Veterinary Surgeon

Job Title: Veterinary Surgeon
Location: Rickmansworth & Chorleywood, Hertfordshire
Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
Practice: Chess Veterinary Clinic
Salary: £50,000–£60,000 DOE

Some practices are built around being the biggest, newest or busiest. Chess Vets is different.

We’ve been part of the Rickmansworth community for almost 80 years, and there’s a reason generations of clients continue to walk through our doors. It’s a practice with character, genuinely loyal clients and a team who have stayed because they enjoy working here.

For a vet, that means something quite simple: you get to know your clients, you see a varied caseload, you have the time and equipment to investigate cases properly, and you work alongside people who know their practice inside out.

If you’re looking for somewhere you can do good first-opinion medicine without feeling like you’re constantly rushing to the next appointment, Chess could be worth a look.

Why join us?

• A genuinely varied clinical role, with around 40–50% of your caseload made up of surgery
• 15-minute consultations as standard, with 30-minute appointments where a case needs more time
• A loyal, largely insured client base who are receptive to investigation and proactive care
• The clinical freedom to work cases up thoroughly rather than feeling pressured to refer early
• An established team with exceptional retention on practice support staff, including nurses who have been at Chess for more than a decade
• A real opportunity to develop your interest in imaging, ultrasound or endoscopy, with the equipment already available in practice, crying out for someone to utilise and explore
• A characterful main practice in a converted old stable, alongside a recently refurbished Chorleywood site
• A straightforward, predictable 40-hour rota with 1 in 4 Saturday afternoons, 1pm–6pm
• The backing of Linnaeus and access to a wider network of clinical expertise, while retaining the feel of a genuinely local practice
• A role where your clinical opinion is listened to and where there is scope to develop your own areas of interest

The practice & team

Chess Veterinary Clinic has been looking after pets in Rickmansworth and the surrounding area for almost 80 years. That longevity isn't just a number on an advert. It shows up in the relationships the practice has with its clients and in the people who work here.

The Rickmansworth practice is set within a converted old stable, giving it a character and sense of identity that you simply don't get from a newly built clinical building. You'll also work across our nearby Chorleywood site, usually for 1–2 days per week where required. Chorleywood has recently been refurbished and has a large consult room and spacious waiting area, giving you a little more room while still feeling part of the same practice.

Clinically, this is a practice where there is plenty to get involved with. Around 40–50% of the workload is surgical, alongside consult-only days, so you'll have the opportunity to maintain a good balance between consulting and hands-on clinical work. Consultations are generally 15 minutes, with 30-minute appointments available when a patient or client needs more time.

The ethos is to investigate cases properly. Chess has an in-house laboratory offering routine haematology and biochemistry as well as thyroid, cPLI and cortisol testing, digital radiography including dental imaging, abdominal and cardiac ultrasound, endoscopy equipment, a dedicated theatre and a separate area for dental procedures and ultrasonography.

There are also some genuine opportunities here rather than everything being a finished product. Imaging and ultrasound are areas where the practice would like to continue developing, and there is an endoscope on site that we'd love to see used more. So, if you've got an interest in imaging or endoscopy, you won't be starting from scratch, you’ll have the equipment, the caseload and the opportunity to build your confidence and become a go-to person within the practice.

The team is another big part of what makes Chess different. The Nursing Manager has been with the practice for around 14 years and actually trained there. The Practice Manager is also an RVN and has almost 10 years' experience in practice, while another RVN has been part of the team for around 12 years. The reception and client care teams are similarly established, with some colleagues having around 30 years of experience at Chess so the Support staff are exactly that... there to support you and help the practice thrive.

When we asked what makes the team tick, the answer was simple: they love the variety of cases and the bond between clients, pets and the practice. There is a real sense of pride in being somewhere where clients return over many years and where the team genuinely gets to know the people and animals they care for.

That doesn't mean we're claiming Chess is perfect or that every day is the same. It isn't. This is a busy first-opinion practice, and the role is full-time with a defined 1-in-4 Saturday commitment. The rota isn't designed to be endlessly tailored. What we can offer is consistency, a stable team, a varied caseload and an environment where you can actually take pride in the work you do.

Outside the practice, Rickmansworth gives you a great combination of accessibility and lifestyle. You're within easy reach of London, while the Aquadrome, Chorleywood Common and the surrounding Chilterns provide plenty of space for walking and getting outdoors. The area has a lovely village feel, with independent cafés and local amenities close by.

What we're looking for

• A small animal GP vet with a minimum of 3 years' UK clinical experience
• Someone who genuinely enjoys a mixture of consulting and surgery
• A clinician who likes getting to the bottom of a case rather than reaching for a referral at the first hurdle
• Someone who wants to continue developing their clinical skills, particularly in areas such as imaging, ultrasound or endoscopy
• A vet who values continuity and enjoys building genuine relationships with clients and their pets
• Someone comfortable working as part of an experienced, collaborative team and contributing to clinical discussions
• A clinician who takes pride in high standards of patient care without losing sight of the client experience
• Someone looking for a full-time role and comfortable with a structured 40-hour rota and 1-in-4 Saturday afternoons
• A vet who wants to become part of an established local practice rather than simply move into their next job

Benefits

• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave
• RCVS & VDS fees paid
• CPD allowance and 4 days each year to attend events plus Linnaeus CPD Programme (including certificate holder level CPD)
• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
• Career progression opportunities
• Staff discount schemes
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Recruitment referral reward scheme
• Wellness program including:
• Employee assistance program
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Free annual Flu jab
• Cycle to work scheme

About Us

Chess Vets 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. 

If you would like to apply for the role or for an informal chat to discuss it further, please get in touch with Joanne in the recruitment team joanne.gray@linnaeusgroup.co.uk

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