Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

This is a fixed-term maternity cover opportunity for a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join Avonvale Veterinary Centres’ Heathcote branch. You’ll work two days per week (17.5 hours) within a skilled nursing team that prides itself on full nurse utilisation—meaning you’ll conduct nursing consults, manage Schedule 3 procedures, and be exposed to a wide variety of advanced cases and techniques. The role includes some out-of-hours commitments on a relaxed rota, with flexibility to choose between night or weekend shifts.

Avonvale operates seven primary care practices across Warwickshire with over 40 years’ experience. The practice is known for its longevity and expertise—some team members have been with them for 35+ years—and their team includes nurses with specialist interests in anaesthesia, emergency and critical care, and behaviour. You’ll work alongside vets holding multiple RCVS certificates in surgery, imaging, and medicine, meaning fewer referrals and more diverse cases to learn from.

Out-of-hours work is based at the Warwick hospital and operates on a 1:13 weekend rota, 1:10 nights rota, 1:8 Saturday afternoons, and 1:7 Saturday mornings (depending on branch requirements).

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct nursing consults and provide Schedule 3 support as part of full nurse utilisation model
• Assist in a wide range of surgical, diagnostic, and medical procedures reflecting the practice’s advanced case load
• Support the skilled team of vets and fellow nurses in delivering high standards of patient care
• Contribute to patient care planning and post-operative monitoring
• Share out-of-hours responsibilities on a flexible rota (nights or weekends, at Warwick hospital)
• Collaborate with Patient Care Assistants to maintain excellence in patient care standards

Requirements

• RCVS registration as a Veterinary Nurse
• Self-motivated and keen to develop skills alongside an experienced team
• Own transport (essential for out-of-hours work)
• Flexibility to work out-of-hours on a rota basis

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £29,993 per annum (pro rata), with out-of-hours paid on top
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Nurse certificate funding
• External CPD funded, plus extensive free Linnaeus CPD programme delivered by specialists and referral teams (online and in-person)
• Private healthcare
• Enhanced sickness pay and enhanced family leave
• Staff discount schemes and recruitment reward scheme
• Wellness programme including employee assistance programme, eyecare voucher scheme, free annual flu jab, and cycle-to-work scheme
• Mental Health First Aider support and confidential EAP available
• Career progression opportunities within Linnaeus group

About the Practice

Avonvale Veterinary Centres is a respected group of seven primary care practices serving Warwickshire, part of the Linnaeus group. With over 40 years’ experience, the practice is staffed by RCVS-qualified vets and nurses dedicated to small animal care. The team includes multiple certificate holders in surgery, imaging, and medicine, enabling them to manage a diverse range of cases in-house with fewer referrals. The practice is known for investing in staff development and fostering long-term team loyalty.

Linnaeus is a forward-thinking partnership of primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, united by a commitment to excellence and a passion for ‘A Better World for Pets’. The group supports practices across small animal, farm, and equine sectors and provides robust central support including mental health resources and professional development opportunities.