Ready to trade traffic jams for stunning views and join a practice that really looks after its people? Then come and join the friendly and supportive team at Old Stone Vets in the beautiful North Pennines
About Us
Old Stone Vets has been caring for pets and their people since 2005, and our team has steadily grown along with our reputation for excellent care. What began as a one-man mixed practice has steadily grown, and we now have our main surgery in Alston and two consult-only branches in Stanhope and Allendale, right in the heart of the stunning North Pennines. It’s a fantastic spot for anyone who loves fresh air, beautiful views, and not spending half their life sitting at traffic lights. That said, we’re only about 45 minutes from Newcastle or Carlisle, so you can still enjoy the best of both worlds. Of course, rural roads can be “character building” at times, which is why we offer a monthly car cost contribution and a generous winter tyre allowance. It's a bit of an unusual perk, but it means you can get around safely and confidently all year round, especially when the Pennines do their thing in winter.
At the beginning of July 2025, we decided to set aside our wellies and focus fully on small animals. We’re now expanding our 5-vet team so we can continue doing the very best we can for the animals in our care. We’re always looking for ways to grow together and improve our services, whether that’s finding smarter ways of working, investing in shinier kit, or simply ensuring everyone feels supported and looked after. Because when the team’s happy, the animals get the best of us, and that’s what really matters.
Our Team
Karl is the “old man” of the practice, his words, not ours! Graduating from Dublin back in the last century, he kicked off his veterinary career with plenty of calvings and caesareans in rural Ireland, and a few pints along the way. After a stint in Norfolk, where he may have been responsible for some vehicular destruction, Karl headed to the North East to work with DEFRA during the 2001 Foot & Mouth outbreak. Lots of locum work over the next few years kept him off the streets until, in 2005, Old Stone Vets became the main focus of his attention. These days, he’s involved in everything from orthopaedics to unblocking drains (plumbing, not surgical) and always with a sense of humour.
Rachel began her career in Scotland, followed by a few years in the South of England, before returning to her roots in the North to work with DEFRA in 2001. After this, with a newish husband in tow (Karl, of course), Rachel continued with mainly small animal locum work for a few years until Old Stone Vets had grown enough to provide gainful employment for both Rachel & Karl. Since 2007, Rachel has been a driving force behind our clinical standards and progression. She’s a fantastic vet and mentor — even if her tea is suspiciously watery!
Ed is a local lad from Catton who first saw practice with us as a student at Glasgow University, and clearly, we didn’t put him off. He officially joined the team in 2019, bringing with him plenty of experience in the pub trade (on both sides of the bar!), having pulled many a pint to fund his studies. Ed has a calm, cool way of handling all situations, which helps pets (and their humans) feel relaxed in the consult room.
Jenny joined us in 2021, fresh out of Nottingham Vet School. A farmer’s daughter from Lanchester, she knows the local lingo, is well versed in the Northern ways of things, and has taken to the bombing along the roads of Alston Moor and Weardale like a pro. Jenny has a real enthusiasm for all areas of the job and, most importantly, makes a dangerously good rocky road traybake.
Kathryn recently joined the crew and brings a wealth of small animal experience with her. She works part-time, mainly out of our Stanhope surgery, and has spent many years as a trusted first-opinion vet across the North East.
We're lucky to have a brilliant support team that keeps the wheels turning and the vets in check. Everyone gets stuck in equally here, and we support each other every step of the way — often with coffee, Karina’s legendary cakes, and the occasional death stare (looking at you, Angela). Head Nurse Jo has been with us for 14 years, running the nursing side like a pro and making sure the vets don’t stray too far off track, while receptionistMichelle juggles all three branches and still finds time to study for her SQP qualification. Victoria keeps the office running and the holidays booked; in return, we keep her well-supplied with coffee. Rachel B helps out in all areas of the practice. She may drink decaf coffee, but she’s a live wire when out for a few drinkies. Christie has just joined us and already fits right in with her can-do attitude and dreams of becoming a veterinary nurse. Together, they bring experience, humour, and heart to the practice, and we honestly couldn’t do it without them.
