What We Offer
We are committed to clinical excellence
We are across the latest developments in veterinary care and ensure best practice is disseminated throughout our group.
Our Clinical Governance Framework holds us accountable for improving the quality of our services and cultivates a culture in which clinical care continues to improve. It is the first of its type in the UK.
We also have a robust quality improvement programme, continue to drive standards of excellence, and we publish our renowned Quality Improvement Report annually.
In addition we have practice led Q.I. initiatives, supported by our network of over 500 Clinical Improvement Advocates, who receive dedicated training on designing, supporting and leading clinical improvement initiatives.
We have a vast range of career opportunities
The breadth of our group sets us apart. Our diverse practices, hospitals, Advanced Clinical Service Network and Vet Oracle have the widest variety of roles, including general and advanced practitioners, certificate holders, specialists and pathologists. Our people can also explore careers in procurement, marketing, operations and acquisitions.
Many colleagues develop their career with us. We promote from within and encourage secondment and permanent opportunities across our group.
We have a wide support network for all colleagues
A practitioner is never alone when dealing with a case.
- Regional Clinical Leads support practices in achieving the highest standards and help them implement quality improvements.
- An Advanced Clinical Services Network of 30 peripatetic practitioners (vets and nurses) supports primary care colleagues to make advanced treatments widely available.
- Our vet-to-vet telemedical service Vet Oracle offers Specialist interpretation of results and practical virtual assistance to vets. It has six specialisms: cardiology, dermatology, medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology. We also offer a Teleradiology image interpretation service to support colleagues with, CT/MRI, radiographic and ultrasound interpretation 24/7 365 days a year.
- A network of Pastoral Support Vets, mentors and Wellbeing Champions help colleagues look after their career and mental health.
We offer the best learning, education and development
We have industry leading LED, multiple sites for on-the-job training, and a network of experienced colleagues offering support.
- An in-house team develop our LED, with 60% of courses delivered internally.
- We offer leading clinical CPD, enabling our teams to recommend up-to-date evidence-based treatment.
- Our Regional Clinical Leads teach first opinion practices advanced diagnostics and techniques.
- CVS’ nurse further education college CVTC is one of the UK’s top nursing schools.
- Our Knowledge Hub offers over 700 courses covering clinical and non-clinical training.
- We have created 14 hubs for one-stop-shop learning, including: Leadership, Clinical Improvement, Client Care, Nursing, PCA, New Graduate, Companion Animal, Farm, Equine, and Practice Standards.
- BSAVA’s full library of veterinary resources is offered free to our colleagues.
- For those enrolling on a CertAVP or PgCert, we cover course tuition, up to 3 exam fees and RCVS library fees, plus 2-weeks study leave.
- Accredited leadership and management development programmes are also offered to all.
We prioritise the wellbeing of our people
We’ve introduced a range of initiatives to promote mental wellbeing, work-life balance and healthy lifestyles, and to reduce work-based stress.
Our wellbeing initiatives include:
- All colleagues having regular monthly line-manager check-ins to support their wellbeing and work.
- Over 400 Wellbeing Champions and First Aiders for Mental Health, trained to support team wellbeing.
- A Wellbeing Hub housing 12 wellbeing courses, articles, resources, and a Wellbeing Calendar.
- A CVS Distance Challenge where colleagues compete to walk, run, cycle and row furthest over a month.
Our benefits and policies include:
- A flexible working policy.
- Enhanced parental leave (maternity 10 weeks full pay, 10 weeks half-pay).
- Five days paid leave for fertility investigations.
- One week extra compassionate leave for pregnancy loss.
- Up to eight weeks pay to support with exceptional health related events.
- An Employee Assistance Programme and confidential helpline.
Feeling included and being able to be yourself is vital
We want to foster an inclusive and equitable workplace environment where everyone feels welcome and nurtured.
We have an EDI Committee and colleague groups, focusing on: ability & neurodiversity; ethnicity; gender; LGBTQIA+; and social mobility. They create strategy, launch initiatives, form peer support networks and monitor progression.
- Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy sets out how we prevent discrimination.
- Our values include a “just culture”, where diverse perspectives are invited and people feel safe to speak up.
- We produce consultation room posters and colleague guidance on handling discriminatory comments.
- Our microaggressions training outlines their harmfulness to minority groups and offers advice.
- A menopause support forum peer support group and resources have been introduced.
- We provide free menstrual products to all colleagues at work via dispensing machines.
- We support Neurodiversity Month, including discussions on supporting autism in the workplace.
- We are Disability Confident Committed, supporting the recruitment and development of people with disabilities.
We provide great facilities and equipment
Our practices meet the rigorous Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons voluntary Practice Standards Scheme.
We invest in our facilities, clinical equipment and technology to improve standards of clinical care and our colleague and client experience.
Our practices include:
- Well laid out clinical spaces; multiple consultation rooms, spacious operating theatres, central preparation areas, dedicated dental suites, in-house labs and digital x-ray.
- Modern office spaces, kitchen facilities, rest areas, staff showers and lockers.
- Large welcoming receptions with separate cat and dog waiting areas, along with easy client access to consultation rooms.
This enables our clinicians to do the work they want to do, allows us to offer an increased range of services, and creates a nice place to work.
Pension
A CVS company pension scheme with employee contributions matched by CVS up to 6% of qualifying earnings.
Save as you earn
Purchase discounted CVS shares, save regular monthly amounts over 3 years and benefit from increases in share price over time.
Employee assistance
Free confidential telephone support open to all CVS employees and their family 24/7/365.
Holidays
Purchase 2 week's holiday, sell 1 week's holiday, and receive an extra day’s holiday p/a for 5 years long service.
Health cash plan
A health cash plan where colleagues can claim back the cost of a range of medical treatments.
Car scheme
Lease a fully insured and maintained electric or plug-in hybrid car and benefit from tax relief on your sacrificed salary.
Gym & Cyclescheme
Purchase gym memberships at 3,700 locations & save up to 40% on fees. Save up to 42% on the cost of a bike & safety equipment.
Discounts
Get discounts on vet practice treatment bills, cost price drugs and Animed discounts on medicines, products and food.
Wellbeing and health
Access to competitively priced private medical insurance, critical illness cover and life insurance for you and your family.
UK Australia exchange
A secondment programme where all colleagues can apply to work in CVS Australia practices for up to two years.
CPD allowance
A generous CPD allowance with additional CPD leave allowance for clinical roles.
RCVS, VDS, certificate fees
RCVS and VDS fees are paid for all of our vets and nurses. Qualifications incl. RCVS CertAVP, European and American diplomas are sponsored.
Stay in the know
Join our community. You'll get personalised notes from our Talent Team and will be first to know about career opportunities that match your background.
Thank you
