Veterinary Care Assistant

Sore Paws Veterinary Clinic is an independent family run practice that prides itself on _“blending modern medicine, with old fashioned care”_. We always aim to practice up to date, evidence-based clinical medical and surgical treatments, without compromising the small and intimate _‘village vet’_ feel. We strive to provide all our clients and patients with a high standard of clinical care and excellent customer service, without compromising on our professional integrity. We appreciate the continued success of Sore Paws is maintained by the hard work of our dedicated and knowledgeable team members, and it is our mission to take care of them and support them throughout their time with us.

Our Veterinary Care Assistants play a vital role in supporting our Veterinary and Nursing teams to ensure we deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to all our patients and clients. Our VCAs play a hands-on role ensuring the wellbeing of our patients while assisting in various clinical and administrative tasks. Alongside the Head Nurse, they should support and strive towards achieving the overall goal of clinically excellent standards throughout the practice.

**The Role**:
This role is located at our Winlaton branch.

The role available is permanent full-time basis at 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 10.30am - 6.30pm.

**Daily Duties**:

- Provide an exceptional standard of care to all patients, ensuring their comfort and well-being. Assisting with food preparation, cleaning, laundry, and any other animal care duties.
- Ensure clinical standards are being met and compliant to the RVCS Code of Professional Conduct, and adhere VMD legislation.
- Monitor patient health, wellbeing, and behaviour, reporting any relevant changes to the Veterinary and Nursing team.
- Assist in the handling, restraint, and care of patients during examinations and treatments.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect all required areas of the clinic e.g., consults rooms, reception, prep area and kennels, surgical suites, as well as surgical kits.
- Support the revision and implementation of best practice protocols and clinical guidance within the practice. Identifying areas of improvement and recommending appropriate solutions.
- Responsible for the safety of our clients and patients within the practice, and ensuring safe measures are taken when handling or treating patients.
- Support respectful, effective, and collaborative communication between departments to ensure optimum client and patient care.
- Be a Culture Leader and a positive presence in the workplace. Embodying our Company Core Values. Adhere to and promote all practice policies, procedures, and guidelines.

**Clinical Governance**
- Support clinical standards within the practice, striving for clinical excellence and always aiming for the best level of care. If required, support in creating guidelines for minimum standards of care.
- Use your voice as an advocate of the Veterinary Care Assistant profession to support decision making which impacts patients and client care from a VCA standpoint.
- Support the clinical team in the creation and facilitation of effective working protocols in all clinical areas, ensuring that these are based on current best practice.

**Site Management**
- Support the Branch Manager in efficient rota management, ensuring adequate cover with regard to holidays, CPD requests, public holidays, scheduling in-house training and rota amendments due to unforeseen absence, including shift changes where appropriate.
- Be aware of the operational aspects of the working day that affect practice profitability.
- Support in the regular review and monitoring of daily, weekly, and monthly checklists.

**Equipment Maintenance**
- Ensure the maintenance and care of equipment is adhered to a high standard, and report any breakdowns or faults immediately.
- Ensure that records of service contracts and equipment manuals are safely kept. Full working instructions should be created if required, and regularly reviewed.

**Administration**
- Adhere to the Attendance at Work policy.
- Complete required GDPR training, and ensure all administration tasks are compliant with GDPR policy.
- Produce written communications and reports as required.

**Health and Safety**
- Ensure full awareness of all Health and Safety policies and procedures.
- Address any Health and Safety issues noticed or reported as a matter of urgency.
- Work alongside the Company Directors, Branch Manager and HR, to ensure all Health and Safety policies and procedures are adhered to and all relevant documentation is in date:

- Risk Assessments; these should be read and updated annually. Any additional risk should be noted and added to the risk assessment file.
- Fire Safety; these should be read and updated annually. All fire safety procedures should be checked and updated accordingly.
- Report all accidents or incidents promptly, ensuring the correct process has been followed.

**Personal Development**
- Dem