Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

IVC Evidensia; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks' annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Job summary

Wellpets is seeking a seasoned Head Veterinary Nurse to lead the nursing team across Yeovil and Worle. The role focuses on delivering high-quality patient care, setting nursing standards and driving clinical governance within a supportive practice.

You will mentor staff, oversee day-to-day nursing operations, collaborate with leadership, and foster a culture of continuous development in a friendly, client-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Significant clinical practice with advanced nursing skills
• Proven experience in leading, mentoring and developing nursing teams
• Strong understanding of clinical governance and quality improvement

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop the nursing and animal care team
• Ensure smooth day-to-day operation of the nursing function with high clinical standards
• Collaborate with the Practice Director and Lead Vet as part of the leadership team
• Provide hands-on clinical leadership and mentoring for the team
• Support Student Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Care Assistants through coaching
• Champion infection control and continuous quality improvement

Skills

Leadership

Nursing skills

RCVS registration

Clinical governance

Staff development

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 Wellpets - Yeovil & Worle on a full-time basis.

Wellpets is a thriving small animal practice with branches in Yeovil and Worle, supported by a dedicated team that genuinely cares about its patients, clients and colleagues. We are committed to creating a positive workplace where individuals can grow, develop and enjoy a rewarding career whilst providing the best care for our patients.

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 and supporting the delivery of high-quality patient and client care.

You'll be responsible for setting and maintaining nursing standards, leading clinical governance and quality improvement activity, 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

• 40 hours per week
• 4 days per week in Yeovil and 1 day per week in Worle
• 1 in 3 Saturday mornings at Yeovil (8:30am to 1pm)
• No out-of-hours requirement

Key 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 Practice Director and Lead Vet 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...

You Are An Experienced And Confident Registered Veterinary Nurse With Strong Leadership Capability And a Passion For Clinical Excellence. You'll Bring

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Significant experience in clinical practice with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills
• Proven experience of 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

At inspiring vet care, we're committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you'll benefit from:

• 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 our 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 annual leave accrued through 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 24hrs paid leave
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you, including 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.

£0 - £0 a year

Up to £41,000 per year DOE

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.