Animal Care Assistant - Merton
Application Deadline: 30 November 2025
Department: Veterinary Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Merton animal hospital, London SW19 1BD
Reporting To: Deputy Nurse Manager
Compensation: £26,872 (plus £3,954 London Weighting Allowance) per annum
Description
Contract: Permanent, full time
Closing date: Sunday 30 November 2025
Interview date: Interviews will be arranged throughout the advertising period.
By joining our animal hospital in Merton as an Animal Care Assistant, you’re joining a team who won the first BVA Wellbeing award for being a great place to work! If you’re passionate about animal welfare, working with the public and are wanting to make a difference every day – this is the role for you!
More about the role
Since June 1999, we've been a cornerstone of the Merton community, delivering veterinary services to approximately 6,000 unique pets every year. From routine procedures like neutering to intricate surgeries and advanced diagnostics, our hospital offers a comprehensive range of treatments.
As an Animal Care Assistant, you have a key role in our fast‑paced hospital, providing a high standard of care to the pets and supporting their owners. You’ll do this by delivering the highest level of animal care and customer service with empathy and a non‑judgmental mindset in all situations.
Daily duties include feeding, exercising, grooming, laundry and administering treatment. You will also support front‑office responsibilities such as answering phones, using the computer, dispensing medication and taking payments.
Lab work is an integral part of the role. You will process and document all samples, run blood tests, stain and prepare microscope slides, perform urine testing, prepare samples for external analysis and maintain accurate records of sample handling and reporting.
Your role requires close collaboration with vets, nurses, the wider team and members of the public.
We offer a 42‑hour week (including weekends and public holidays) with a one‑hour paid lunch break. Work may exceed these hours as required by the workload.
About you
The ideal candidate has previous experience in a veterinary support role (vet practice or kennel setting). Practical animal handling skills, communication skills and confidence in both animal‑facing and customer‑facing environments are essential, though not mandatory.
Understanding of urinalysis and use of a centrifuge is advantageous.
Excellent communication skills enable you to speak with senior vets, members of the public and your team. You will handle clients in distress, work in an emotionally challenging environment and maintain calm under pressure.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
* Experience working or volunteering in a veterinary practice or similar role
* Good communication skills, both written and verbal
* IT literate with MS Office and web‑based databases and platforms
* Demonstrate understanding and application of Blue Cross values
Although not essential, it would be great if you also had:
* Experience within a reception or client care role
* Qualification in Animal Care or similar
* The ability to observe changes in animal health and wellbeing
* The ability to interact face‑to‑face with clients and visitors and communicate effectively with a range of people
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. We provide a comprehensive benefits package:
* Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
* Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
* Free access to GP via MetLife (24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more)
* Health cash plan
* Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
* Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
* Professional fees paid with continuing professional development and personal development support
* Life assurance
* 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
* Enhanced family‑friendly policies
* Recognition scheme
* Annual volunteer days
* Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.
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