Head Veterinary Nurse

VC Evidensia UK; Ware; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks' annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

CPD allowance + 24hrs paid leave

RCVS and VDS fees covered

Discounted veterinary care

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Walton Lodge Vets in Ware is seeking a Head Veterinary Nurse to lead the nursing team, provide senior clinical leadership, and help shape day-to-day running of the practice.

You’ll drive nursing standards, quality improvement and clinical coaching for SVNs and developing nurses, partnering with the veterinary team to deliver high‑quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS.
• Experience leading or managing nursing teams.
• Strong clinical knowledge and coaching skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the nursing team, including rota management and delegation of shift responsibilities.
• Provide clinical coaching, mentoring and support to students and developing nurses.
• Work closely with veterinary surgeons to support clinical decision-making and day-to-day running of the practice.
• Help coordinate the operational direction of the practice.
• Take responsibility for nursing care across a varied first-opinion caseload with high clinical standards.
• Support health, safety, fire safety and compliance across the practice.
• Contribute to ongoing development of patient care and continuous improvement.

Skills

RCVS registration

Leadership experience

Clinical governance

Mentoring & coaching

Job description

Walton Lodge Vets - Ware, Ware, South East

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 Walton Lodge Vets on a full-time basis

Founded in 2000 by Helen Lee BVSc, MRCVS and Rodney Pugh, Walton Lodge has grown into a trusted veterinary group with six surgeries across Bengeo, Bishop’s Stortford, Harlow, Hoddesdon, Stevenage and Ware. Proud to be RCVS-accredited, we’re committed to maintaining consistently high standards of clinical care across all our sites.

We’re looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Registered Veterinary Nurse to step into a Head Nurse role, combining your strong clinical knowledge with a passion for leadership, team development and delivering excellent patient care. You’ll ideally have previous experience of leading or managing a team and enjoy supporting colleagues to develop their skills and confidence, including mentoring students and providing clinical coaching. This is a great opportunity for an experienced HVN or an established RVN who is ready to take the next step in their career and play a key role in supporting the nursing team, driving clinical standards and helping shape the day-to-day running of the practice.

Practice Highlights

• Joining 3 Veterinary Surgeons, 2 Registered Veterinary Nurses, 2 Student Veterinary Nurses, 3 Receptionists and 1 Veterinary Care Assistant
• Well-equipped with up-to-date facilities, including dental x-ray, ultrasound and orthopaedic theatre, allowing us to deliver a high standard of care and carry out a wide range of procedures in-house

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
• Either work a 4 or 5-day week covering shifts between 7:30 am - 7:30 pm

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the nursing team, including rota management and effective delegation of shift responsibilities
• Provide clinical coaching, mentoring and support to SVN students and developing nurses
• Work closely with veterinary surgeons to support clinical decision‑making and the smooth day-to-day running of the practice
• Help coordinate the operational direction of the practice
• Take responsibility for nursing care across a varied first‑opinion caseload, maintaining high clinical standards
• Support general health and safety, fire safety and compliance across the practice
• Contribute to the ongoing development of patient care and continuous improvement within the practice

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
• 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.

Walton Lodge Vets - Ware

9 The Green, Kings Hill, Ware, SG12 0QW, United Kingdom

At IVC Evidensia we are a committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long‑term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.