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Join Our Team at the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital
Are you passionate about working with animals? Would you like to build on your skills while enjoying excellent pay, generous benefits, and a supportive team environment?
The University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital is looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate, and motivated individual to join our team of Veterinary Care Assistants. You’ll work alongside Veterinary Surgeons, Registered Veterinary Nurses, student vets, nurses, and fellow Care Assistants to deliver high-quality care within our state‑of‑the‑art hospital.
About the Role:
This varied and rewarding position involves a mix of animal husbandry, assisting with patient observations, treatments, and diagnostic investigations. You’ll also help maintain clinical areas through cleaning, restocking, and general upkeep.
You’ll gain hands‑on experience across several departments, including Wards, Treatment Areas, Theatre, and ICU.
What We’re Looking For:
- Prior experience in animal care or the veterinary field is essential
- Confident handling skills with cats and dogs
- A team player with strong communication and a compassionate nature
What We Offer:
- 41 days of holiday per year (including bank holidays, pro rata)
- 35-hour flexible working week
- Excellent pension scheme
- 20% staff discount on veterinary products and services
- A fantastic and supportive working environment
- 24/7 confidential employee support and access to a health & wellbeing app
- Access to exclusive discounts from major high street retailers through the University benefits scheme
Additional Info:
- This is a permanent, open‑ended position
- Includes weekend working on a 1‑in‑4 rota (with a 6% weekend shift allowance)
- Participation in the public holiday rota is required (enhanced pay provided)
Ready to make a difference in the lives of animals while developing your career? We’d love to hear from you! For further information or informal chat please contact Sharon Smith sharon.smith@glasgow.ac.uk 0141 330 5848
Job Purpose
Deliver high standards of organisation and cleanliness within the Small Animal Hospital by performing routine cleaning and maintenance duties. Undertake daily animal care duties under supervision when required and provide a high standard of daily care to all patients.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Day to day husbandry and care of animals using best practice techniques and standards of care. This includes prioritising the tasks that need to be done each day, being organised and problem‑solving issues as and when they arise.
2. Ensuring all areas of the hospital, examination/treatment rooms, outside areas and isolation units are kept clean and tidy, understanding, and adhering to biosecurity protocols.
3. Perform basic patient monitoring including demeanour, temperature, pulse, respiration rate, capillary refill time and mucous membrane colour. Recognise abnormalities and know when to report changes to the veterinary nurse or clinician.
4. Ensure that feeding plans advised by clinicians are adhered to, making sure that overnight rations are prepared so that out‑of‑hours staff can feed accordingly. Monitor the feed intake of all patients.
5. Restraining animals with varying temperaments for clinical and nursing staff when performing various procedures. Understanding how to safely handle patients and use restraint methods appropriately. Preparing patients for surgical procedures and assisting with sample/data collection.
6. Perform basic practical and technical tasks including administering oral medication, disconnecting, and reconnecting intravenous fluids. Setting up equipment as required.
7. Adhere to hospital protocols to ensure high levels of hygiene are maintained in all areas of responsibility. Ensure health and safety guidelines are always followed.
8. Ensuring that all animals are appropriately identified and labelled on admission, including their belongings so they can be returned to clients on discharge.
9. Use a range of equipment including in‑house laboratory analysers as required and accurately report results to more senior staff in charge of the case.
10. Supervising students while they are handling patients to ensure Health and Safety protocols are being adhered to.
11. Any other tasks within the level of responsibility to their role as deemed suitable by their line manager.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar role. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 4 in English and Mathematics (National 4) or equivalent and some experience of working in a similar role
A2 Knowledge of animal husbandry (cats, dogs and exotics).
Desirable
B1 Veterinary Care Assistant qualification.
B2 Veterinary Terminology qualification.
Skills
C1 Essential
C2 Excellent animal handling skills to ensure safety of clients, staff and students.
C3 Evidenced ability to clean to a high standard.
C4 Good observation, interpersonal and communication skills.
C5 Evidenced ability to use initiative.
C6 Evidenced ability to work independently or as part of a team.
C7 Basic IT skills.
C8 Good organisational skills and an ability to prioritise work.
C9 Ability to be discreet and maintain confidentiality
C10 Use of initiative and judgement to resolve routine work problems independently, referring complex problems as appropriate
Experience
Essential
E1 Substantial and relevant work experience in a kennel, cattery or veterinary environment
Desirable
F1 Experience of handling reptiles and exotics.
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 3, £24,685 – £25,249 per annum + 6% allowance for working weekends
This post is full time and open ended.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension – pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
3 A flexible approach to working.
4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
Closing date: 23:45 on Monday 6th July 2026
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