Head Veterinary Nurse

IVC Evidensia UK; Shenley; On-site; GBP 32,400 - 39,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks annual leave plus a birthday off

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Private Medical Insurance

Employee wellbeing initiatives

CPD allowance plus paid leave

RCVS and VDS fees covered

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Voluntary benefits including Green Cars scheme

Job summary

IVC Evidensia UK is seeking a knowledgeable Head Veterinary Nurse for Wellpet Vets in Shenley, England. In this full-time role, you will provide leadership for the nursing team, ensuring high standards of patient care and overseeing all nursing aspects of the practice. The position requires significant clinical experience with an emphasis on leadership and governance. You will enjoy a supportive team atmosphere with numerous benefits including competitive salary and extensive leave.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in clinical practice.
• Proven experience of leading and mentoring nursing teams.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance and quality improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical and professional leadership for the nursing team.
• Oversee all nursing aspects of the practice.
• Support the delivery of high-quality patient and client care.
• Ensure high standards of patient care.

Skills

Clinical excellence

Leadership capability

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Advanced medical and surgical nursing skills

Education

Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS

Job description

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

At Wellpet Vets, you’ll be joining a close‑knit and supportive team of three receptionists, three vets, one RVN, and three SVNs.

Work is shared evenly across the team, and we aim to tailor appointments and surgical cases to individual interests within our vet and nursing teams wherever possible. Our practice is well‑equipped, with facilities including ultrasound, digital x‑ray, and IDEXX in‑house laboratory machines.

This role is primarily based at our main site in Shenley, with weekend shifts at our consult‑only branch in Edgware.

IVC Evidensia is the UK and Europe’s leading veterinary care group, made up of over 900 practices and referral hospitals, united by a shared purpose of happier animals, happier owners.

At IVC Evidensia, we believe careers should be built without limits. Our people are supported to make more clinical impact, access more career opportunities, and play an active role in their local and professional communities. Through investment in learning, innovation, and wellbeing, we create environments where our teams can grow in confidence, capability, and fulfilment—at every stage of their career.

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.

General Responsibilities

• Nurse consults
• Assisting Vets in theatre and operations
• Ensuring high standards of patient care
• Share expertise and dynamic skillset with the other members of the nursing team

This role is based on a 38‑hour working week, spread across 4 or 5 days, with shifts ranging between 8:30 am and 8 pm. The position includes participation in a 1 in 4 weekend rota, consisting of Saturdays at Shenley (9:15 am‑1:15 pm) and Sundays at our Edgware branch (9:15 am‑1:15 pm). Availability to work Wednesdays is required.

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

• A senior leadership role with accountability for nursing standards and team development
• Clear career pathways 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 plus a birthday off
• 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 a Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24 hrs paid leave
• Certificate support
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you, including a Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analysing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgement. 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 £36,000 DOE