Animal Care Assistant

Animal Care Assistant
- Overdale Veterinary Practice, Buxton, Buxton, East Midlands
- Discipline: Clinical Support
- Full Time
- £12.21ph

**We are hiring**:
Here at Overdale Veterinary Practice, we are looking for a friendly and caring Animal Care Assistant to join our fantastic tam in Buxton.
- You will be expected to deliver a high standard of nursing support to inpatients, either directly or by supporting clinical team members under the direction of a Vet or Nurse. You will also support non-clinical staff with common daily procedures to ensure that the client and patient journey is of the highest quality. This role will report to the Head Nurse or Nurse Manager. You will also have the opportunity to enrol on and complete a recognised Level 2 VCA apprenticeship qualification or complete the IVC Evidensia VCA internal 3-month programme.

**Your responsibilities will include**:

- Maintain a high standard of inpatient care under direction of the VS or RVN.
- Communicate with the supervising VS and RVN on basic status of inpatients.
- Communicate effectively with clients when performing reception and client-based duties and maintain a high professional standard.
- Assist with setting up for clinical procedures and support the VS and RVN in all required procedures.
- Establish and maintain a good working relationship with all members of the practice.
- Always adhere to IVC Evidensia policies and animal welfare standards.
- Adhere to all SOP’s and implement updates where required.
- Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and biosecurity throughout the building.
- Fulfil the obligations of the rota, sick cover/on call rota & bank holiday cover.
- Support the practice with new initiatives.
- Carry out any reasonable requests made by members of the management team.

**Your duties will include**:

- Monitor and recording inpatient’s clinical parameters, including TPR, bodily functions and activity and identifying changes and communicate with the supervising VS and RVN on basic status/change in status of inpatients.
- Ensure the highest standard of nursing care is always delivered to all patients under direction of the VS or RVN (not exceeding professional remit).
- Ensure the patient’s needs are met via provision of environmental enrichment opportunities and meeting individual needs of the animal to reduce distress, pain, fear and frustration.
- Provide psychological support to manage stress and patient anxiety, to include stroking, cuddling, handfeeding, and providing comfort and emotional care to inpatients.
- Provide physical support, including exercising the patient to ensure opportunities for elimination and providing mobility support where required.
- Provide individual feeding support (hand feed, provision of preferred feeding bowls etc) to ensure the patient is receiving correct nutrition and support the patient in getting back to normal feeding and drinking behaviour.
- Appropriately move and restrain animals for treatment and procedures, this may include for blood tests, injections, claw clipping, ultrasound, etc.
- Support the clinical team and client with end-of-life care and support.
- Cover reception duties as and when required.

**About the rota**:
This is a full-time permanent role working 37.5 hours per week over 5 days. There will be a mixture of early and late shifts with Saturdays on a rota basis.

**Want to know more about Overdale?**:
Overdale Veterinary Centre is based in the picturesque spa town of Buxton, nestled in the Peak District. The clinic has a classical feel about it, with the ethos of providing a high standard of clinical care to our clients across the board.

We have 3 small animal consulting rooms (2 vet and 1 nurse), one dedicated operating theatre, an imaging suite (digital x-ray, ultrasound and endoscopy plus Dental x-ray arriving soon...), prep area with dental facilities and in house laboratory. We have separate cat and dog kennels.

**In addition to a competitive salary, you will benefit from**:

- 6.6 Weeks annual leave
- Additional annual leave for your birthday which will be added to your holiday allowance
- Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/ paternity/ adoption/ shared parental and surrogacy pay
- Cycle to work scheme
- Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
- Non-accidental injury support
- Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
- Pawsome Benefits - reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100's of retailers
- Pension scheme
- Discounted staff pet care

Overdale Veterinary Practice, Buxton
- New Market Street, Buxton, Buxton, SK17 6LP, United Kingdom

**Animals treated**
- Dogs, cats & small pets
- Farm animals
- Equine
- Exotic Friendly
- Rabbit Friendly
- Chicken Friendly