Veterinary Care Assistant

Location: Veterinary Specialists Scotland (VSS), Livingston, just outside Edinburgh

Job Type: Permanent, full-time

Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility required to work weekends and bank holidays

Join our team at Veterinary Specialists Scotland

Veterinary Specialists Scotland (VSS), part of the Linnaeus group, is looking for experienced and compassionate Veterinary Care Assistants to join our growing team in our state-of-the-art veterinary hospital in Livingston.

VSS is a multi-disciplinary referral centre that opened in October 2020 and has been purpose built to deliver exceptional veterinary care in a modern, supportive, and welcoming environment. As part of Linnaeus, we are proud to be part of a forward-thinking partnership of leading primary care and referral practices across the UK and Ireland, united by a passion to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

At VSS, our core values are centred around excellence in patient care, client care, colleague support, and service to referring practices. We are seeking dedicated Veterinary Care Assistants who share our commitment to teamwork, quality, and continuous improvement.

About the role

The role of the Patient Care Assistant / Veterinary Care Assistant is vital in delivering outstanding patient care and an exceptional client experience. Working closely with our veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses, and wider clinical and client care teams, you will support the day-to-day care of patients under the direction of a Vet or Registered Veterinary Nurse.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with previous veterinary care experience and strong animal handling skills who thrives in a busy hospital environment and is passionate about making a difference to the lives of pets and their owners.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Deliver high-quality patient care within the remit of the PCA role and under appropriate clinical delegation
• Support the nursing and veterinary teams with the day-to-day care of hospitalised patients
• Maintain accurate clinical records, including hospitalisation forms and patient notes
• Ensure patient and clinical areas are maintained to a high standard, following strict infection control and health and safety protocols
• Handle animals confidently, safely, and compassionately
• Work collaboratively with clinical and client care teams to provide an efficient, professional, and caring service
• Provide a courteous, empathetic, and helpful experience for clients at all times
• Support quality improvement initiatives, audits, and incident reporting processes
• Contribute to stock management, correct charging of services and consumables, and reducing unnecessary waste
• Take part in training and continued professional development opportunities

What we’re looking for

• Previous experience in a veterinary care or animal care role
• A strong background in animal handling
• A genuine passion for delivering excellent patient care
• A caring, empathetic, and professional approach
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• The ability to work reliably, adaptably, and positively in a busy clinical environment
• A commitment to maintaining high clinical standards and supporting continuous improvement
• A willingness to work flexibly, including weekends and bank holidays

Why join VSS and Linnaeus?

By joining VSS, you will become part of a talented, collaborative team in a fast-growing referral hospital where patient care and colleague wellbeing are genuinely valued. As part of Linnaeus, you will also benefit from being part of a wider network of veterinary professionals who are passionate about clinical excellence, learning, and innovation.

Our culture is built around the Linnaeus Five Principles:

• Quality
• Responsibility
• Mutuality
• Efficiency
• Freedom

These principles shape how we work, support one another, and make decisions every day.

Apply now

If you are an experienced Veterinary Care Assistant looking to join a progressive and supportive referral hospital, we would love to hear from you.

Veterinary Specialists Scotland is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.   

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best – care for pets.   

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.  

All applications with the relevant skills and qualifications will be carefully considered. If you need any support in completing your application or simply want to find out more about Veterinary Specialists Scotland, Linnaeus or the role, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at careers@linnaeusgroup.co.uk. 

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