Overview
What: This role involves taking the lead for the practice’s first opinion service, with a focus on consultations and client communication.
Where: Our Bury hospital offers a broad range of clinical care, including first opinion services, inpatient care, emergency treatment, and certificate-level referrals, in state‑of‑the‑art facilities.
Who: We’re looking for a confident, enthusiastic general practitioner who can build strong relationships with both colleagues and clients.
About Us
Swayne & Partners in Bury St Edmunds is a large, purpose‑built practice with extensive facilities and state‑of‑the‑art equipment. In addition to a strong first opinion base, we run a full night service that takes cases from around 25 other local practices, have a high inpatient caseload, and offer a certificate‑level referral service in internal medicine, imaging, and orthopaedic surgery.
On‑site Provision
* Five consult rooms, large prep area, two sterile operating theatres, dental suite (including x‑ray), pharmacy, two imaging rooms, cat and dog wards, and full isolation ward with separate yard.
* Extensive in‑house lab including full range of IDEXX blood analysers and Imagyst cytology.
* New CT scanner installed last year.
* High‑quality ultrasound.
Role
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced small animal vet ready to take the next step into a leadership role, or for an existing clinical leader seeking a new challenge. The role is predominantly clinical, with a consulting focus but some theatre time. There will be dedicated time set aside for the non‑clinical aspects of the role. As part of the practice leadership team, reporting to the Clinical Director and alongside the Head Nurse, Practice Manager and other Service Leads, you will help to set and deliver the practice’s strategic priorities.
The role is a new one within the practice, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape and develop it over time.
Responsibilities
* Develop and maintain high, evidence‑based clinical standards in our first opinion service, whilst encouraging a contextualised approach to patient care.
* Lead on clinical governance matters relating to our first opinion service, including clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives.
* Lead on practice communications, including telephone, digital communications and social media.
* Work with the practice manager to ensure a positive client experience in the front‑of‑house areas, including development of policies and processes for the reception team.
* Work with the Clinical Director to ensure good billing practices in the consult room.
* Deal with complaints relating to the above areas of responsibility.
* Work with the Head Nurse to develop our RVN consulting service.
* Participate in the training of our recently graduated vets and student nurses.
* Participate in our out‑of‑hours rota.
About You
* RCVS‑registered Veterinary Surgeon, experienced in small animal general practice.
* Confident in consulting, diagnostics and routine surgical procedures.
* Excellent communication and team‑building skills.
* Passionate about clinical excellence and team development.
* Previous leadership and mentoring experience, including as a VetGDP Adviser, is preferred.
* Previous experience in the commercial side of a veterinary practice is not required, but would be an advantage.
Salary & Benefits
* Generous CPD allowance, including support for certificate study.
* RCVS fees & VDS cover paid by practice.
* 5 weeks annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro rata).
* Additional annual leave earned with service.
* 3 weeks occupation sick leave (pro‑rata).
* Enhanced pension contributions.
* Enhanced maternity/paternity leave.
* Generous colleague discount scheme for up to 5 registered pets.
Our Group
Kin Vet Community is a network of 24 practices across the South and East of England. We are committed to clinical excellence, teamwork and continuous professional development.
Job type
Permanent
Posted
2026‑05‑26T00:00:00 (8 days ago)
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