestled between the Ribble Valley and the Pennine Way, Pendle is a largely rural area dominated by the iconic Pendle Hill. The Forest of Bowland, an area of outstanding natural beauty, is on our doorstep and the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, and Bronte Country are all within easy reach.
They have two golf courses in Pendle, and a sailing club on Burwains reservoir.
The area is home to cycling Olympian and world champion Steven Burke MBE, and for the cycling enthusiast there is a cycling club that meets regularly at the Steven Burke closed road cycle circuit. There’s also the annual Colne Grand Prix cycle race. For the more extreme off-road biking, there are plenty of trails at Gisburne Forest, approximately 8 miles away from Colne.
The area (currently!!!) boasts a premier league football team!
Their corporate gym membership gives access to 4 gyms, plus you can also use a further 13 leisure centres throughout East Lancashire, including fun pools, and you can receive discounts on spa treatments.
For people who enjoy the city life, the vibrant cities of Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds are within easy reach by road or public transport, and offer excellent shopping and night life.
They also have fantastic access to the motorway network, railways, and major airports.
If you wish to apply send a CV through the link with a mention of when you will be available for a registration call.
For a confidential discussion about our opportunities call Paul on 07936947875 or email a CV to paul@lloydandcowan.com. If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us on 02887658068.If you know someone else who may be interested, why not pass this advert on to them.
If we successfully place someone, you've referred to us; we'll give you £200 in high street vouchers as a way of saying thank you.
All applications will be treated in the STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.