Head of Client Services (Maternity Cover – 12–15 Months)
Vets4Pets Basildon 24-Hour Hospital
Basildon, Essex
Full-time | Maternity cover (12–15 months) Salary up to £40,000 depending on experience
Veterinary sector experience essential
About Us
Vets4Pets Basildon is a family-run, 24-hour RCVS-accredited small animal hospital with emergency and referral services, advanced diagnostics, and a strong reputation for clinical excellence and compassionate care.
We are passionate about delivering an outstanding client and patient journey, supported by empowered, engaged teams and data-driven decision making.
We are now seeking an experienced Head of Client Services to join us on a maternity cover basis and play a pivotal leadership role across our client-facing operations.
The Role
This is a senior leadership position with real influence. You will lead and support our reception and client care teams while working closely with clinical leadership to enhance client experience, manage complaints, support referrals, and drive sustainable business growth.
You will combine hands-on people leadership with strategic analysis, using business and client data to continuously improve service delivery and client satisfaction.
Key Focus Areas
Client Experience & Reputation
1. Lead and support the reception and client care teams to deliver a first-class, consistent client experience
2. Own and manage client complaints, feedback, and Google reviews, ensuring timely, empathetic, and effective resolution
3. Analyse complaint trends and client feedback to proactively improve workflows, service delivery, and patient care
4. Manage reputational risk and identify opportunities to elevate the client journey
5. Oversee call monitoring, training, and client communication standards
6. Ensure client-facing areas reflect a professional, welcoming hospital environment
People Leadership & Development
7. Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing client services team
8. Provide coaching, mentoring, 1:1s, and structured development plans
9. Support performance reviews, PDPs, and CPD planning
10. Promote a positive, inclusive culture focused on wellbeing and engagement
11. Support workforce planning, rota management, and work-life balance
Operations, Referrals & Business Growth
12. Manage and support referral processes, helping grow this key area of the business
13. Analyse client services data, KPIs, complaints, and financial reports to identify trends and improvement opportunities
14. Conduct audits and use insights to propose ideas that improve client experience, efficiency, and revenue
15. Work closely with finance on debt management, insurance, and financial controls
16. Collaborate with Support Office on marketing, digital presence, and community engagement
17. Contribute to pricing discussions and service development initiatives
About You
You will be a confident, compassionate leader with strong operational and analytical skills and a genuine passion for client care.
Essential:
18. Previous experience within the veterinary sector
19. Proven experience leading or supporting client-facing teams
20. Strong complaints handling and client communication skills
21. Ability to analyse data, KPIs, and feedback to drive improvement
22. Organised, proactive, and solutions-focused leadership style
Desirable:
23. Veterinary nursing background
24. Experience in referral hospitals or 24-hour practices
25. Experience working with audits, workflows, and service improvement projects
Why Join Us?
26. Be part of a progressive, well-respected 24-hour hospital
27. Play a meaningful role in shaping client experience and business growth
28. Work alongside an engaged leadership team who value development and ideas