Senior Ward Nurse, Clinical Area Lead

About the Role

Pennard Vets is seeking a Senior Ward Nurse to step into a Clinical Area Lead position within its hospital team. The role brings together leadership of the inpatient wards with responsibility for a chosen clinical speciality area, giving you the chance to help develop standards, improve processes and influence the direction of the discipline you lead.

You will work closely with the Hospital Director and Practice Manager, support and mentor colleagues, and contribute to clinical decision-making and service development. The role is based at the Sevenoaks hospital, where first opinion and referral-level care come together in a clinically led setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day running of the inpatient wards.
• Take ownership of a chosen clinical speciality area.
• Develop protocols, processes and service improvements.
• Mentor and support the nursing team.
• Contribute to strategic discussions and practice development.
• Support positive change and new initiatives across the hospital team.
• Work collaboratively across first opinion and referral services.

Requirements

• Qualified and experienced RVN.
• Leadership aspirations and strong clinical skills.
• Confidence mentoring and developing colleagues.
• Comfort implementing improvements and new ways of working.
• Clear, positive communication with colleagues and clients.
• Adaptability when working across first opinion and referral settings.
• Openness to new technology and process improvements.

Benefits

• Salary up to £35,000 DOE.
• Employee ownership within the practice.
• Unlimited CPD, subject to Director approval.
• Support for leadership development and career progression.
• Professional fees paid, including RCVS and VDS.
• Four day working week.
• Five weeks' holiday plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
• Birthday leave when scheduled to work.
• Medicash health cash plan for employees and family members after probation.
• Pension scheme and Group Life Assurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support.
• Access to Vetlife resources.
• Enhanced family leave benefits, subject to service requirements.
• Staff pet healthcare scheme.
• Refer-a-friend bonus scheme.

About the Practice

Pennard Vets is an independent, employee-owned veterinary practice offering first opinion and referral-level care from a purpose-built hybrid hospital in Sevenoaks. The practice takes a clinically led approach and gives team members the chance to influence how services develop and improve.

The hospital facilities listed include three operating theatres, separate dog, cat and exotics wards, a dedicated dental suite, hydrotherapy facilities, CT and MRI imaging, and digital cytology and in-house laboratory facilities. The practice also works closely with South East Veterinary Referrals and on-site specialists.