Head Veterinary Nurse

Inspiring Vet Care; Oakham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks' annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Pension scheme

CPD allowance: £550 + 24 hours paid

RCVS and VDS fees covered

Career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Inspiring Vet Care’s Oakham Veterinary Hospital seeks a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to lead a 14-strong RVN team and out-of-hours staff. The role blends clinical nursing and leadership, supervising three Senior RVNs and shaping nursing culture across the practice.

We offer a clear leadership pathway, extensive facilities and opportunities to develop in a first-opinion hospital with referral services and a strong university affiliation.

Qualifications

• Head Nurse level with leadership responsibility over a team of RVNs.
• Experience in clinical nursing and leadership within a veterinary hospital.
• Open to experienced Head Nurses or ambitious Senior RVNs seeking progression.

Responsibilities

• Oversee rotas and staffing for the nursing team.
• Manage stock, procurement and budget for nursing supplies.
• Drive performance, training and development across the team.

Skills

Leadership

RVN (Registered Veterinary Nurse)

Team management

Clinical nursing

Education

RVN Registration

Leadership training

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.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to join the team at Oakham Veterinary Hospital, part of Inspiring Vet Care. With a varied hospital caseload, a dedicated out-of-hours team providing inpatient care, and a large, experienced nursing team, this role offers the perfect blend of clinical nursing and leadership. We are open to applications from experienced Head Nurses as well as ambitious Senior RVNs who are ready to take the next step in their career.

Oakham Veterinary Hospital is a long-established small animal practice on the outskirts of Oakham, Rutland. Our purpose-built hospital offers extensive facilities and diagnostic equipment, providing a varied and rewarding environment for nurses who enjoy being involved in all aspects of veterinary nursing.

We have a clinical association with the University of Nottingham Vet School, giving us access to leading specialists. Across the clinical team, we have certificate holders in small animal surgery, medicine, cardiology and advanced nursing, including anaesthesia. While we are a first opinion practice, we also offer referral services for cardiology and have a visiting orthpaedic surgeon which enables us to accept a wider range of complex cases.

Practice Highlights

• Long-established small animal hospital on the outskirts of Oakham, Rutland
• Purpose-built premises with extensive facilities and diagnostic equipment
• Equipment includes CT, ultrasonography, dental radiography and diathermy
• Opportunity to support procedures including laparoscopic bitch spays and complex orthopaedic surgeries
• Clinical association with the University of Nottingham Vet School
• Certificate holders across surgery, medicine, cardiology, orthopaedics and advanced nursing

How You’ll Make a Difference

This is a highly visible role where you'll have the opportunity to shape the culture, development and success of a nursing team of 14 RVNs, student nurses and out-of-hours colleagues. Working closely with three experienced Senior RVNs, you'll lead by example, supporting and motivating the team while ensuring exceptional patient care remains at the heart of everything we do.

The role is split between clinical and leadership responsibilities, although the balance will flex to meet the needs of the team and hospital. Alongside hands‑on nursing, you'll oversee rotas, stock management, performance and team development, while maintaining a strong presence across all areas of the practice.

Working Pattern

• 40 hours per week over 4 or 5 days
• Shifts will typically between 7:30am and 8:30pm
• Occasional weekend and OOH cover will be required to support with absence and also to ensure visibility across the whole nursing team.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

We're looking for a positive, proactive and emotionally intelligent leader who enjoys bringing people together, communicating clearly and creating an environment where teams can thrive. You'll be confident in making decisions, keen to drive improvements and committed to supporting colleagues to achieve their full potential. Experience in a leadership role would be advantageous, but just as important is the enthusiasm, resilience and ambition to step into a position where you can make a lasting impact. With the support of an experienced senior nursing team and the wider Inspiring Vet Care network, this is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of a thriving veterinary hospital while continuing to develop your own career.

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
• 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 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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analysing 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.

£36,000-40,000 DOE