Veterinary Referral Clinician - Ophthalmology

Abbotskerwell, Devon, England

Referral - Vet Surgeon – Ophthalmology /

South Devon Veterinary Hospital - Abbotskerswell [1958] /

On-site

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

South Devon Veterinary Hospital & Referrals is a well-established hospital and referral centre based in Abbotskerswell, near Newton Abbot, providing referrals across Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, CT scanning and Cardiology, with 24-hour nursing support for inpatients.

Our Ophthalmology service has a dedicated theatre with specialist equipment including slit lamps, AMO Whitestar Phaco, operating microscope, Fundus camera and high-resolution ocular ultrasound, alongside wider hospital facilities including onsite CT, digital X-ray, endoscopy, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and ultrasound.

You’ll join a small and passionate Ophthalmology team, which includes an ECVO Diplomate, as part of a wider team of 9 Vets, 15 RVNs, 3 SVNs and 3 VCAs, with the opportunity to manage a varied caseload and contribute to the continued development of the service.

Perfectly positioned between Dartmoor and the South Devon coastline, the hospital offers an excellent location for enjoying both the coast and countryside. Newton Abbot is a thriving market town, with the M5 and nearby rail links providing direct connections to Exeter, Bristol, London and Cornwall.

Practice Highlights

* Dedicated Ophthalmology theatre with specialist diagnostic and surgical equipment

* Ophthalmology team including an ECVO Diplomate

* Referral services across Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, CT scanning and Cardiology

* Purpose-built hospital with 24-hour inpatient nursing care and advanced diagnostic and surgical facilities

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Veterinary Ophthalmologist, you will deliver advanced veterinary care within a referral setting, managing complex ophthalmology cases and providing clinical advice and support to referring veterinary practices.

You’ll work collaboratively within the Ophthalmology and wider hospital team to deliver outstanding patient and client care, while also supporting the development of colleagues through mentoring, supervision and knowledge sharing. You’ll have the opportunity to shape your own caseload, contribute to the development of the Ophthalmology service and work closely with the Practice Director to promote clinical best practice across our sites.

Working Pattern

* Full-time or part-time opportunities available, working up to 32 hours per week

* Flexible working patterns can be discussed to suit both you and the needs of the service

* The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with participation in the out-of-hours rota alongside colleagues to provide shared OOH cover

Key Responsibilities

* Deliver advanced ophthalmology care across a varied referral caseload

* Manage complex ophthalmic cases, including both diagnostic and surgical cases

* Maintain high standards of clinical and surgical care within the Ophthalmology service

* Provide clinical advice, guidance and support to colleagues and referring veterinary practices

* Support the development of colleagues through mentoring, supervision and knowledge sharing

* Work with the Practice Director and wider team to promote clinical best practice and support the continued development of the service

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

You are an experienced Veterinary Surgeon with strong expertise in Ophthalmology and a passion for delivering high-quality referral-level care. You’ll bring:

* RCVS registration, or eligibility to register, as a Veterinary Surgeon

* A recognised postgraduate qualification in Veterinary Ophthalmology, such as CertAVP, ECVO or ACVO Diplomate status

* Proven experience within a referral or specialist setting is preferred

* Strong surgical and diagnostic skills in Ophthalmology

* Excellent communication and teamwork abilities

* A commitment to high clinical standards and continuous professional development

* Experience as a residency programme leader or in residency supervision would be an advantage

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting you in delivering advanced clinical care while continuing to grow professionally. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

* The opportunity to work within a well-supported referral hospital environment with complex and rewarding caseloads

* Access to high-quality facilities, equipment and multidisciplinary clinical teams

* Support to maintain Specialist or Advanced Practitioner status and remain at the forefront of clinical practice

* Funded learning and development, including access to IVC Academy training centres and specialist programmes

* A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, learning and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

* 6.6 weeks annual leave inclusive of bank holidays

* Your birthday as a paid day off

* Private medical insurance

* Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay

* Generous CPD allowance

* BVA membership

* VDS cover

* RCVS fees

* £5,000 relocation allowance

* Healthcare Cash Plan

* Cycle to Work scheme

* Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme

* Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you

* Discounted staff pet care

* Access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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