Overview
Salary up to £75,000 DOE, Welcome Bonus up to £5,000, Relocation Allowance up to £5,000. Bellevue Vets, a Silver ISFM-accredited practice in Frome, is seeking an experienced and confident Lead Veterinary Surgeon to join our close-knit team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the practice. This is a rare opportunity for a vet who thrives on autonomy, values clinical excellence and is motivated by the chance to make a meaningful, long-term impact within a respected community practice.
Leadership and Responsibilities
As Lead Vet, you’ll balance hands-on clinical work with genuine leadership responsibility. You’ll deliver outstanding veterinary care across both consultations and surgery, while mentoring, supporting and empowering vets and nurses to reach their full potential. Leading by example, you’ll champion kindness, empathy and clear communication, helping to develop and maintain strong clinical protocols and standards. This role offers clear scope to progress and develop, while being a driving force behind the continued growth and success of the practice.
Caseload, Autonomy and Clinical Practice
Our caseload includes cats, dogs, rabbits, small furries, and a small number of exotics and wildlife cases brought in by the local community. There is a healthy split between consults and surgery, with procedures largely routine yet varied enough to keep every day engaging. You’ll have the autonomy to work cases up thoroughly, enjoy continuity where possible and practice medicine your way, supported by digital X-ray, ultrasound, VetAir dental equipment and multi-parameter monitoring. Referral options are readily available whenever required.
Practice Environment
Housed within a beautifully converted, purpose-designed barn, the practice offers a calm and welcoming environment. Facilities include a spacious reception area, two consulting rooms plus a dedicated RVN consult room, prep area and theatre, lab, X-ray room, dispensary and a dedicated euthanasia room. Separate dog and cat wards with recovery kennels, isolation facilities, a comfortable staff room with kitchen and a large on-site car park all contribute to a smooth and supportive working day.
Work-Life Balance
Full-time hours are 38 per week worked across four days, with part-time applications also welcomed. Weekends are a manageable 1 in 4 Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm, with no out-of-hours or on-call requirements, allowing for a genuinely sustainable work-life balance.
Team and Support
You’ll be supported by a friendly, experienced team of two vets, four RVNs and a dedicated client care team, alongside an engaged Director of Practice. The practice benefits from a visiting orthopaedics specialist and is open to supporting certificate study. Giving back matters to us, and we proudly work with charities including Dogs Trust and Cats Protection.
Frome and Community
Frome is a vibrant and characterful market town, celebrated for its creative community and independent spirit. Surrounded by Somerset countryside and within easy reach of Bath, Bristol and the Mendip Hills, it offers the perfect blend of culture, nature and quality of life, an ideal place to grow both professionally and personally.
Why Our People Matter and Benefits
We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from:
* Work-life balance
* 6.6 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
* Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday
* Private Medical Insurance
* Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline
* Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
* Initiatives focused on colleague wellbeing
* £1250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave
* Certificate support
* Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
* Access to Vetlexicon – our online encyclopaedia provider
* All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding
* All our Vets get £1250 per annum to spend via our Care Fund
* Infection Prevention and Control Programme
* Quality Improvement Programme
* Professional Memberships
* BVA membership
* VDS cover
* Colleague Benefits: company pension scheme with IVC Evidensia contribution
* Cycle to Work and Green Cars schemes (eligibility applies)
* Voluntary benefits platform for choosing from additional benefits
* Discounts/cashback with participating retailers
* Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice
Additional Notes
Salary: up to £75,000 DOE. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process. Final hiring decisions are made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
#J-18808-Ljbffr