Abi joined Derwent Valley in 2026 with a view to train to become a Qualified Veterinary Nurse having had that ambition for some time. Abi has already undertaken a foundation degree and a BSc in Animal Management at Derby University and has gained useful experience in the veterinary sector by working as a veterinary care assistant and a receptionist at other practices before coming to DVV.

Abi and her young son, Ellis, share their home with a number of pets. Abi used to foster rescue dogs and has looked after at least 20 different dogs on their way to their forever homes. This work however came with a bit of a draw back as Abi admits to struggling with self-control and she kept adding to her fur family wen she fell in love with some of her fosters and couldn’t let them go! She has currently got three dogs at home, two Cairn terriers ‘Missy’ and ‘Bonnie’ and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ‘Rosie’.

Abi really enjoys emergency and critical care work because of the fast pace and interesting nature of cases. She loves working with all species but is particularly keen on working with dogs. At least in this role all of our patients have loving and caring owners and homes, so there should be less risk of her adding to her pack! Abi is also very keen to help out with any of the wildlife that gets brought to DVV from time to time. She gets a great sense of achievement and feels she is giving back when we can return something to the wild or pass it over to a wildlife sanctuary for recuperation.

When Abi is not at work, she loves to be outside with Ellis and her dogs, going on walks and having adventures.

Jess joined Derwent Valley Vets as a qualified Veterinary Care Assistant in 2026 with an ambition to train to become a Qualified Veterinary Nurse. She has already obtained her VCA qualification from the College of Animal Welfare and has completed an Access to Higher diploma in Land Based Animal Science from Nottingham Trent University.

Jess has worked in other veterinary practices before so she hit the ground running. She has worked in a small animal general practice in Leicester but has also spent some time working in emergency only practices in Northampton and Nottinghamshire alongside her studying.

Jess lives with her partner Matthew and her two ginger cats; Quin who is 3 and Flynn who is under a year. Both Quin and Flynn enjoy playing with bubbles and chasing each other around the house. They are both extremely demanding and vocal about food. Jess gets told just how hungry they are the minute she gets up from sitting down even if they have just been fed.

Jess really enjoys emergency and critical care work because of the variety and complexity of the cases. Supporting owner through what can be a stressful and emotional time is something she finds especially meaningful.  One of the most interesting cases she has worked on involved a dog which was consistently being sick. When the vets involved went into its’ tummy in February one year, they found a cocktail stick which had worked its way through the stomach wall. The owner was sure that the last time the dog could have got to a cocktail stick was at a Christmas buffet some 8 weeks previously.

Jess also loves working with cats. She loves everything about them, even the spicy ones.

When Jess is not at work or studying, she is a bit of an acrobat – she really enjoys going to aerial arts classes and working with apparatus such as hoops, silks and chains.

Sophie initially joined the team as a volunteer, wanting to get work experience in a veterinary practice. She decided she liked it here and got on really well with all the team so we were very pleased when she accepted the job as an animal care assistant (ACA) in 2021. Her long-term plan is to work her way up to enrolling as a student veterinary nurse. Whilst with the practice she has complete her training to become a qualified ACA and is well on her way to obtaining the qualifications needed to start the Veterinary Nursing course.

Sophie is a mother to three growing boys Callum, Rupert and Logan who keep her very busy and active. Her home is made complete with her very cute crossbreed bod ‘Bella’ and her two cats ‘Pussy’ and ‘Buddy’. She has always enjoyed being with animals and says they ‘bring her a lot of happiness’. She is brilliant with out patients and a great help to the whole team. Her bubbly personality and constant smile lightens up any day.

When Sophie is not looking after her boys or her pets she likes to have lunch out with friends and is particularly partial to a good cocktail.