Veterinary Care Assistant (1993)

Do you want to create a better world for animals? At the RSPCA, we believe all animals deserve kindness and respect. We work for the benefit of every animal – as well as pets, that includes farmed animals, wildlife, and animals used in science. Choose a career with us and make a difference for every kind.

We're looking for Casual Veterinary Care Assistants (VCA) to join us at our Finsbury Park Animal Hospital. These are casual, zero-hour positions to assist us manage an increased workload, and would be a great opportunity for you to gain practical experience with a variety of clinical cases.

Shifts will be available at weekends between 08.00-20.00 and 09.00-21.00.

Finsbury Park Animal Hospital is located 5 minutes from Finsbury Park Station in North London. The area is undergoing redevelopment and is well connected by the London Underground and mainline trains.

Many of the animals we care for have been rescued by RSPCA Inspectors and Animal Rescue Officers from situations where they are suffering from cruelty and neglect, or when they are seriously injured and have no owner to care for them.

Are you ready to join our movement?

We know it's a cliche, but at the RSPCA no two days are the same! We've added a short summary of what a typical day might look like, but for full insight please refer to the attached job description. We do not tend to undertake surgical procedures at the weekend, so these sections of the job description will only be relevant in the event of an emergency. 

VCA

• Follow RSPCA biosecurity protocols to maintain a high standard of clinical hygiene;
• Maintain and care for the general clinical environment and equipment, by following SOPs and cleaning schedules;
• Maintain the cleanliness and hygiene standards of animal accommodation, outdoor pens, exercise areas and general premises and equipment, including specialised veterinary areas, equipment and surgical instruments;
• Contribute to high standards of welfare-focussed clinical care by following treatment and nursing care plans, including observation, nutrition, grooming, exercise and environmental enrichment;
• Handle, prepare and administer treatments and medication under veterinary direction, adhering to RSPCA medicine protocols and RCVS codes of practice;
• Conduct health checks, behaviour and welfare assessments on animals, reporting any changes in condition;
• Update animal records (intake, pet portfolio, health and transfer/release records) and maintain confidentiality of case reports and records;
• Assist with supply monitoring, restocking, stock rotation and sales, ensuring safe handling of money where applicable to the site;
• Adhere to RCVS guidelines, RSPCA policies, and relevant regulations.

It is essential that you:

• Have experience of working in veterinary practice, veterinary hospital or in a veterinary environment within a charity setting;
• Experience of working within a team environment;
• Able to work well under pressure and work autonomously;
• Are able to commit to weekend shifts between 08.00 - 20.00 or 09.00 or 21.00

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK - We are unable to sponsor visas

Due to high interest in some of our roles, we review applications as they are received. This can occasionally result in positions closing earlier than advertised. Therefore, we strongly recommend submitting applications early. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications after the posted closing date.

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed  to our mission.  For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA. Your transferable skills & lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family! 

Should you need any support with your application or interview process please contact resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk / 0300 123 0685.

Our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect