Head Veterinary Nurse - Maternity Cover

British Veterinary Association; Okehampton; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading veterinary practice in Okehampton is seeking a Head Veterinary Nurse for maternity cover. This full-time role offers the chance to lead a dedicated team, ensuring high standards of clinical care while gaining valuable management experience. The practice provides a supportive environment with opportunities for professional development and career progression. Benefits include funded professional memberships, health plans, and a performance bonus scheme.

Benefits

Professional memberships funded

CPD and further studies encouraged

Workplace pension scheme

Health Shield cash plan

Voluntary Private Medical insurance scheme

Mental Health first aiders

Maternity/Adoption Pay

Paternity Pay and Shared Parental Leave

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted pet treatments and products

Qualifications

• Experience in clinical nursing and management.
• Ability to lead a team and oversee clinical care.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Registered Veterinary Nurses and support staff.
• Conduct clinical nursing duties and manage equipment.
• Attend management meetings and mentor student nurses.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical nursing

Mentoring

Education

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Job description

Head Veterinary Nurse (Maternity Cover) at Okeford Vets

Are you looking for the next step in your career?

Would you like the opportunity to gain management experience in a supportive environment?

At Okeford Vets we have an exciting opportunity for a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join the practice for maternity cover as a Head Veterinary Nurse from June 2025

The practice has a friendly team of vets and nurses working at our Okehampton and Chagford practices and has a varied caseload. The practice has first opinion consultations and surgeries as well as certificate holders in dermatology, surgery and general practice.

The role would involve leading a team of Registered Veterinary Nurses, a Student Veterinary Nurse and Patient Care Assistants to deliver a high standard of care to patients. This full-time, fixed term role would also include 1:5 Saturday shifts.

This would be an excellent opportunity for a Registered Veterinary Nurse with management aspirations, who would like to gain leadership experience in a supportive environment. A generous handover period can be arranged to enable the successful candidate to work alongside the current Head Veterinary Nurse, ensuring a smooth transition into the role.

Duties would include but are not limited to:

• Clinical nursing duties (to include nurse consultations, general anaesthesia, inpatient care etc)
• Leading the nursing team to provide consistently high standards of clinical care
• Overseeing equipment maintenance and stock control
• Mentoring our student veterinary nurse
• 1:1 meetings with team members
• Creating rotas and managing staff shift patterns
• Holding regular nurse meetings
• Attending regular management meetings and working closely with the Clinical Director, Practice Manager and Head Receptionist.
• Keeping up to date with continued professional development and identifying areas for team and practice progression
• Working with the team to prepare for the upcoming RCVS Practice Standards Scheme inspection

In return we offer the following fantastic benefits:

• Professional memberships funded (RCVS & VDS)
• CPD and further studies encouraged - your learning and clinical growth is important to us!
• Workplace pension scheme
• Health Shield cash plan
• Voluntary Private Medical insurance scheme
• Mental Health first aiders - our people are at the heart of what we do, and your health & wellbeing matters!
• Maternity/Adoption Pay – 10 weeks full pay and 10 weeks half pay
• Paternity Pay and Shared Parental Leave
• Fertility & pregnancy loss policy
• Cycle to work scheme, saving 25-39% on a bike and accessories!
• Discounted pet treatments and products
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 365 days a year helpline to support you and your immediate family when you need it the most
• Access to our benefits hub that offers a wide range of discounts available including grocery shopping, gym memberships, technology, gifts and entertainment
• In practice Performance Bonus scheme
• Save as you Earn Scheme (SAYE) – allows you to buy CVS shares at a discounted rate
• Internal career progression and transfers available – with a network of over 500 practices, we can support you should you need to relocate

There are many opportunities and pathways for Nurses within our wider group! If you are looking to progress into leadership or management within a practice or perhaps something remote based, we can support you. We have recently launched “CVS Nursing Career Pathway” with the aim of demonstrating clear career progression for nurses across first opinion, referral and equine practices. You can have lifelong career here, regardless of what your current interest is! Click here to find out more: https://vimeo.com/904977057/532bcae978?share=copy

CVS is committed to being a fully inclusive place to work where all our colleagues are encouraged and supported to be themselves, where difference is celebrated and where everyone feels able to deliver their best. We are also determined to build a workforce that is more representative of our diverse communities and the people we provide our services to.

For more information, contact Leanne Walker on 07585 673443 or [e-mail] or click Apply Now