Job Description
About the Role
A purpose-built veterinary hospital in Barnsley is seeking a Night Veterinary Surgeon with a passion for Emergency and Critical Care (ECC). This role is designed for clinicians who enjoy working overnight, where decision-making, patient care, and clinical expertise take centre stage.
The hospital provides an out-of-hours emergency service designed to keep veterinary care accessible, including a transparent consultation fee structure that helps remove financial barriers for clients. This approach allows veterinary professionals to focus primarily on patient care rather than cost-related treatment conflicts.
Working nights here means being part of a coordinated clinical team, with a strong daytime staff presence ensuring cases can be properly handed over, followed through, and discussed with colleagues familiar with each patient’s history.
Clinical Environment
The hospital is equipped to support complex emergency and referral work. Facilities include:
- Ten modern consulting rooms
- Four fully equipped operating theatres
- Digital radiography and dental treatment suites
- Separate wards for dogs and cats to improve patient welfare
- In-house orthopaedic capability
- Unlike many smaller out-of-hours clinics, this is a full hospital environment designed for advanced clinical care.
- Overnight Support Structure
Night shifts are supported by experienced veterinary nurses who provide dedicated inpatient monitoring and care. This structure ensures that stable patients remain comfortable and supervised while allowing the veterinary surgeon to focus on new emergency admissions and critical cases.
A Mission-Driven Organisation
The hospital operates as a Community Interest Company, meaning it is guided by a social mission rather than profit. The aim is to ensure that animals receive treatment whenever possible and that financial limitations do not become an automatic barrier to care.
Transparent pricing and occasional free consultations help maintain accessibility for pet owners in the community.
Workplace Culture
The organisation promotes a collaborative and inclusive working environment. The structure encourages open discussion, shared learning, and teamwork rather than rigid hierarchy.
Veterinary surgeons, nurses, and support staff work closely together to ensure the best outcomes for patients while maintaining a respectful and supportive workplace culture.
Career Development Timeline
First Month
You will focus on becoming familiar with the hospital’s clinical systems, case flow, and team processes. During this stage, you will also build relationships with both the night and day teams.
Three Months
By this stage you will be independently managing a varied ECC caseload, performing emergency procedures and coordinating patient handovers with the daytime veterinary staff.
Six Months
You will be an established member of the overnight clinical team, confidently handling complex cases and potentially pursuing additional training to further strengthen your emergency medicine skills.
Compensation and Work–Life Balance
- The rota is designed to support both professional performance and personal wellbeing.
- Salary up to £73,902 (dependent on experience)
- 7 nights on / 14 nights off schedule
- Approximately 28 working hours per week
- Six weeks annual leave
- This schedule allows significant time for rest, travel, or personal commitments between shifts.
Professional Development
- The organisation strongly supports ongoing clinical learning.
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) funding
- Access to training and development programmes
- Payment of professional fees including RCVS and VDS membership
- Visa sponsorship available for eligible international applicants
Additional Benefits
Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Private medical insurance
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Long-term sickness benefit after 12 months of employment
- Employee assistance programme for wellbeing support
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Company pension scheme
- Staff discounts and Vivup retail discounts
- Referral bonus programme
About Candor Vets
Candor Vets specialises in connecting veterinary professionals with roles that match their skills, career goals, and preferred working environments. Rather than simply submitting applications, the recruitment team focuses on understanding individual priorities such as clinical caseload, workplace culture, and work-life balance.
Helpful UK Government Resources
If you are applying from outside the UK or want to learn more about employment regulations, these official resources may help:
