VETERINARY SURGEON (updated 13.1.26)
OUR PRACTICE:
Two Rivers Vets in Peebles and Biggar is a proudly independent mixed practice looking for an additional experienced veterinary surgeon. Our team has a strong focus on providing excellent client service, continually striving to improve our clinical standards and quality of patient care while remaining down to earth and offering sensible advice and affordable options for our loyal client base.
Our eight vets include those with 30 years experience to 2 years qualified. Most are happy with all small animal, equine and farm work, although we play to the strengths and interests of all our vets, making a fair rota with a mix of consults, medical work-ups, surgery, equine visits and farm work to align with individual interests. We have 8 fully qualified RVNs, and as a VN training practice we usually have student nurses too. The practice is part of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, and we are Scottish Living Wage Accredited.
With the recent move to our new Peebles surgery, we are keen to build on the high standards of care we deliver and expand the range of services we can offer to clients. We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue to build our client base, and excited to be able to offer vastly improved facilities to both clients and their pets.
As a practice we are friendly and welcoming, and understand the importance of a creating a supportive environment in maintaining a happy and enthusiastic team. We are as flexible as possible with requests for weekends off, holidays, changes of days/hours etc, and understand the importance of work-life balance (which we appreciate looks different for everyone). We welcome input at regular vet meetings, and are keen to support requests for new equipment or CPD, including funding a certificate.
THE ROLE:
We are looking for an additional vet with at least 3-4 years’ experience in clinical practice, who is confident with all small animal consults and both routine and emergency surgical procedures in a first opinion setting. We would prefer that the successful applicant also has experience of equine and farm work and would be confident to treat large animals including out-of-hours, but back-up could be provided for some aspect of the mixed role if necessary. This position will be split between our Biggar and Peebles surgeries (30 minutes drive apart).
The successful applicant will have excellent communication skills, and the ability to quickly develop a rapport with clients and colleagues alike. A positive outlook and ‘can-do’ attitude are essential, along with enthusiasm for delivering high standards of service to clients and compassionate care of their animals. While having the confidence to work independently, they will be happy to ask for help and advice when needed, and to offer support to other members of the practice team where they can, taking a fully collaborative approach to patient care.
The position offered is full time, working 37.5 hours over 4.5 days. Part-time hours may also be considered. Our working day is 8.30am until 5pm, 6pm or 7pm on a rota basis, with one 1pm finish per week. Lunchbreaks are one hour (unpaid), and we do our best to build a reasonable amount of admin time into the diary daily for all vets.
We cover our own out-of-hours, and participation in our 1 in 6 on-call rota (including Saturday morning consults) would be required. The successful applicant would ideally be able to take a full share of this rota covering small animals, horses and farm animals, but we could arrange a second vet for back-up for some species/cases if required. There are two full days off in lieu of working a weekend as we try to maintain a good work-life balance – weekends can be very busy or you might have nothing at all!
WHAT WE OFFER:
full time 4.5 days (37.5 hours) per week, part time hours may be considered
full time salary range £40-60K (including extra payments for nights on call and call-outs)
1 in 6 out-of-hours rota for nights and weekends (with 2 full days off after a weekend on call)
30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 days with long service) including bank holidays
autoenrolment pension scheme with 4% employer contribution (increasing to 5% after 12 months if you wish)
private health insurance with Vitality after 6 months
enhanced maternity and sick pay policies (increasing benefit with long service)
RVCS, VDS and one other membership paid eg BSAVA, BVA, BEVA, BVCA
healthy CPD budget by negotiation up to and including funding for a certificate
significantly discounted/cost price care for own pets