“I have been working at Old Stone Vets for the past 5 years. It is a truly independent practice with a genuine commitment to providing excellent and affordable care to all patients without any pressure on targets. Karl and Rachel are experienced vets who are always willing to lend advice on challenging cases, and there is a keen drive to keep pushing forward new ideas and therapies to improve patient care. CPD is strongly supported, and vets are encouraged to share new learning with the rest of the team.” Ed MRCVS
“ Old Stone Vets is a rural small animal practice where working feels like being part of a close-knit family. The team is supportive and down-to-earth, and Karl and Rachel go above and beyond to look after their staff. Your hard work is always noticed, appreciated, and genuinely valued. There’s no hierarchy here—we all muck in to keep the ship sailing! It’s not all work and no play; we love a good joke at Old Stone, and there’s always time to share a few laughs now and then!
A willingness to get your hands dirty and a positive attitude go a long way—initiative is always encouraged. While things can get busy, there’s always someone around to discuss cases, and the work is incredibly rewarding. Our clients are generally friendly, mostly cooperative, and genuinely keen to work with you to create the best treatment plan for their pets. Simply put, working here is a joy.” Jenny MRCVS
Our Facilities
We have all the usual kit, allowing us to handle most cases in-house, including DR X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy, and an in-house lab. There’s a genuine team focus on doing things properly, with the time, support, and encouragement to work up cases thoroughly. We regularly bounce ideas off each other, discuss interesting cases together, and there’s always support available.
Karl leads on orthopaedic surgeries and has been a great support to Ed as he keenly develops his own orthopaedic skills. We’re also lucky to have Karen Errington, an Advanced Practitioner in diagnostic imaging, visiting every two weeks to assist with complex ultrasound cases and provide in-house training for the team, which is grand as both Rachel and Ed enjoy scanning.
The Role
We're ideally hoping to find a vet with some experience under their belt who has completed their VetGDP. But honestly, we're really just looking for the right person, someone genuinely enthusiastic, kind, and who loves being part of a close-knit team. If that sounds like you, we’d love to chat.
Our full-time rota is a 4-day week (8.30 am – 6.30 pm). Everyone pitches in equally for consulting and operating duties, as we’re big believers in giving you the time and space to really maintain and develop your skills in all areas. We also make sure you have set days at our branches. That way, you get fantastic case continuity, and our lovely clients get to see a familiar, friendly face.
When it comes to out-of-hours work, we handle that ourselves, with a shared rota. You'll be on call for 1 in 4 weekends and one weeknight. The weekend includes Saturday consults (9-11 am in Alston and 12-2 pm in Stanhope). The best part? You'll always get the Friday off after your on-call weekend, meaning you only work a 3-day week. We also have a second on-call system in place, so support is always available. If there are no inpatients, you can be on call from home. It's all about making sure you feel supported, not overwhelmed.
The Package
* A salary of £40,000 - £65,000, depending on experience
* 5.6 weeks’ holiday, including bank holidays, with time off in lieu of a bank holiday worked
* No set CPD budget as we actively support your development, including certificates
* Professional fees paid for RCVS, VDS, and one subscription of your choice
* Monthly car cost contribution and generous winter tyre allowance
* Private health insurance
* Visa sponsorship
* Pension scheme
The Local Area
We’re based in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it really lives up to the name. If you’re into walking, mountain biking, trail running, wild swimming, or just taking in big skies and peaceful scenery, you’ll feel right at home here. From rolling fells to woodland trails and riverside strolls, there’s always somewhere beautiful to explore on your days off. Plus, with proper seasons (yes, it does snow!) and a real sense of space, it’s a brilliant place to live and unwind, all with Newcastle and Carlisle still close enough for a city fix when needed. And when we’re not working or out on the fells, you’ll often find us enjoying good food, a few drinks, and convincing ourselves that counts as team bonding.
Does this sound like your kind of place? We’d love to hear from you! Apply now or reach out for a friendly, informal chat.
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