Head Veterinary Nurse

Virginia Water Veterinary Clinic; Virginia Water; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks' annual leave

Birthday leave

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Private Medical Insurance

Cycle to Work scheme

£550 CPD allowance

RCVS and VDS fees covered

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Job summary

Virginia Water Veterinary Clinic in Surrey is seeking a Head Veterinary Nurse to provide senior clinical leadership for the nursing team and oversee all nursing aspects of the practice.

You will set and maintain nursing standards, drive governance and quality improvement, mentor colleagues, and play a key role in shaping culture and service delivery while enjoying a senior leadership role with opportunities for professional development. This is a full-time role based at our clinic.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and develop the nursing team, promoting high clinical standards.
• Support the smooth day‑to‑day running of back‑of‑house clinical areas.
• Deliver hands‑on nursing care across theatre, inpatient care, and nurse consultations.
• Help mentor and guide colleagues, including students and less experienced team members.
• Insurance claim processing.
• Stock level controls.

Skills

RCVS registration

Advanced nursing skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Governance & QA

Communication

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 an enthusiastic, team-orientated Head Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Virginia Water Veterinary Clinic on a full‑timebasis.

We are a friendly, newly established small animal practice based in the beautiful surroundings of Virginia Water, Surrey. Conveniently located right by the train station, we offer excellent transport links to London, as well as easy access to the local woodland and surrounding countryside. Staff parking is also available.

Our brand‑new practice is currently home to a small, close‑knit team, including one Vet, a Head Nurse, RVN, Practice Director and two Receptionists, with exciting plans to expand the team as the practice continues to grow. We are well equipped with an on‑site laboratory, X‑ray and ultrasound, alongside visiting specialist surgeons who provide laparoscopic spays, orthopaedic procedures and ophthalmology services.

We pride ourselves on building strong relationships with our clients and patients, which has helped us develop an excellent local reputation and a loyal client base. As we grow, we are looking to introduce an Animal Nursing Assistant and offer SVN placement opportunities, making this an exciting time to join the team. We would particularly welcome an RVN with an interest in clinical coaching, or someone who already holds Clinical Coach training, to help support the development of future student nurses.

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
• Working either 4/5 days, covering shifts between 8:30 am - 7:30 pm on a rota basis
• 1:4 Saturdays 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, with TOIL

General Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and develop the nursing team, promoting high clinical standards
• Support the smooth day‑to‑day running of back‑of‑house clinical areas
• Deliver hands‑on nursing care across theatre, inpatient care, and nurse consultations
• Help mentor and guide colleagues, including students and less experienced team members
• Insurance claim processing
• Stock level controls

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
• 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.

Up to £39,000 DOE