Head Veterinary Nurse - Equine

Donnington Grove Veterinary Group; Newbury; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Pension scheme

Discounted veterinary care

CPD allowance

Job summary

Donnington Grove Vets in Newbury, a large equine hospital and ambulatory practice, is seeking an Equine Head Veterinary Nurse to lead our nursing team and deliver high-quality patient and client care.

You’ll provide senior clinical leadership, set nursing standards, drive governance and development, and work with the wider practice leadership to shape culture and performance. 40 hours per week, Mon-Fri 8am–8:30pm, no weekend work, OOH rota when required.

Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Significant leadership experience in nursing teams
• Strong clinical governance and quality improvement knowledge
• Excellent communication and organizational skills

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical and professional leadership for the nursing team
• Oversee nursing standards and governance
• Develop a capable, confident nursing team
• Collaborate with practice leadership to shape culture and performance
• Manage rosters and 121 meetings and lead yard and theatre support teams
• Support Vets with queries and mentor students

Skills

RCVS registration

Leadership experience

Equine nursing expertise

Clinical governance

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 a knowledgeable, confident Equine Head Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Donnington Grove Vets on a full-time basis. The ideal person will be a team player who has a passion for leadership and can manage our fantastic team to a high standard.

Donnington Grove Vets is a large equine hospital and ambulatory practice based in Newbury, providing first opinion, referral and emergency services. Our impressive facilities include a full surgical suite, advanced diagnostic imaging including MRI, CT, bone scan and an on-site laboratory.

With a strong reputation for clinical excellence and specialist-led care, we manage a varied caseload ranging from sports and leisure horses through to racehorses and foals.

Our nursing team is a huge part of what makes the practice special. You'll work alongside colleagues at a range of experience levels, from pre-trainees through to fully qualified RVNs, as well as dedicated yard and theatre support teams. This structure provides an excellent environment for collaboration, mentoring and continued professional development.

How You'll Make a Difference

As an Equine 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
• Monday - Friday working shifts between 8 am - 8:30 pm with a one-hour lunch
• No weekend work
• Participation in the OOH rota when required is essential; this will include both summer bank holidays and Christmas/New Year

Key Responsibilities

• Act as go-to person for nursing team, whilst also overseeing the ECA's and Yard Team - covering rotas, holding 121 meetings, leading practice standards
• Assist vets with queries and support students with admin duties
• Daily drug ordering, equipment maintenance and act as RPS for scintigraphy and radiography
• Clinical work as 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
• Ability to handle challenging conversations when required

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
• 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 £40,000 DOE