Small Animal Vet Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Conduct companion-animal consultations.
• Perform authorised procedures and surgery.
• Manage diagnostics medicines and referrals.
• Communicate options costs and aftercare.
• Maintain inpatient and clinical records.

A realistic working scenario

A Vet (Small Animal) starts a clinic day reviewing the appointment and caseload list in the appointment or caseload system, completes clinical examinations and treatments, records clinical notes and prescribing entries in the clinical records system, completes handover updates for inpatient animals, performs medicine stock and consent checks before procedures, and raises any safeguarding, medication, clinical deterioration or RCVS-reportable incidents via the incident and safeguarding records system to the registered manager or service lead.

Outputs to agree

• Accurate clinical notes and treatment records entered into the clinical or service records for each consultation or inpatient episode
• Prescribing records and medicine administration entries recorded against patient files and medicine stock checks completed
• Consent forms and procedure-specific checklists completed and attached to the patient record prior to interventions
• Handover summaries and clinic-end updates posted to the appointment or caseload system for continuity of care
• Incident, safeguarding or RCVS-escalation reports submitted to the incident and safeguarding records with supporting clinical evidence when required

Records and evidence

• Clinical or service records (consultation notes, diagnostics, treatment plans).
• Prescribing records and medicine stock check logs.
• Consent forms and procedure checklists attached to patient files.
• Appointment or caseload system entries and handover summaries.
• Incident and safeguarding records including RCVS-escalation submissions.
• Work records.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Line Manager or Department Manager. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• Authorises routine small-animal examinations, prescribed treatments and medicine administration within the Employer's approval limits; must obtain explicit approval from the registered manager or service lead before prescribing or administering medicines outside authorised formulary or before performing procedures not listed in the Employer's approved operating commitments; must escalate suspected safeguarding disclosures, serious adverse events, and matters meeting RCVS escalation criteria into the incident and safeguarding records without delay.
• Obtain approval before committing expenditure, changing contractual commitments or making regulated or staffing decisions outside the assigned role.

Tools and systems

• Care planning systems.
• Mobility equipment.

Workplace context

• Regulated care, clinical, education or service premises.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required safeguarding training.
• Complete employer-required health and safety training.

Contract priorities

• Deliver clinically accurate small-animal care and informed treatment planning within authorised work commitments
• Maintain complete and contemporaneous clinical notes, prescribing entries and consent records in the clinical records system
• Perform medicine controls: stock checks, secure storage use and authorised prescribing entries
• Escalate safeguarding disclosures, serious adverse events and RCVS-reportable incidents through the incident and safeguarding records to the registered manager or service lead
• Use appointment, caseload and clinical systems only for authorised patient care and handovers

Information the employer should prepare

• the species caseload and practice sites
• the surgery imaging and dentistry scope
• the consulting operating and weekend rota
• the inpatient on-call and referral arrangements
• the clinical authority and equipment access