Registered Veterinary Nurse (Maternity Cover)

About the Role

Avonvale Veterinary Centres is looking for a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join the Heathcote branch on a part-time maternity cover basis. This is a Fixed-term contract working 17.5 hours across 2 days per week, you’ll be part of a skilled nursing team in a primary care setting where nursing is properly utilised—from consults to Schedule 3 procedures. This isn’t a backroom-only role; you’ll have genuine job satisfaction and real variety in your working day.

The practice has over 40 years’ experience across seven Warwickshire branches, and the nursing team includes colleagues with impressive longevity (some over 35 years with the practice). You’ll work with vets holding various RCVS certificates in surgery, imaging, and medicine, exposing you to a wide range of cases and advanced techniques. Out-of-hours work is part of the role on a relaxed rota—you can choose between nights or weekends, based at the Warwick hospital when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver nursing care across a broad range of small animal cases, from routine consults to advanced procedures
• Assist with Schedule 3 controlled drug administration and record keeping
• Support surgical and imaging procedures, utilising your knowledge of anaesthesia and monitoring
• Contribute to the high standards of patient care alongside Patient Care Assistants
• Participate in out-of-hours cover on a shared rota (choice of nights or weekends)
• Engage in your areas of interest—whether anaesthesia, emergency care, client communication, or behaviour—and grow alongside the experienced team
• Work as part of a multi-site group with access to referral expertise and continuing education

Requirements

• Current RCVS Registration as a Veterinary Nurse
• Genuine passion for small animal nursing and patient care
• Self-motivation and reliability, with your own transport
• Flexibility to participate in out-of-hours duties (nights or weekends)
• Ability to work as part of a collaborative team

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £29,993 FTE (£13,121 pro rata), with OOH paid in addition to salary
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• RCVS and VDS registration fees paid
• External CPD funded; extensive free Linnaeus CPD programme delivered by specialists and referral teams (online and in-person)
• Nurse certificate funding for professional development
• Private healthcare
• Enhanced sickness pay and enhanced family leave
• Staff discount schemes and recruitment reward scheme
• Wellness programme: employee assistance programme, eyecare vouchers, free annual flu jab, cycle-to-work scheme
• Mental Health First Aiders across the practice and central support
• Career progression opportunities within the Linnaeus group
• Relaxed OOH rotas: 1:13 weekend, 1:10 nights, 1:8 Saturday PM, 1:7 Saturday mornings (branch-dependent)

About the Practice

Avonvale Veterinary Centres is a group of seven primary care practices based across Warwickshire, part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health. With over 40 years’ experience, the team is committed to high-quality small animal care and ongoing professional development. The nursing team is particularly skilled, with expertise across anaesthesia, emergency and client care, and behaviour—creating a culture of learning and specialisation. The practice is supported by dedicated Patient Care Assistants and backed by Linnaeus’s centralised clinical support and CPD resources.