Patient Care Assistant

The Patient Care Assistant role is one of the foundations of an outstanding veterinary practice, and as a PCA you will be involved in supporting our team of qualified RVNs and Clinicians to provide outstanding care to our patients.
Working with Registered Veterinary Nurses, Patient Care Assistants, and Specialist vets across all disciplines; you will assist admitting patients, setting up, preparing equipment and instruments ready for and assisting with procedures and assist with providing a high standard of care to our inpatients. Training is provided by a friendly and supportive team of nurses, patient care assistants and specialists.
The successful candidate will be passionate about providing a high standard of care and be keen to learn, ideally having had previous experience working in a busy veterinary environment.
The successful candidate will get to work with Registered Veterinary Nurses, Patient Care Assistants, and Specialist vets in anaesthesia, ECC, neurology, orthopaedics, soft tissue, internal medicine, cardiology and ophthalmology. You will also be working with the labs and ultrasound teams. Training is provided by a friendly and supportive team of nurses, patient care assistants and specialists.
You will be passionate about providing a high standard of care and be keen to learn and ideally have previous experience working in a busy theatre environment either in the human or veterinary medicine industry. Contributing to infection control in the wards.
Some of the duties will include:
· Nursing care to patients
· Assisting Clinicians and Nurses in restraining animals for treatment
· Cleaning, walking, and feeding of patients
· Preparation of emergency and operating facilities
· General cleaning and maintenance duties
· Running internal lab samples
· Answering emergency calls
· Covering the receptionist desk, including answering queries, booking appointments and taking payments

What we're looking for in our Veterinary Patient Care Assistant:
· An excellent communicator with strong empathy
· Excellent customer service skills and experience in dealing with members of the public
· Experience in animal welfare, including feeding, cleaning, medicating and handling and a high level of understanding of how to meet the welfare needs of animals
· Resilient with the ability to cope with potentially distressing and emotional situations
· A positive attitude and excellent teamwork skills
· Experience in looking after animals in a veterinary environment would be desirable

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with a passion for animals to join us as a Veterinary Patient Care Assistant at Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists, a multidisciplinary hospital in Alton
This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week including unsociable hours contributing to the weekend rota. Part time applications will also be considered.
Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists is a large multidisciplinary referral hospital providing veterinary referral services across the South of England including London and the Thames Valley. Our services include Orthopaedic surgery, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency and Critical Care, Soft Tissue Surgery, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Cardiology, Anaesthesia and Diagnostic Imaging. The hospital is an ISFM gold feline clinic and was awarded the BVHA design award for an outstanding working environment. We are part of CVS (UK) Ltd, the largest provider of integrated veterinary services in the UK; the referrals division currently operates eight referral hospitals in the UK and Ireland.
About CVS:
CVS Group plc is one of the largest integrated veterinary services providers in the UK encompassing four main business areas; our veterinary practices, diagnostic laboratories, pet crematoria and e-commerce division.
Our success is derived from the passion our people have for animals and for making pets a priority, it's what is at the heart of our work, every day.
Take a look at our short film to recognise the remarkable work that our Vets, Nurses, Care Assistants and Receptionists do on the front line every day in the UK: CVS Ode to Veterinary Professionals

· Salary will be in line with the National Minimum Wage
· Generous annual leave entitlement of 5 weeks per year plus Bank Holidays
· Staff discount scheme on Veterinary bills and products
· A range of health benefits including private healthcare
· Employee Assistance Programme and access to over 400 Mental Health First-Aiders
· and more! Or, if easier, you can find a full list by clicking the link here:
To apply for this position please click 'Apply Now'.
Don't miss this opportunity to work in a friendly, caring and supportive team with like-minded individuals looking to advance their careers and standards of care for our patients.
Please Note: This role may close early due to a high number of applications.
CVS is committed to being a fully inclusive place to work where all our colleagues are encouraged and supported to be themselves, where difference is celebrated and where everyone feels able to deliver their best. We are also determined to build a workforce that is more representative of our diverse communities and the people we provide our services to.