Careers in The Veterinary World

March 12, 2021

Welcome to Henley House

Here at Henley House, we are one big happy team with a great mix of experience and interests. We know how important it is to support every member of our team, and this allows us to provide the best patient care to every pet who comes to see us.

What is new at Henley House

Recently, we have finished renovating our practice. Now we love sharing our new and improved facilities with everyone who visits. We offer top of the range diagnostic and treatment facilities, so we can ensure sick and injured pets have access to the best veterinary facilities possible.

Improved client facilities

We have extended our off-road car park, so accessing our practice is completely stress-free for our clients. Upon entering the reception area, clients are greeted by our extended waiting room. This provides ample space for nervous pets to wait separately from other inquisitive patients. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our clients back into the practice when COVID-19 restrictions allow. You can read our latest coronavirus update here.

Expanded consulting facilities

To enhance our ever-growing practice, we now offer 3 consulting rooms. This means that we can see more patients than ever before, ensuring that all clients and their pets have access to rapid veterinary care.

In house laboratory and diagnostic facilities

Our brand new in-house laboratory enables us to run a comprehensive range of same-day blood and urine tests. Often we can run tests within the hour, enabling us to treat patients efficiently. Poorly pets no longer need to wait several days for essential test results.

Our veterinary team also has access to a digital x-ray machine that enables high-quality x-rays to be taken with instant access to images. Because our images are now digital, we can also quickly send x-rays to specialists for further advice.

Separate dog and cat wards

All our feline patients can now be housed separately from any dogs. This means that cats can relax in a stress-free environment to help them recover more quickly. Our dog kennels also come in a range of sizes to ensure that they are comfortable for all of our canine patients.

Two Operating theatres

We now offer two fully equipped operating theatres. Each one has a full range of anaesthetic monitoring equipment to help make all surgeries as safe as possible. Our heated operating table will also help keep every patient warm during their procedure.

Improved Dental facilities

So we can provide the best dental treatment for all our patients, our practice now offers full dental facilities, including a dental x-ray machine. This means that our vets can take dental x-rays to make sure that your pet’s teeth are kept in the best possible health.

K Laser Treatment 

We are proud to be able to offer K Laser treatment at Henley House. This procedure is particularly useful for helping to improve wound healing and to speed up recovery times. For more information please contact our veterinary team.

 

Careers at Henley House

As a result of our recent expansion, we now want to increase the size of our team and are looking for a Veterinary Surgeon and Veterinary Nurse to join our family . If you are dedicated to providing the best patient care to every one of your patients and enjoy working as part of a team then we want to hear from you.

We will offer you access to our fully equipped facilities and regular working hours. Our out of hours emergencies are covered by our local VetsNow practice, giving you the perfect work-life balance. You will quickly become part of our friendly and supportive team, allowing you the opportunity to progress with any interests or certificates.

 

Working within a veterinary practice

Our veterinary practice is run by our talented and dedicated team of qualified Vets and Veterinary Nurses, which enables our practice to operate smoothly. There are however a wider range of roles often available in other veterinary practices, including:

• Veterinary Surgeon – Our vets diagnose and treat unwell pets. They will prescribe medications and perform any necessary surgeries. They also provide preventive advice and treatments, such as neutering surgery, for healthy pets.
• Veterinary Nurse – Our nurses are responsible for several tasks including, caring for patients, carrying out nurse consultations, monitoring anaesthetics, preparing animals for surgery and assisting vets with their patients.
• Student Veterinary Nurse – Our student nurses are training to become a qualified veterinary nurse. They will be assisted with their work to enable them to learn and develop their skills.
• Animal healthcare Assistant – Our assistants are essential for ensuring your pets are comfortable during their stay with us. They will help our nurses care for our patients, by feeding, grooming, and exercising your pet. They also help ensure that we maintain our high hygiene standards across the practice.
• Receptionist – When you phone our practice you will usually speak to one of our receptionists. They will provide you with updates about your pet whenever they stay with us and ensure that the practice runs smoothly, by booking appointments and dealing with paperwork.

 

So you want to work in veterinary practice?

How do I become a vet?

To qualify as a vet you will need to complete a 5-year degree in Veterinary Science or Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at an accredited university. On graduation, you will need to become a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to enable you to practice.

Application requirements for a degree in Veterinary Science:

• GCSEs – You should be aiming to achieve grade 9-6 in your GCSEs.
• A-Levels – You will usually be expected to get A/A* results in 3 science subjects but each university will have their own specific requirements, so you should check with them before applying.
• Voluntary experience in veterinary practices and animal facilities – It is useful to gain as much animal related work experience before applying to university. This will help you to ensure that a career as a vet is the right pathway for you.

How do I become a vet nurse?

There are several routes you can take to become a veterinary nurse but whichever course you choose must be accredited with the RCVS.

• Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing – You will need at least 5 GCSEs at a grade 9-4 and have relevant work experience. This 2 year course can also be taken as an apprenticeship, so you will be employed by a practice and work alongside attending college.
• Degree in Veterinary Nursing – This is the longer route, and will typically take 3 to 4 years. To apply you will need to have completed your A-Levels and have relevant work experience. On this course, you will be studying full-time with placements throughout the course.

 

Further career opportunities

Usually, when people decide they want to become a vet or veterinary nurse they will want to work in a veterinary practice. However, veterinary qualifications are very diverse and offer a lot of non-clinical opportunities.

Examples of non-clinical veterinary jobs:

• Medical Sales Representative working for a pharmaceutical company
• Pet insurance claims assessor
• Lecturing for animal-related courses
• Research or laboratory work
• Working for the government
• Working in public health

 

Working within a veterinary practice is a highly rewarding career and here at Henley House we value every team member and will provide you with all the support you need. Whether you are just starting your career and are looking to gain experience or you just want to feel fulfilled in your job, we can provide you with everything you need for a long and successful career.