Veterinary Patient Care Assistant – ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists
Location: Chester
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 per week, Monday–Friday, 10am–6pm
Rota: No weekend rota, but bank holiday participation is essential (we are open 365 days a year)
Salary: Up to £24,784 (NMW dependent on age)
Are you passionate about making pets a priority? Here at CVS, so are we!
We're seeking an enthusiastic individual with a genuine passion for animals to join us as a Veterinary Patient Care Assistant at ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists.
About ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists
ChesterGates is a large, multi‑disciplinary small‑animal referral hospital with a highly skilled team of specialists, vets, nurses, PCAs and receptionists. As a leading referral centre, our facilities include advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment such as CT, fluoroscopy, arthroscopy and a full imaging suite—giving you the tools and training to help deliver gold‑standard patient care.
We pride ourselves on being a friendly, collaborative and supportive workplace where everyone works together to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. Located in the heart of Cheshire, we benefit from excellent transport links and a strong local community.
Take a look at the practice here: ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists
Watch our short film celebrating the remarkable work our clinical teams do every day: CVS Ode to Veterinary Professionals
About the Role
While you may occasionally be needed in other areas of the hospital, this PCA role will primarily support our Internal Medicine team, working closely with our RVNs and clinicians to assist with procedures and patient care. Support to other departments may be required as operational needs arise.
Although full training will be provided, this role is ideal for someone with previous PCA/animal care experience, especially those comfortable working in a fast‑paced referral environment.
Typical Responsibilities Include:
* Assisting RVNs and Vets during procedures, including restraining patients, assisting with sampling, catheter placements and administering medications
* Supporting Internal Medicine workflows (e.g., preparing patients, helping with diagnostic procedures, handling samples)
* Running in-house lab tests (bloods, urinalysis) and preparing samples to be sent externally
* Maintaining high standards of cleaning and infection control across clinical areas
* Supporting with general patient‑care tasks when required (e.g., helping move patients, grooming, occasional dog walking)
* Assisting with theatre or reception cover when needed
What We're Looking For
* An excellent communicator with strong empathy and confidence in supporting distressed clients or patients
* Proven customer‑service skills and comfort dealing with the public
* Experience in animal welfare (cleaning, feeding, handling, medicating) with an understanding of welfare needs
* Resilience and the ability to cope with challenging or emotional situations
* A positive, can‑do attitude and strong teamwork skills
* Desirable: experience working in a veterinary or clinical environment, especially as a PCA
What We Can Offer You
We recognise the importance of benefits and that everyone's priorities differ. Here's some of what we offer:
* Salary up to £24,784 (age‑dependent, in line with NMW)
* Staff discount scheme on veterinary bills and products
* Employee Assistance Programme & access to 400+ Mental Health First Aiders
* Access to CVS Employee Benefits platform for full details
Please note: We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role due to Home Office criteria.
Join Us at CVS
CVS is committed to being an inclusive employer where colleagues are encouraged to be themselves, differences are celebrated, and everyone feels able to perform at their best. We're also committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities and clients we serve.
If you're ready to make a meaningful impact and grow your career within a supportive, specialist environment, click Apply Now to join our team.
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