Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

Inspiring Vet Care; Hungerford; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks’ annual leave

Birthday leave

Private Medical Insurance

CPD allowance (£550) and paid leave

RCVS and VDS fees covered

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Job summary

Inspiring Vet Care’s Hungerford Vets is seeking a Head Veterinary Nurse to lead the nursing team in a 37.5 hour, four-day week, with weekend rota and out-of-hours commitments to be confirmed.

RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse with significant clinical experience is required. You will drive clinical governance, mentor staff, and collaborate with the leadership team to maintain high standards of patient and client care.

Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS (UK).
• Significant clinical practice experience with advanced medical/surgical nursing.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical leadership for the nursing team.
• Lead clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives.
• Develop a capable and confident nursing team through mentoring.
• Collaborate with practice leadership on culture and performance.

Skills

Leadership

RCVS knowledge

Nursing leadership

Communication

Education

RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse

Job description

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

We are seeking a knowledgeable, confident Head Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Hungerford Vets on a full-time basis.

Our practices in Hungerford and Pewsey have long been recognised for delivering exceptional veterinary care. Established in 1976 by original owner Pip Pocock, our Hungerford practice has built a reputation for excellence that continues today.

We were one of the first veterinary hospitals in the UK to achieve RCVS Hospital accreditation, a mark of quality we have proudly maintained for over 20 years.

As a large 24-hour veterinary hospital with our own out-of-hours service, you'll be joining an experienced and supportive team of 14 Veterinary Surgeons and 18 Nurses, each bringing a wealth of clinical expertise and specialist interests.

Our hospital is equipped with two operating theatres, digital X-ray, dental X-ray, endoscopy, ultrasound, therapeutic laser and a wide range of advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment, providing an excellent environment for both patient care and professional development.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Head Veterinary Nurse, you will provide senior clinical and professional leadership for the nursing team, overseeing all nursing aspects of the practice while supporting the delivery of outstanding patient and client care.

You’ll be responsible for maintaining high nursing standards, leading clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives, and developing a capable, confident nursing team. Working closely with the wider practice leadership team, you'll play a key role in shaping culture, performance and ways of working.

Working Pattern

• 37.5 hours per week
• 4-day working week
• Weekend rota to be confirmed
• Out-of-hours commitment to be confirmed

General Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop the nursing and animal care team
• Ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the nursing function while maintaining high clinical standards
• Work closely with the Lead Vet, Client Care Manager, Practice Manager and Practice Director as part of the practice leadership team
• Provide hands-on clinical leadership, combining patient care with mentoring and team development
• Support Student Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Care Assistants through coaching and supervision
• Champion infection control, clinical governance and continuous quality improvement

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Significant experience in clinical practice, with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills
• Proven experience leading, mentoring and developing nursing teams
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement and professional standards
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills

How We’ll Support You

• A senior leadership role with accountability for nursing standards, team development and service improvement
• Structured leadership pathways through our dedicated Nurse Academy, empowering you to shape the future of nursing care within the practice
• Clear career development with progression opportunities into wider practice leadership roles
• Ongoing learning and development to support leadership, governance and strategic growth
• A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks' annual leave
• Additional annual leave for your birthday, which will be added to your holiday allowance
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee wellbeing initiatives, including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24 hours' paid leave
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits, including the Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Up to £37,500 per year DOE