We are looking for an experienced mixed vet to join our long-established, mixed 15-vet, proudly independent and XL member practice in South Wales to join the Afon Vets family team.
Please read the following job description thoroughly to ensure you are the right fit for this role before applying.
We hope what follows will give you a taste of what we are all about. If you want to chat and get more information on this opportunity, please feel free to give us a call on 01639 642739 and ask to speak to Cath, Gareth or Richard, who are the practice directors and we can take things on from there.
About us:
We are an independent (and staying that way) thriving mixed practice. Our practice base is in Neath and we have three small animal branch surgeries in the surrounding local towns .
Our patch runs from the foothills of the Brecon beacons to the local coastline. We are 40 minutes away from the bright lights of Cardiff and on the direct trainline network.
Our farm clients who number around 200 are family run beef and sheep units (with a couple of dairy clients ) many of whom have been with us for generations and are based in the hills and valleys within a 15-mile radius of our Neath base. We have a busy thriving small animal business with our surgical hub at our main centre in Neath, our branch surgeries are consulting only.
We run our own out hours service for registered clients and have 24hour on site nursing care with telephone calls answered and triaged by the duty nurse.
Our vets are a mix of experience levels from new grads to older hands; we all play a part. Along our veterinary journeys several of the team have picked up certificates along the way and we are keen for our vets to continue this path of professional development.
Joining us you will be very much part of a team; there are always plenty of fellow clinicians to offer guidance and support when needed. Our vets are mixed and small animal practitioners who play to their skills and this is reflected in their day to day working schedules and WhatsApp group contributions!
As you would expect in a modern well-equipped practice, we have all the kit on the small animal side which includes digital x ray ,ultrasound,ecg and inhouse lab and on the farm side portable scanners, eej (rams and bulls) and fec testing as well as small ruminant treatment facilities on site.
Our nursing team gives the vets great support and an integral part of the team, they keep us on our toes, run nursing clinics and we are a RCVS accredited nurse training practice
"I started at Afon as an young vet following two years at a rural, mainly-large animal practice. I felt my learning had plateaued quickly and was after more small animal work within a larger team with good support. My plan was to gain small animal experience in internal medicine and surgery and then move to Scandinavia for a better work/life balance. Fastforward eight years and I am still here at Afon thanks to the great team and interesting cases we see! My experience developed quickly with the varied caseload and I cant imagine working anywhere else now. The practice has supported my interest in small animal ophthalmology through funding a post-graduate certificate. I am also now heavily involved with the farm team and enjoy mentoring younger vets and watching them thrive in our practice.
The majority of our farmers are longstanding clients that are approachable and keen to improve the productivity on their farms. Most are within a short drive of the practice and in beautiful areas you can stop and take your lunch! We carry out regular summer farm meetings and newsletters for our clients.
Cases are worked up to a high standard with plenty of senior vets to assist and help with any complicated cases. We are an independent practice which offers OOH to our clients which owners appreciate and sets us apart from other local practices. Our tea breaks and lunchtimes are honoured and there is always cake or biscuits to enjoy with your brew! We are in a privileged area with many beautiful sites on our doorstep – Gnoll Park, Aberavon, Margam park and lots of lovely eateries to try out! The staff work hard but like to party just as hard so we are always organising days and nights out for staff celebrations.
I feel privileged to be doing a vocation I love at a practice I enjoy working at – how many people can honestly say that these days? After graduating, I was concerned I would have to decide between small and large animal practice but not at Afon. So if you like variety in your life come pay us a visit and we will show you high standards in a mixed practice setting." Selina MRCVS
The job:
* Salary of £49-£59k, depending on experience
* The working hours are generally 9am to 6pm, four days per week, with a 1pm finish following a night on-call.
* Our out of hours rota is 1 in 4 weekends fri/sat/sun (first or second on call) and in an 8 week rota block you will also do 4 nights on-call (Mon-Thurs)
* RCVS, VDS plus one vet membership paid eg BCVA/BVA/SVS/BSAVA
* 6 weeks annual leave (25 days total) plus bank holidays (day in lieu if worked)
* Generous CPD budget, certificates encouraged and funded
* Generous Employee discount
* Annual salary review
If you think this job could be the next step in your veterinary career then please give us a call on 01639642739 or you can email us at admin@afonvets.com