Mixed Veterinary Surgeon
Kenwyn Vets, Truro
Salary up to £55,000 depending on experience
We are looking for a dedicated Veterinary Surgeon to join our fantastic team at Kenwyn Vets! The role would ideally suit a confident, recently graduated, mixed vet with experience of farm and equine work, who is looking to expand their knowledge and skills in large animal practice. We are a predominantly ambulatory, first-opinion practice covering dairy, beef, sheep and smallholder farms and a broad range of equines from competition and breeding clients to companion ponies. We also have a purpose-built clinic for admitting farm and equine patients for further investigation. The applicant would need to have a full driving licence. We provide a practice vehicle for business and personal use if required.
Join an Incredible Practice in an Outstanding Location
Kenwyn Veterinary Centre is located on the edge of the great little city of Truro, situated at the top of the beautiful sailing waters of the Fal estuary in mid-Cornwall, close to both the North and South coasts. Truro is the major shopping, cultural and sporting centre of Cornwall and is well connected to the major rail and road transport links, including Newquay Airport for easy domestic and foreign flights and is connected to the vibrant university town of Falmouth by a short and regular rail branch line. There are great opportunities for those who love the outdoors, including surfing, sailing and a strong local sporting club scene. Plenty of other (less active) pursuits are available with fantastic restaurants, pubs and local community groups across music, theatre, craft and fellowship.
The practice has stabling facilities for horses and cattle and pens for sheep and calves to enable us to admit patients for hospitalisation, perform surgeries, including laser, and work up more complex cases. We have a sand school for trotting-up and lunging lameness investigations, for which we use the Equinosis Q lameness detection system. We have mobile X3V ultrasound and X-ray for use in the practice and on the road. Visiting specialists make the trip down regularly for referral cases, enabling us to attend and learn from them. We also host regular equine osteopathy clinics at the practice with Tony Nevin for complementary care.
Enjoy an Interesting and Varied Caseload
On the farm side, we perform regular dairy fertility routines with Easiscan-Go and Easiscans, supporting our clients’ businesses with herd health planning and providing Milksure and other training. We have a wide range of beef and sheep clients in a compact practice area, ensuring that our response times are good and there is little stress in travelling between visits. We offer bull and ram fertility testing, and pelvic measuring and use the Vetimpress system for recording farm data for analysis and reporting. The beautiful Cornish countryside is also home to many smallholders with an array of more diverse species such as alpacas, llamas, goats and pet pigs to keep things interesting!
Driving around the local area between calls is one of the best parts of the job, particularly for those who are new to the area as there are so many wonderful beaches, creeks and wild places to find and explore.
Your day-to-day with Kenwyn Vets
The position is full-time, typically working 40 hours between 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday with a scheduled half day off expected every week. We currently provide out-of-hours emergency service to our clients on a 1:4 basis meaning 1 night on-call from 5.30 pm to 8.30 am Mon – Thurs, and working 1:4 weekends on-call from Friday 5.30 pm through to Monday 8.30 am on a regular rota. We aim to be flexible in swapping duties and covering as a team where necessary to ensure a satisfactory work/life balance for all.
Our Dedicated Team
We are currently a team of 6 vets, 4 full-time and 2 part-time, one of whom is currently studying for their DBR. We employ an ATT to do the bulk of the TB testing and who also provides vet tech services to our clients. We have 4 office staff, including a technician who provides care for inpatients and assists with work-ups at the practice.
We aim to meet up regularly within the working day to discuss cases informally and after work when we can for an impromptu visit to one of the many local beer gardens. The big social event of the year is the Christmas meal (and Secret Santa), with the Cornwall Veterinary Association Ball and Quiz Night offering other opportunities to have some fun as a team outside of work.
Because our employees matter
We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from -
Work-life balance
1. 6.6 weeks annual leave inclusive of bank and public holidays
2. Your birthday as a paid day off
Wellbeing
3. Private medical insurance
4. Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
5. Cycle to Work scheme
6. Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
7. Non-accidental injury support
Development
8. CPD is encouraged and funded where agreed
9. Certificate support
10. Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
11. Access to Vetlexicon – our online encyclopaedia provider
12. All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding
13. All our Vets get £1250 per annum to spend via our Care Fund
14. Infection Prevention and Control Programme
15. Quality Improvement Programme
Professional Memberships
16. BVA membership
17. VDS cover
18. RCVS fees
Additional
19. Pawsome Benefits – reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100’s of retailers
20. Pension – 5% Employee/3% Employer
21. Discounted staff pet care
As a BAME and LGBTQ+ inclusive employer, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.