Head Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

Join Bourne Vets as Head Veterinary Nurse and take the helm of a seven-person nursing team in a thriving small animal practice. This full-time or part-time role offers the perfect blend of clinical leadership and hands-on nursing work, with no out-of-hours or on-call commitments. You'll work in a well-equipped countryside practice just 10 minutes from Canterbury, surrounded by a collaborative team of five veterinary surgeons and strong support staff.

Your schedule is flexible: work 32 to 40 hours per week with a 1 in 6 Saturday rota (8am to 5pm) and no night shifts. Regular practice meetings, M&M reviews, and a culture of shared learning ensure continuous professional development and team cohesion.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and support seven nursing team members to maintain high clinical standards and professional conduct
• Conduct one-to-one meetings, performance reviews and biannual appraisals
• Organise and attend nursing and management meetings (some held off-site monthly)
• Plan and manage nursing rotas, holiday cover, sickness cover and payroll inputs
• Support practice improvement initiatives and encourage team involvement in new projects
• Set and maintain nursing standards, lead clinical governance and drive quality improvement activity
• Work closely with the wider practice leadership team to shape culture, performance and ways of working
• Advocate for the nursing team and promote Schedule 3 procedures

Requirements

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Significant experience in clinical practice with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills
• Proven experience leading, mentoring and developing nursing teams
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement and professional standards
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills
• Confidence and passion for clinical excellence

Benefits

• Salary: up to £35,000 FTE depending on experience
• 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus additional leave for your birthday
• Increasing annual leave through length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24 hours paid leave annually
• RCVS and VDS fees covered by the practice
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice and access to hundreds of retail discounts and cashback
• Structured leadership pathways through the Nurse Academy
• Clear career progression into wider practice leadership roles
• No out-of-hours or on-call requirements

About the Practice

Bourne Vets is an independent small animal practice nestled in the Bekesbourne countryside near Canterbury, Kent. The practice is part of inspiring vet care (IVC Evidensia), the UK's leading veterinary care provider, trusted with the care of over 2 million animals. The team comprises five veterinary surgeons (including a Director of Practice and Clinical Services), seven registered veterinary nurses, four receptionists and a practice manager.

The practice is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including X-ray, dental X-ray, laser unit, ultrasound, endoscopy and a dedicated rehabilitation unit with underwater treadmill. Located just 10 minutes from Canterbury city centre and 30 minutes from Dover and Folkestone, the practice offers excellent transport links while maintaining a peaceful countryside setting. A strong emphasis on team welfare, work-life balance and continuous learning through CPD sharing, regular meetings and M&M reviews makes Bourne Vets a supportive environment for professional growth.