Registered Veterinary Nurse Team Leader

PDSA; Basildon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A veterinary charity in Basildon is seeking a Veterinary Nurse Team Leader to oversee a team of nurses and assistants. The role involves delivering high standards of care, managing workflows, and stepping in for the Head Nurse as needed. Ideal candidates will have strong leadership skills and a commitment to teamwork in a busy clinical environment. The position offers 37.5 hours per week with competitive benefits and a focus on professional development.

Benefits

CPD allowance of three days and £500 per year

Payment of RCVS fees

25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays

Generous pension options

AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme

15% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance

Qualifications

• Strong commitment to teamwork and getting things done.
• Ability to manage and support a team effectively.
• Experience in a veterinary clinical environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the nursing team to deliver professional and caring services.
• Support the Head Nurse in managing daily workflows.
• Encourage financial contributions from clients.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Leadership

Education

Registered Veterinary Nurse qualification

Job description

Make a difference every day with PDSA

About Us

Join us to help keep even more people and pets together when times are tough. For over a century, PDSA have provided vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship.

We’re now on a journey to expand our reach to support even more people and their beloved pets. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need passionate and driven individuals who are ready to embrace change and help shape a future-focused PDSA. Together, we’ll build a stronger organisation to ensure our services help those who need us most for the next hundred years.

If you’re ready to make a real difference and be part of a team that’s creating positive change, we want you to join us. Let’s build a brighter future for pets and their owners, together.

About you

We’re looking for an enthusiastic Veterinary Nurse Team Leader to join our friendly team at PDSA Basildon. You’ll be able to demonstrate consistently strong performance, great customer service, and a real commitment to teamwork and getting things done. You’ll thrive in a busy, purpose-led environment where you can make a meaningful difference to pets and owners in the local community.

As a Team Leader, you’ll support the Head Nurse by leading part of the nursing team to deliver efficient, professional and caring services in line with PDSA policies and procedures. You’ll manage a team of 7 Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Care Assistants who support in theatre, provide inpatient care and carry out consults. You’ll help to coordinate the day‑to‑day workflow through the hospital, encourage appropriate financial contributions from clients, and make sure hospital hygiene, cleanliness and equipment standards remain high.

You’ll be a confident, supportive leader who enjoys coaching others, giving clear feedback and leading by example in clinical standards and client care. You’ll be ready to step in and deputise for the Head Nurse when needed, and you’ll play a key role in embedding our Pet Wellbeing services across the hospital, fostering a culture of prevention, education and proactive health care. You’ll value a collaborative, supportive team environment and welcome a varied shift pattern that helps you balance work with life outside of work.

Work pattern & rota

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of our welcoming team at PDSA Basildon. We are offering a full‑time, permanent position of 37.5 hours per week, with a varied shift pattern to provide flexibility.

• Monday to Friday: shifts between 8:00am – 7:00pm (7.5 hours per day)
• Weekends: 1 in 6 rotation, working Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am – 6:00pm, followed by time off in lieu on Monday and Tuesday

About the hospital

PDSA Basildon is a highly collaborative, effective hospital, a great place for teamwork, case discussion and shared learning. Our teams have varied clinical interests, giving you access to a wide pool of knowledge and experience when discussing cases and treatment plans.

Our Pet Hospitals are modern and well‑equipped and include separate dog and cat kennelling facilities, in‑house radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, piped gases and extensive orthopaedic equipment.

Rewards, support and benefits

We’re really passionate about being a great place to work, somewhere people feel proud of what they do, connected to a meaningful purpose, and able to make a genuine difference every day. Our teams are collaborative and supportive, and we encourage everyone to bring their ideas, individuality and passion for pets to work with them.

As well as a rewarding role and a positive, people‑focused culture, we also offer a wide range of benefits, including:

• CPD allowance of three days and £500 per year for development
• Payment of your full RCVS fees, so you’re never out of pocket
• Extensive internal CPD programmes plus discounts for BSAVA Congress and London Vet Show
• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays, with option to buy or sell an extra five days
• Three paid special days off: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day annually
• Generous pension options, with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%
• Life assurance providing four times your annual salary for added peace of mind
• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 wellbeing support
• Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts available through our staff Fetch benefits platform
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you and your family
• 15% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services

To apply for this role, click Apply Now at the top of the page, create a candidate account and complete our simple application form.

PDSA is committed to embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion within our teams that reflect the communities we serve. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and opportunities for flexible working arrangements to support team members from different backgrounds.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss via email or telephone reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the recruitment process.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous. All appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.