Specialist Headhunters
01423 861727
The Role
The Role
1) Vet with Surgical Interest
If you're passionate about surgery and aspire to develop in this field, this practice provides the perfect opportunity for you to develop your interest and carve out your niche as a surgeon. Currently, they have a visiting surgeon who brings their own equipment, allowing the practice to accommodate a surgical caseload that aligns with your abilities and passions. They are committed to working closely with you to understand your equipment preferences and needs, investing in the necessary resources to bring your vision to life. Additionally, an experienced surgeon associated with the practice offers invaluable mentorship, providing teaching and guidance to further enhance your surgical skills. At this practice, it is possible to assume a role with a stronger focus on surgery, offering more dedicated operating time compared to consulting hours each week.
2) Vet with exotics interest
The team includes an exotics certificate holder who is passionate about sharing their knowledge and eager to collaborate with someone on the exotics caseload.
3) Senior Veterinary Surgeon
The Senior Vet role offers a unique opportunity to shape it according to your individual interests. Responsibilities may include mentoring colleagues, making practice decisions in the absence of the owner, and driving improvements in workflows and efficiencies. This role allows for significant clinical growth and the chance to assume more responsibility while having a meaningful voice within the practice. The owners are fully committed to supporting your areas of interest and tailoring the role to leverage your strengths, ensuring you are continually challenged and fulfilled in your career. Whether your motivation lies in training and mentoring others or in making an impact on clinical governance and standards, this role provides a platform for contributing to the future success of the practice, implementing changes, and elevating the quality of care delivered.
Ultimately, they recognise people are happier when they are doing what they enjoy.
Key Points
Empathetic and Self-Aware Leadership
o Proactively prioritise employee well-being
o Foster a culture of learning and growth without blame
o Encourage individuals to reach their full potential
A Cohesive and Supportive Team
o Highly regarded by locums who repeatedly return
o Long-standing veterinary nurses who anticipate and provide assistance
o Team members feel fulfilled as their skills are utilised and developed
Carve Your Path to Success
o Take on a senior role for a greater sense of purpose and contribution
o Foster your passion for surgery or exotics with mentorship and learning opportunities
The Practice
Established for over 10 years, this small animal practice has built a loyal client base and an impressive client retention rate of 75%! The combination of their forward-thinking team with a genuine passion for their work, and the preventative healthcare focused health plan has created some amazing client bonds. They are an ISFM-recognised Cat Friendly Clinic and also a RAWF Rabbit-Friendly Clinic. Their aim is to maintain a medium sized practice, with a close knit team, family ethos and where building the business and providing a high quality service is a team effort. They want people to put themselves forward and encourage people to step outside of their comfort zones, which is where growth occurs! The owners are not afraid to try new things and recognise that you don’t have to do something the way it has always been done, when there could be a better way. They would like to grow the practice further and have a longer-term goal of expanding the size of the surgery by going up a level and spreading the practice over two floors, putting in a cat ward and an exotics ward, a second operating theatre, amongst other things. Their plans very much depend on the team they have in place and what they can build on and promote in terms of services within the practice.
Leadership
When we asked the practice owners what three words they think their team would use to describe their experience of working at the practice, they said:
1. Supportive
2. Fun
3. Busy
SUPPORTIVE
They actively prioritise the well-being of their employees by providing necessary breaks and offering support during challenging cases or with difficult clients. They understand that client expectations and the potential for personal attacks on vets through social media can significantly impact stress levels and overall well-being. To address such situations, the owners have implemented measures to protect their staff and handle incidents effectively. They foster a culture where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than subjecting individuals to harsh criticism. They are strong advocates for unlocking individuals' full potential. Their track record speaks for itself in terms of fostering personal growth and development based on people's interests and strengths. This commitment is evident in their nursing team, where many members have assumed specific responsibilities and leadership roles in areas they are passionate about. For instance, one nurse has taken charge of radiology, while another has evolved their role into a teaching and training position, guiding Veterinary Care Assistants (VCAs). They strive to maximize the capabilities of their nursing staff, ensuring they experience a wide range of tasks and find fulfilment in their roles, even allowing them to perform category 3 procedures. Ultimately, they recognise that people are happier when they are doing what they enjoy!
FUN
There are always people laughing and smiling here, and enjoying being at work. Their aim is to make the working atmosphere friendly and open. They believe that you can still have a fun time when you’re at work.
BUSY
They have temporarily closed their books to new clients, unless it’s an existing client with a new pet. The team excels at managing busy days but prioritise avoiding excessive busyness and the resulting stress. They strive for a balanced schedule, allowing time for emergencies while ensuring they see enough clients. For instance, during the long bank holiday weekend, they closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday but remained open on other days, reserving at least half of the Tuesday appointments for same-day booking due to expected high demand. Their approach includes various appointment options, emergency slots, and a mix of cases to avoid overwhelming situations, such as back-to-back vaccinations or an influx of itchy dog cases.
LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS
We asked the owners what they thought their strengths are as leaders. One partner said, “It is that we support people, we have people’s backs, and we will never shy away and just leave someone to deal with something on their own. The buck stops with us. If someone is not happy with the business, then it’s our business.” One partner said about the other, “I think one of her strengths is organisation and not being fazed. She is unflappable. You just carry on until you get to the end. If there’s an emergency in the practice and things that need more work up than she realised, then she just gets on with it. She’s unflappable nature and how she deals with things has been commented on a lot in people’s appraisals and 1:1s. They say it’s never a stressful day when she is in”. The owners are dedicated to enhancing their leadership skills, particularly in understanding the individual dynamics and emotions within the team. They recognise that the absence of reported problems doesn't necessarily indicate a lack thereof, prompting them to be more mindful and proactive in their interactions. For instance, after a demanding day marked by emergencies, the owners make a point to enquire if there were any areas they could have improved, both as a practice and as leaders. Additionally, they engage in conversations to gauge individuals' well-being and aspirations within the practice, recognising that formal appraisals may not always elicit open feedback. Through informal check-ins, they create a space for discussing personal development goals, including preferred areas of continuing professional development (CPD), fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment.
Team Culture
The practice owners firmly believe that the team is the cornerstone of their success, a sentiment echoed by every member. To them, the essence of a team lies in cooperation, valuing diverse opinions, and providing an open forum for ideas, regardless of their correctness. All team members are encouraged to contribute their input and shape the future direction and growth of the practice. If any issues arise or things feel disconnected, they promptly address them through productive group discussions, avoiding the build-up of unresolved conflicts. Furthermore, the practice places a strong emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly practices. They actively engage in recycling efforts and prioritise being a responsible and sustainable practice. One of their nurses has even pursued environmentalism and sustainability courses, effectively incorporating her learnings into the practice. The commitment to environmental consciousness resonates with many team members and aligns with their collective vision of operating as a responsible and sustainable entity.
Would you like to know more?
It's really easy! Just text BEDFORDSHIRE to 07398 951222 along with your full name, and a member of our team will organise a time to speak with you outside of your working hours.