Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

At The Vet Whitehaven, we do things differently, from our unique premises in a beautifully refurbished pub, to our practice values.
We are an independent 4-vet small animal practice in the heart of West Cumbria. Since opening our doors 24 months ago, we’ve had a fantastic start and were honoured to be voted Best in County, Best Start-up, and in the Top 25 at the Best UK Vet Awards! We’re also delighted with our 5* Google reviews from our amazing clients. We know that none of this would’ve been possible without our incredible team and their commitment to providing the best care for our patients and clients.
Lynn and Sophie built the practice based on the core values of Compassion, Trust, and Community. We practise care and compassion, not just towards our patients and clients but also towards our team. We want our team to be happy, to feel fulfilled in their work, and to reach their full potential. We encourage career development, whether that’s pursuing your clinical interests, learning new skills, or taking on a certificate. We also understand the importance of work-life balance, so we designed the rota to ensure you have plenty of free time to enjoy everything this amazing area has to offer.
We are a young, growing practice with four full-time vets and an excellent, experienced nursing team of seven RVNs, one SVN, and two ANAs. We work collaboratively and value everyone's input. We have monthly team meetings over lunch, and everyone is encouraged to contribute their ideas and feedback. We also have our Brainbox, an anonymous suggestions box, to collect feedback and ideas throughout the month to discuss.
What our team say about us
“I started here as a new graduate, and I couldn't have asked for a more supportive, fun and caring team to guide me through these first months of my career. I have clinical interests that I am actively encouraged to build upon. I fell in love with the location for its easy access to the many lakes and fells of the Lake District, which I enjoy exploring in my spare time. In addition, people in West Cumbria are very friendly, and I genuinely think our client base is lovely.” Iina MRCVS
“There is so much support here, I am encouraged and supported to develop new skills or hone existing ones. Consults are automatically extended to 30 minutes for anything complex (second opinions, ears, etc), so you don’t feel pressured for time. There are also no expectations to stay late, with plenty of time allocated for responding to emails or calling clients back. The early finishes mean I could join the local netball league and know I would be available for most matches.
The nurses here are incredibly capable, they take the phones OOH and provide triage. There is support during OOHs for as long as you need it from Sophie & Lynn.
The team is super sociable and always down for an outing (walks, day trips or pub nights), and there are lovely fell walks and lots of nice restaurants and pubs locally” Sophie G MRCVS
“We work as a whole team, from reception to vets, with a true level of respect for each and every member you don't often find in this industry. The management team is open, honest and approachable and constantly looking for ways to improve. Without a doubt one of the best places to work.” Amy RVN
“The Vet Whitehaven has a really positive work environment, where open and honest communication is encouraged, allowing the whole team to develop and continue to improve the standard of care.” Sarah RVN
The Practice
We wanted to give a new lease of life to a cherished local landmark, taking on the historic building that once housed the beloved Distressed Sailor pub. While the pub's time for quenching thirsts has passed, its unique charm lives on as we have lovingly restored its character but given it a modern twist to create a large waiting room, three consults, an imaging room with a DR x-ray & ultrasound, separate dental suite with IM3 equipment and dental x-ray, and a separate cattery.
The role
We are looking for a 5th vet to join our team. Our full-time vets work a 4-day week with a fixed day off. For three days, you will finish at 4.30 or 5.30 pm with only one later finish (7 pm) each week. We are very flexible with the rota, and as this is an additional role, we are happy to chat about hours that work with your other commitments. We manage the diary to ensure you have time to work up cases properly without feeling pressured. Our consults also finish 30 minutes before closing to make sure everyone gets out the door on time.
We provide our own out-of-hours service with a 1:5 on-call rota with no additional Saturdays. Our lovely RVNs take the phones, so you will only be called in when it’s really needed. The week following your weekend on call, you will only work a 3-day week. For new graduates or less experienced vets, Lynn or Sophie (our Vet GDP advisor) are happy to provide backup and an extra pair of hands.
Outside of work
We enjoy getting together as a team, whether for a meal, drinks, chat, or a swim in the lakes. At Christmas time, we put the team's creativity to the test with a wreath-making session. We are looking forward to planning more events in the future and welcome any suggestions.
We are just a stone’s throw from the beautiful coastline and the stunning Lake District National Park, so you can enjoy a wide range of activities from fell walking to wild swimming and cycling to climbing.
We are offering:
A salary of £36,000 for a new graduate up to £70,000 for an experienced vet
Salary review within 6 months
6.6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays
CPD supported to certificate level
New graduate scheme offered in addition to support from our VetGDP
RCVS & VDS fees paid
Visa’s potentially sponsored
If you want to know more about us and our amazing team, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call for an informal chat, or apply now.
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