Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

This is a four-day week position (Wednesdays off) offering genuine flexibility in a historic market town setting. You will lead the nursing team at Goddard's Kingston practice, a period building with dental facilities and digital x-ray technology. The spacious consulting room overlooks a garden, and a dedicated colleague area with natural light provides space to recharge between patients.

You will work alongside a full-time sole charge vet and support a veterinary nursing assistant through their training. The practice has built a deeply loyal client base over decades, many returning since the 1990s. Your OOH commitment is manageable: a 1:4 branch Saturday rotation, 1:10 Saturdays at Stone Lion 24-hour hospital in Wimbledon (which provides backup for complex cases), and up to 2 bank holidays per year at Stone Lion. Critically, there are no on-call requirements.

Kingston offers genuine lifestyle appeal: just a 6-minute walk from Norbiton train station, 50 minutes to central London, and a 10-minute walk to Richmond Park and the River Thames. Shared accommodation above the practice is available if needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead nursing care in a sole charge branch environment, supporting clinical decision-making and patient safety
• Mentor and develop the veterinary nursing assistant, fostering their professional growth
• Perform routine nursing duties including pre and post-operative care, anaesthesia support, and dental nursing
• Manage practice records, cleaning, sterilisation, and clinical administration
• Provide continuity of care for the practice's established and loyal client base
• Contribute to Stone Lion weekend rotas when scheduled

Requirements

• Current RCVS registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse
• Experience working in small animal general practice (sole charge or lead nursing experience preferred)
• Strong clinical nursing skills and knowledge of best practice protocols
• Ability to mentor and support junior nursing staff
• Professional communication and reliable attendance

Benefits

• Salary: £35,000 to £39,000 FTE depending on experience
• 6.6 weeks annual leave including bank holidays
• 2 days paid CPD leave per year plus annual CPD budget
• Paid 30-minute lunch breaks
• RCVS and BVNA fees covered by the practice
• Private medical insurance scheme available at reduced rate, plus medical cashback for dental, physiotherapy, optician, and chiropractic care
• Colleague introduction rewards
• Shopping and Petplan discounts (20% colleague discount)
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
• Relocation assistance where applicable
• Access to shared accommodation above the practice if required

About the Practice

Goddard Veterinary Group celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022 and now operates 46 branches, three hospitals, and its own nurse training college (GVNC). The Kingston branch is an established small animal GP practice within this supportive corporate environment. The practice is part of the VetPartners family and is RCVS accredited.

The group prioritises colleague wellbeing through a Colleague Forum, monthly Town Hall meetings with the board, mental health first aid training for senior managers, and wellness plans for all new starters. This role offers the stability and professional development of a larger group alongside the intimate, personal feel of a well-established branch practice.