Pool House Equine Clinic is part of the Pool House Veterinary Group. Lichfield is located to the Northeast of Birmingham Britain's second city. It is only a short drive from the Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District National Park. With easy access to the motorway network, two main line railway stations and Birmingham International Airport, Lichfield is almost literally at the centre of England.
Web Site
We maintain an extensive web site at www.poolhousevets.co.uk that provides a detailed description of our practice and its facilities. We can receive email at admin@poolhousevets.co.uk.
Local Amenities
Within 15 minutes drive of the practice there are facilities for indoor skiing, bowling, and a multiscreen cinema. The city has a modern shopping centre and three large supermarkets. A leisure centre is located in nearby Burntwood and there are two private health and fitness clubs in Lichfield itself. Riding, sailing and other outdoor sports are all catered for locally. There is a rich cultural life including the annual 'Lichfield Festival'. Lichfield is England's smallest City dominated by its majestic three-spired 1,000-year-old cathedral.
About the Practice (Equine)
The practice has established an Equine Clinic at Crown Inn Farm, approximately 15 mins. drive from the main practice in Lichfield. The Equine Clinic has 13 acres of grazing along with an operating theatre, consulting rooms, offices, stabling and a menage to form a new dedicated equine centre. The Equine Clinic can be visited on our web site.
In more detail the Equine Clinic is composed of operating theatre, large preparation area including automatic X - Ray processor, a measuring pad, two examination / radiography rooms and two sets of stocks. There is stabling for up to 11 horses. Pool House is the largest equine practice in the midlands; approximately 7,500 visits are made every year. All classes of horse are cared for, including a number of local racehorse training yards. Other equipment includes two mobile X - Ray machines, three 7.5 MHz linear scanners, cryosurgery unit, arthroscope and two 1.4m fibreoptic endoscopes. A new development this year has been the acquisition of an extra-corporeal shock wave machine The practice also provides Veterinary cover to Uttoxeter and Wolverhampton racecourses. A full time lay assistant is available to help with all aspects of this work. Clinical records are fully computerised. The Equine Clinic is supported by four office/secretarial staff and three grooms, other staff from our Lichfield practice help as required.
The equine veterinary team consists of seven full time vets with one part timer. One of our colleagues in the small animal practice also works part time in the equine practice.
Out of hours the telephones are answered by nurses at our main practice and relayed to the duty veterinary surgeon.
C.P.D.
The Practice is especially proud of its record in the field of Continued Professional Development. Four assistants have obtained the Cert. E. P. whilst working at the Practice and one has obtained a Cert. V. R. In 2004 we were delighted with the award of a Cert V.A. and a Cert E.M. (Stud Med.) to assistants in the practice. In 2005 a further assistant obtained the Cert EP. Two partners hold the Cert. E.P. (giving a total of six 'E.P.s' obtained at the practice). One has recently been appointed as an examiner for the Equine Practice certificate and is a member of the R.C.V.S. equine further education and specialisation board.
In 2005 the practice published two papers in EVE and had five further papers accepted for publication in UK Vet. The practice has always had close ties with the Worshipful Company of Farriers, with one partner being a Company Examiner and our practice consultant being both an Examiner and Liveryman of the Company. We also retain the services of a consultant farrier who holds an AWCF qualification.
About the vacancy – Senior Equine Assistant
The successful candidate will work exclusively with the equine team. It is an ideal opportunity for someone with basic equine experience to further develop their equine clinical skills and work towards an RCVS Certificate. The successful candidate should be enthusiastic to improve their quality of their work whilst being supported by other more experienced clinicians.
Holidays
20 days plus 8 days in lieu of working on Sundays. All bank holidays or a day in lieu thereof.
C.P.D.
5 days per year (funded by the practice). All Certificate and Exam fees funded.
Duties
14 weekends per year of which about 8 are full weekends and 6 are half weekends. The telephones are answered 24 hours a day by the nursing or reception staff, who contact the duty Veterinary Surgeon as required. Veterinary Surgeons are provided with mobile telephones.
The duty rota is under review due to the expansion of the practice and may vary slightly from the outline above - to be confirmed at interview.
Accommodation
To be arranged.
Salary
To be discussed at interview.
Car
The practice will provide a car on the usual terms.
