Head Veterinary Nurse - Small Animal

IVC Evidensia UK; Whitfield; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A veterinary care organization in Whitfield is seeking a Head Veterinary Nurse to lead a team and oversee clinical procedures. The role involves creating rotas, managing patient care, and supporting nursing development. The ideal candidate is a Registered Veterinary Nurse with leadership skills, offering a salary of up to £35,000. Benefits include private medical insurance and a competitive CPD allowance.

Benefits

6.6 weeks annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

£550 CPD allowance

Company pension scheme

Discounted treatment for pets

Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Nurse with a passion for veterinary care.
• Experience in leading a team and managing nursing staff.
• Strong knowledge of clinical protocols and practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the nursing team, providing guidance.
• Create nursing team shift and role rotas.
• Oversee patient care and ensure best practice in nursing.
• Assist in managing clinical and operational procedures.
• Perform a wide range of nursing duties including surgeries.

Skills

Leadership skills

Clinical expertise in veterinary care

Team management

Ability to create SOPs

Effective communication skills

Education

Registered Veterinary Nurse qualification

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head Veterinary Nurse to join our supportive team at White Cliffs Vets. You will play a key role in overseeing the nursing team and ensuring best practices are followed.

You will lead by example, driving high standards of care, creating nursing team shift and role rotas, setting up and reviewing SOPs, supporting CPD development, and providing ongoing support to the nursing and wider practice teams.

Responsibilities

• Leading and managing the nursing team, providing guidance and support


• Creating nursing team shift and role rotas, managing holiday requests


• Overseeing patient care to ensure best practice in all nursing aspects


• Assisting in managing clinical and operational procedures, including stock control and clinical protocols


• Performing a wide range of nursing duties, including surgeries, consultations, and inpatient care


• Collaborating closely with the Leadership team and veterinary team to improve operational efficiency and patient care

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about developing people, improving systems, and strengthening practices through effective leadership. It is your chance to influence positive change and grow within a supportive and forward-thinking environment. You will also work collaboratively with other practices in the area, sharing ideas, resources and offering support.

About Us

White Cliffs vets is a spacious small animal practice situated in a beautiful part of Kent near to the White Cliffs of Dover, with easy access to mainland Europe via ferry from the port of Dover. It is surrounded by beautiful coastline and countryside and nearby is the historic city of Canterbury, offering a wide variety of shops, bars and restaurants as well as cinemas and a theatre. We have a large waiting room with separate cat and dog areas, 4 consulting rooms, a dedicated nurse consult room, internal lab, prep room including dental area, large theatre and separate cat and dog wards along with separate isolation facilities.

We have a skilled and close-knit nursing team comprising of 4 Registered Veterinary Nurses and one Year 3 Student Veterinary Nurse, working a mixture of full-time and part-time hours. As Head Veterinary Nurse, you will play a vital role in leading this team, maintaining high clinical standards, and delivering exceptional care to our patients and clients.

Our vet team is comprised of 3 experienced vets, one of whom is just embarking on a surgery certificate and supported by a Lead Vet from a sister practice in the area. We have two reception colleagues and a Director of Practice. The practice has a caring and supportive culture with plenty of opportunity to learn from senior and visiting colleagues and we encourage the sharing of CPD to ensure that we are delivering the best care for our patients and clients.

The welfare of our team is very important to us and we strive to provide a good work/life balance and supportive environment.

Working hours

Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM or 8:20 AM – 6:20 PM, with one weekday off per week. Includes one Saturday morning in four (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM).

Because our people matter

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from:

• 6.6 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays

Wellbeing

• Private Medical Insurance


• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline


• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay


• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing

Development

• £550 CPD allowance with 24 hours paid CPD leave pro rata


• Certificate support


• Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy


• Access to Vetlexicon – our online encyclopaedia provider


• All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding


• Infection Prevention and Control Programme


• Quality Improvement Programme

Professional Memberships

• VDS cover


• RCVS fees

Colleague Benefits

• Company pension scheme. IVC Evidensia will make a contribution as well


• Supporting a greener commute to work with a Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria


• Voluntary benefits: we give you the flexibility to choose from a range of voluntary benefits to suit you


• Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers


• Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice

Salary of up to £35,000 pa DOE