Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

You’ll be joining Vets for Pets Whetstone at an exciting moment—the practice opened its doors in Summer 2025 and is still finding its rhythm. This is a rare opportunity to help establish the team culture and clinical direction from the ground up. The practice operates 6 days a week (Monday–Friday 9am–7pm, Saturday 9am–5pm on a 1:2 weekend rota), with no out-of-hours requirements, giving you genuine control over your work-life balance. Full-time and part-time hours are available, and the team is genuinely open to discussing shift patterns that work for you.

Located in the heart of Whetstone, a pleasant suburban area in the London Borough of Barnet, the practice is surrounded by green spaces and excellent transport links to central London. The neighbourhood combines urban convenience with tranquil charm, making it ideal for both commuters and those seeking a slower pace. You’ll find independent shops, cafes, and excellent amenities locally, plus easy access to parks for an escape from city life.

The facility itself is purpose-built and impressively equipped: digital and dental x-ray facilities, a dedicated theatre, separate cat/dog/isolation wards, and a generous colleague room. This isn’t a cramped converted house—it’s designed for clinical excellence and staff wellbeing alike.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality nursing care across all aspects of small animal practice, with emphasis on excellent patient and client communication
• Support the practice owner’s special interests in cat-friendly protocols, soft tissue surgery, and brachycephalic airway management
• Embrace all elements of the RVN role: clinical nursing, surgical assistance, diagnostics, and preventive care
• Help shape protocols and practices as the team develops—your input will genuinely influence how this new practice evolves
• If you have clinical coaching experience or interest, there’s scope to develop this as the practice grows
• Maintain the high clinical standards expected while contributing to a supportive, collaborative working environment

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) qualification
• Confidence and enthusiasm for small animal first opinion practice
• Proactive, team-focused approach with a willingness to contribute to new practice development
• Strong patient and client care skills
• Clinical coaching experience or interest in mentoring (desirable but not essential)

Benefits

• Salary: Up to £35,000 (full-time equivalent; dependent on experience)
• CPD & Development: Generous CPD allowance plus funding towards certificates; in-house career development opportunities
• Holiday: 5.6 weeks initial, rising to 6.6 weeks after 2 years’ service
• Pension: Contributory scheme
• Professional Fees: Paid membership (RCVS, BVA, VDS)
• Wellbeing Support: Access to Colleague Assistance Programmes including Retail Trust, Port of Call, and Mental Health First Aid support
• Perks: 20% discount at Vets for Pets, Pets at Home, and The Groom Room; cycle to work scheme; access to the Reward Hub
• Flexible Working: Genuine openness to discussing shift patterns and part-time arrangements to support work-life balance

About the Practice

Vets for Pets Whetstone is a newly established small animal practice operating under the Vets for Pets brand (part of the Pets at Home group). The practice owner, Shweta Nakrani, is a postgraduate qualified veterinary surgeon from The University of Liverpool (2011) with special interests in cat-friendly practices, soft tissue surgery, and brachycephalic airway syndrome. She is working towards a Certificate in Veterinary Colourful Consulting (CertNCS). Shweta is intentional about building a team culture that is supportive, proactive, and genuinely happy—creating an environment where team members feel valued and work collaboratively.

The practice is housed in a purpose-built facility designed to meet high clinical standards while providing a pleasant working environment. With modern diagnostic equipment, dedicated surgical and ward facilities, and generous staff amenities, the practice is well-positioned to deliver comprehensive first opinion care. As a new venture, there is genuine opportunity for team input into protocol development and practice direction.