Head RVN - Surgery

About the Role

Join Blaise Referrals as Surgery Clinical Team Leader, a senior nursing leadership position within a world-class multidisciplinary referral hospital. You'll lead a team of 9 nurses and veterinary care assistants across Soft Tissue and Orthopaedics, reporting to the Clinical Nursing Manager. This full-time role offers 40 hours over 4 days, working between 7am and 8pm, giving you genuine work-life balance alongside complex, rewarding surgical cases.

Located in Longbridge, Birmingham, Blaise treats up to 10,000 pets annually with state-of-the-art equipment. The practice is part of inspiring vet care, the UK's leading veterinary provider. You'll work closely with discipline specialists and interns across Soft Tissue, Orthopaedics and Neurology, managing urgent referrals and interdisciplinary transfers.

Key Responsibilities

• Line manage a team of 9 nurses and VCAs, overseeing performance reviews and professional development
• Plan and oversee day-to-day running of the surgery service, ensuring timely completion of procedures
• Coordinate with the Clinical Floor Coordinator to optimise resource allocation and maintain hospital workflow
• Work collaboratively with specialists and interns to maintain high-quality clinical standards
• Support the development and introduction of new processes that improve and expand the service
• Foster a supportive, friendly working environment that encourages clinical competence and team engagement

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Nurse with RCVS registration
• Significant experience in clinical practice with advanced nursing skills in surgery
• Demonstrable leadership experience including line management, coaching and team development
• Experience working with complex surgical cases in a referral or advanced-care setting
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams
• Commitment to evidence-based practice, clinical governance and continuous improvement
• Further surgical qualification such as a certificate, Advanced Diploma or VTS (desirable)

Benefits

• 6.8 weeks annual leave, increasing with length of service
• £1,250 management and clinical CPD allowance plus 24 hours paid leave for development
• RCVS and VDS fees fully covered
• Private Medical Insurance
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Employee wellbeing initiatives: Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice and access to hundreds of retail discounts
• Clear career pathways and progression opportunities in referral nursing and leadership roles

About the Practice

Blaise Referrals is one of the largest multidisciplinary referral hospitals in the UK, located in Longbridge, Birmingham. Operating as a specialist-led 24-hour emergency and critical care service in partnership with Vets Now, the practice provides referral services across Anaesthesia and Analgesia, Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, ECC, Internal Medicine, Interventional Radiology, Neurology, Oncology, Orthopaedics and Soft Tissue Surgery. The hospital is part of inspiring vet care, which cares for over 2 million animals annually across the UK.

The practice is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities supporting treatment for up to 10,000 pets yearly. The culture is values-led, centred on care, learning and continuous improvement, with a commitment to supporting team development and wellbeing.