Veterinary Surgeon - Mixed

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated mixed animal veterinary surgeon to join our fantastic team here at Castle Veterinary Group.

About Castle Vets
Castle Vets is a two-site mixed practice where you’ll spend the majority of your time working with large animals. Our farm work mainly involves beef and dairy cattle, with herds ranging from 20 to 600 animals. You’ll also get the chance to work with some sheep and will be primarily focusing on TB testing, routine checks, spring calving, lambing, scanning, and herd health.

Since you’ll regularly visit our farm clients, a valid driving license is essential.

When it comes to small animals, we primarily care for cats, dogs, and the occasional small furrys. Your day will be a mix of consultations and surgeries, with a slight emphasis on consultations. We pride ourselves on our supportive, team-focused environment where everyone is willing to lend a hand whenever needed.

Our practices are equipped with the latest technology to ensure we provide the best care possible. We've invested in advanced equipment to offer a wide range of surgeries and diagnostics, including two large animal lab areas, two mobile scanning units for routine fertility work, and stock facilities for equine reproduction. We also have in-house endoscopy, bronchoscopy, rhinoscopy, and arthroscopy capabilities, along with digital radiography across both sites. Our state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment includes continuous and pulse wave Doppler for cardiology and advanced soft tissue imaging. Plus, we handle complex orthopaedic procedures like TPLOs and TTAs in-house.

Our practices each have two vet consult rooms, separate operating theatres, and at our Downpatrick site, we also have a nurse consult room. Our surgeries are mainly routine but we also see some advanced orthopaedic procedures all of which are performed on-site. Our skilled nursing team runs their own clinics, offering services like second vaccinations, wellness checks, anal glands, nail clipping, nutritional advice, and post-op care.

Our team
You’ll be joining a dedicated team at our two purpose-built sites in Castlewellan and Downpatrick. Our team includes 13 vets (with 3 new graduates), 9 RVNs, and 11 support staff. We have certificate holders in advanced small animal surgery and advanced small animal surgery medicine, as well as a visiting cardiology specialist. We offer certificate support for anyone who wishes to pursue further qualifications, although this is completely optional.

At Castle Vets, we also enjoy giving back to the community and often collaborate with local charities.

We care about your work life balance
We offer flexible working patterns that flex with you and your lifestyle. Whether you are looking to flex your rota hours to balance the school holidays, fix to navigate the school runs or just looking to strike that balance between home and work life. We can offer flexibility that works for all team members.

The standard full-time vet rota consists of a 40-hour week. There is an OOH rota of 1:8. More detail around this can be given at interview. Salary up to £65,000 DOE.

About our local Area
Castlewellan and Downpatrick are two charming towns located in County Down, Northern Ireland, each offering a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Castlewellan is renowned for its picturesque Castlewellan Forest Park, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with its scenic walks, tranquil lake, and impressive Mourne Mountains backdrop. Downpatrick, just a short drive away, is steeped in history and is home to the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The town also boasts a range of local shops, cafes, and historical landmarks, making it a great spot for both visitors and residents alike.

Plus, with Belfast and the nearest airport just an hour away, it’s easy to access all the city has to offer while enjoying the peaceful beauty of these towns.

Because our people matter
We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from:

1. Work-life balance:
   *7 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
   *Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday
2. Wellbeing:
   *Private Medical Insurance
   *Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline
   *Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
   *Initiatives focused on colleague wellbeing
3. Development:
   *£1250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave pro rata
   *Certificate support
   *Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
   *Access to Vetlexicon - our online encyclopaedia provider
   *All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding
   *All our Vets get £1250 per annum to spend via our Care Fund
   *Infection Prevention and Control Programme
   *Quality Improvement Programme
4. Professional Memberships:
   *BVA membership
   *VDS cover
5. Colleague Benefits:
   *Company pension scheme. IVC Evidensia will make a contribution as well
   *Supporting a greener commute to work with a Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria
   *Voluntary benefits: we give you the flexibility to choose from a range of voluntary benefits to suit you
   *Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers
   *Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice

At IVC Evidensia we are committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

Salary up to £65,000 DOE.