Head Veterinary Nurse

Purosearch Ltd.; Lewisham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

CPD allowance

Life Assurance

5 weeks annual leave + holidays

Funded certificates

RCVS fees paid

Cycle to Work

Staff discounts

Job summary

Purosearch Ltd. is seeking an experienced Head Registered Veterinary Nurse (Head RVN) for a busy small animal practice in New Cross, South East London.

This hands-on clinical leadership role combines mentorship, clinical excellence and operational oversight, with autonomy to shape standards and support a growing team. You will lead nurse clinics, oversee anaesthesia, theatre and inpatient care, and share responsibility for client care and compliance.

Qualifications

• RCVS registered and eligible to practice
• Senior or leadership experience preferred
• Confident in anaesthesia, theatre and inpatient care
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills
• Passionate about clinical excellence and team development
• Experience in nurse consults and Schedule 3 procedures

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the nursing team
• Run and develop nurse clinics
• Promote Schedule 3 procedures
• Support consultations, surgery and inpatient care
• Monitor anaesthesia and patient recovery
• Managing admissions, discharges and medication checks
• Coordinate day-to-day clinical workflow
• Ensure compliance with clinical and operational standards

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Mentoring

Communication

Education

RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse

Job description

Head Registered Veterinary Nurse (Head RVN) – 4 Day Week

New Cross, Greater London

Competitive Salary DOE | Full-Time | Leadership Opportunity

Role Highlights

• Leadership role in a busy and supportive small animal practice
• Excellent work-life balance with a 4-day working week
• Opportunity to shape clinical standards and develop the nursing team
• 1 in 6 weekends at a nearby 24-hour hospital
• Funded CPD and certificate opportunities
• Ideal for a Senior RVN ready to step into leadership or an experienced Head Nurse seeking a fresh challenge

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse to take on a Head Veterinary Nurse position within a thriving first opinion practice in South East London.

This is a hands-on clinical leadership role where you will work closely with the wider practice team to maintain exceptional standards of patient care, mentor and develop colleagues, and play a key role in the continued growth and success of the practice.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and inspiring the nursing team
• Running and developing nurse clinics
• Promoting Schedule 3 procedures
• Supporting consultations, surgery and inpatient care
• Monitoring anaesthesia and managing patient recovery
• Managing admissions, discharges and medication checks
• Coordinating day-to-day clinical workflow
• Ensuring compliance with all clinical and operational standards

This role offers genuine autonomy, excellent support and the opportunity to make a real impact.

• 4-day working week
• 9.5-hour shifts
• 2 bank holidays per year
• 1 on-call week per year

The Practice & Team

This well-established small animal practice is located in a vibrant and well-connected area of South East London with a loyal and growing client base.

You will be part of a collaborative and supportive team, with access to an extensive clinical network, advanced hospitals and referral services, creating excellent opportunities for professional development and career progression.

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Health Plan from day one
• 24/7 counselling and wellbeing support
• Life Assurance (3x salary)
• 5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service
• Additional days paid leave
• £750 CPD allowance plus 2 paid CPD days
• Funded certificate opportunities
• Internal CPD and access to clinical communities
• RCVS, VDS and BVA fees paid
• Interest-free Season Ticket Loan
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Staff discounts on veterinary services and products

About You

• RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse
• Previous senior or leadership experience preferred
• Confident in all aspects of nursing, including anaesthesia, theatre and inpatient care
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills
• Passionate about clinical excellence and team development
• Experienced in nurse consults and Schedule 3 procedures