Three years ago, this work started with a quiet question I couldn’t let go of: what would it look like if the human side of veterinary practice were supported as intentionally as the clinical side?
At the time, veterinary social work wasn’t a recognised field in the UK. What was clear, though, was the emotional reality of veterinary practice, the cumulative weight of difficult conversations, ethical dilemmas, grief, financial constraints, and the deep care professionals hold for both animals and the people who love them. Much of that labour goes unseen, absorbed between consultations and carried home at the end of long days.
My recent time at Langford Vets brought this into even sharper focus. Sitting alongside teams, listening to their experiences, and observing the complexity of client interactions reinforced what the veterinary profession already knows: veterinary teams do far more than clinical work alone. Clients don’t arrive with animals alone; they arrive with stories, relationships, fears, and experiences of loss. In those moments, care extends well beyond medicine.
What made this experience different was Hattie Lawrence, the CEO of Langford Vets, who was willing to pause and consider the impact of all this on veterinary teams. Her openness to collaboration enabled us to move from research and reflection into action, creating an embedded veterinary human support worker role within the service. This trust to try something new, without a clear UK roadmap, is something I am massively grateful for.
This role wasn’t created because something was “going wrong.” It was created because there was a recognition that the work is emotionally complex, and that supporting people well matters – for sustainability, for well-being, and for the quality of care that is offered. Having on-site, in-the-moment support from a professional skilled in managing the full range of human emotions creates space for reflection, processing, clearer communication, and, sometimes, simply being heard.
This work has never been mine alone. Right from my first light bulb moment and all along the way, I’ve been supported, challenged, and encouraged by an incredible network including; my colleagues at University of Sussex, The Links Group, Bin Johnson at Our Special Friends, Diane James at Blue Cross, Marc Abraham OBE,my USA-Canada colleagues associated with the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and pioneer of veterinary social work in Australia, Alicia Kennedy at Cherished Pets.
I don’t believe embedded human services roles in the veterinary/animal welfare space should offer quick fixes; they should offer presence, perspective, and partnership.
This work has shown me that meaningful change doesn’t necessarily begin with certainty, but with curiosity, commitment and courage to make space for something new.
Rebecca Stephens – The Links Group Trustee.
