I came to Crown House eight and a half years ago as a locum RVN with the intention of working here for nine months as maternity cover. I felt at home with everyone from the moment I started, so I was really happy to be given the opportunity to stay on as a permanent member of staff and have never looked back!
 
Since starting here all those years ago, I have moved into a management role, and I am now Practice Director. I feel very fortunate that I could progress my career without having to leave behind a team and a practice that I love. 

What motivates you to work in the veterinary industry?

Any veterinary professional will agree that a love of animals is where it all begins. You have great days and you have tough days, but every day is different. Knowing you have provided the best care you can, and seeing that payoff is the most satisfying feeling and makes our job very rewarding. 

What are your favourite things about working at Crown House and as part of the IVC Evidensia network?

There are a lot of opportunities to develop your skills. If you have an area of interest or want to learn something new you not only have the support of IVC Evidensia - who commit to providing an excellent CPD package - but the support of very experienced and knowledgeable colleagues throughout the network. In terms of our own practice, I love that we all share the same compassion for our patients and take an interest in each other's well-being too. 

How would you describe the culture at the practice?

We are a close-knit team and are very down-to-earth. I know that if ever need it I would have the support of my team without judgement, and I in return support them back when they need me to. We are respectful to each other and enjoy working together, which has meant that we have members of staff with us who have been here for many years, who continue to enjoy being part of the team here. 

What do you enjoy about the local area? 

Our practice is placed in an area that is easily accessible by car or public transport. We have a local shopping centre and supermarkets/cafes within walking distance, cinema/bowling/restaurants etc which we make use of for after-work socialising. There are couple of gyms , a leisure centre and nice walking spots for those who enjoy being active. 

What would you want someone thinking about joining the team to know?

We are a small animal first opinion practice, but we always finish at 6pm when our OOH provider takes over, and with only an occasional Saturday morning to work, we have our evenings and weekends to ourselves which I find makes for an excellent work-life balance. This is made better still by the enhanced holiday allowance that was introduced last year. 

What’s your favourite thing to do after work to unwind?

Once upon a time I would have said spending time with friends and going to the gym - but realistically after starting a family it is now spent running around after a 4 year old and managing family/home life!
With family commitments taking up a lot of time it is a blessing to have a good balance between how much time I spend focusing on work and how much I can spend with family. I am able to work around school events, manage long weekends away and helping out my elderly relatives.

Tell us about your pets!

One very independent cat - Alice - and one crazy Staffy - Nate. Both very different but equally loved!