Veterinary Receptionist

Role overview

Heathside Vets in Southampton is looking for a full-time, permanent Veterinary Receptionist to be the first friendly face clients meet. The role sits within a small, busy practice on the Hampshire coastline, between Southampton and Portsmouth, with a culture built around compassionate care, teamwork, and high clinical standards.

The practice focuses on preventative medicine and aims to deliver gold-standard treatment while offering many in-house procedures that would otherwise require referral elsewhere. The team is described as supportive, close-knit, and enjoys spending time together outside of work as well.

What the role involves

In this position, you will help create a calm, professional, and caring experience for every client and pet. You will keep the front desk running smoothly, support communication across the practice, and help ensure a positive journey for both patients and owners.

• Welcome clients and their pets in a warm, respectful, and professional way
• Respond to enquiries in person, over the phone, and by email
• Schedule and coordinate appointments across the clinical team
• Process payments, manage insurance claims, and keep client records accurate
• Offer compassionate support to clients during difficult or emotional moments
• Work closely with vets and nurses to keep day-to-day operations running efficiently
• Handle several priorities at once in a busy setting while staying detail-focused

Working pattern

This is a full-time position with a rotating shift pattern. Typical shifts include 8:30 am to 5:50 pm, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. You will also be expected to work 1 in 4 Saturdays from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

What makes a strong match

The ideal candidate will be approachable, organised, and confident in a customer-facing environment. A collaborative attitude and a willingness to learn are important, as the role involves close teamwork and regular interaction with clients.

• Strong communication skills and a welcoming, professional manner
• Previous experience in a customer-facing role with a focus on service and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Team-oriented mindset and willingness to support colleagues
• Proactive attitude, openness to feedback, and readiness to develop

Support and development

Inspiring Vet Care highlights development and wellbeing from the start of employment. The role offers a client-facing position within a collaborative practice, with opportunities to grow into wider client care or practice leadership responsibilities.

Ongoing learning is supported by experienced colleagues and the practice team, within a values-led environment focused on care, community, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• 6.6 weeks of annual leave
• Extra holiday for your birthday, added to your leave entitlement
• Additional holiday accrual based on length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly leave and pay, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and surrogacy support
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Learning and development opportunities through the Inspiring Vet Care Academy
• Pension scheme
• Discounted staff pet care
• Voluntary benefits tailored to individual needs
• Access to retailer discounts and cashback offers

Additional information

The employer notes that AI tools may be used during parts of the hiring process, such as application review, resume analysis, and checking responses for possible inconsistencies or verification signals. These tools support the recruitment team but do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people. Applicants who want details about data processing can contact the employer directly.

Compensation

The salary is listed as up to £26,758.95 per year.