Permanent Small Animal Vet

Permanent SA Vet - Proudly Independent Practice

Location: Mainly at Hook Norton Hospital with some sole charge at Branch Sites

Hours: 4 days (8am-6.30pm) with other working pattern options considered

OOH: approx 1:10 full weekends (days only), further details on application

Time off: Monday afternoon off after full weekend; full day off after occasional night shift

Looking for clinical freedom, a varied caseload and room to grow in a practice that remains genuinely independent? At Hook Norton Veterinary Group, you will combine modern hospital facilities with the personal connection of a community practice with branch sites, backed by a substantial clinical team and a dedicated in-house night team. With a four day working week, seven weeks' holiday and CPD support for your next career step, there's plenty to look forward to at work and beyond it.

About the Role

You will be based mainly at our busy Small Animal Hospital in Hook Norton, with some sole-charge work at our local branches, all within a 20 minute radius. A balanced mix of consults, ops, hospital and ambulatory shifts brings variety to your week, with support from our extensive nursing, reception and administration teams. With an in-house lab, 24-hour hospitalisation facilities and extensive surgery and scanning facilities, you will be fully enabled to investigate and manage a broad range of cases. Our 15 minute consults include consideration for complex cases and administration, with support from our dedicated Small Animal Coordinator and in patient booking team. Rotas are designed to be realistic and sustainable, with handover to our dedicated in-house night team for overnight inpatient and emergency care. We pride ourselves on offering a holistic services to our clients by providing our own OOH. To support this, you will participate in our weekend day OOH and occasional nights if and when required with time off in recompense.

Here, clinical freedom and collaboration go hand in hand. Alongside best-practice protocols, you'll have the freedom to develop and carry out your own clinical plans, share ideas and discuss cases with a progressive, open-minded team. We take pride in high standards of care and give our vets the support to deliver them.

Our loyal client base brings a full and varied medical and surgical caseload, with opportunities to build your experience and develop your special interests. Whether you want to deepen your clinical skills, pursue a certificate or work towards greater responsibility, you'll have internal mentoring, funded development and a structured career pathway to support your long-term goals.

Our Clinical Team Includes:

• 19 SA Vets (5 Senior/Director level)
• 17 RVNs, 5 Students and several Assistants
• A fully staffed in-house lab, dedicated pharmacy & dispensary team

About You

You're an experienced small animal vet who enjoys a varied working day, takes pride in excellent patient care and values being part of a collaborative, supportive team. You'll be comfortable with some sole-charge branch work, keen to keep developing and ready to contribute your ideas as well as your clinical skills. You enjoy sharing interesting cases, learning from colleagues and supporting those around you. Alongside the pace of a busy practice, you value the opportunities to connect with your team and focus on your CPD.

You'll bring:

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a similar UK based role
• Full UK driving licence and own transport (we are in a beautiful rural setting)
• A collaborative, can-do attitude with high clinical aspirations
• A genuine passion for animals, farming, equine care and country life

What's in It for You

• Competitive salary range, depending on experience (£40-65K)
• Funded RCVS membership & VDS cover

• 7 weeks holiday (increasing with service)
• Private Medical Insurance, comprehensive wellbeing programme & active social calendar
• Generous staff discount scheme
• Structured career pathway - from graduate to director level

• One week of CPD and £1,500 per year, plus funding and support for certificates

• Access to all XL Vet resources and initiatives

About Us

Hook Norton Veterinary Group is a well-established independent mixed practice, owned and managed by 5 practising Vet Directors and 4 Divisional Directors. With separate small animal, farm and equine departments, we combine modern veterinary care with the compassion, approachability and lasting client relationships of a local practice. Our directors work within the business every day, keeping decision-making close to the people delivering patient care.

Our hospital and branches in Hook Norton, Charlbury, Deddington and Moreton-in-Marsh serve communities across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. If you're looking for a rewarding clinical role in a beautiful rural setting, with countryside on your doorstep, you'll find plenty to enjoy here.

We're a well-established, trusted independent practice with a great local reputation. We're also proud founding members of XL Vets, a nationwide community of independent practices working together to share knowledge and support. Learn more at