Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

The Village Animal Hospital in Caterham is seeking an experienced Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to lead and develop their nursing team. You’ll be based primarily at their spacious, modern facility—an ISFM Gold-accredited and RCVS-approved training practice—though you’ll work across all three group sites. This is a permanent position working 40 hours per week across various shift patterns with a 1:6 weekend rota; TOIL is given the following week.

Caterham is a charming market town in Surrey with excellent transport links and a strong sense of community. The practice handles a diverse range of species including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, and poultry, giving you the chance to apply your nursing skills across different animal types.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead from the front as Head Nurse, providing direction and mentorship to the nursing team
• Manage day-to-day nursing operations and team scheduling across the three practice sites
• Train and develop nursing staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development
• Deliver exceptional animal care standards and ensure compliance with RCVS and practice protocols
• Contribute to practice training initiatives (the practice is RCVS-approved for nurse training)
• Support the clinical team in theatre, consultations, and patient care across multiple species

Requirements

• Current RCVS registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN)
• Proven hospital nursing experience with a track record in delivering high-standard animal care
• Strong leadership capability and experience managing nursing teams
• Ability to work flexibly across multiple practice sites
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills

Benefits

• Salary up to £37,000 DOE (full-time equivalent)
• RCVS fees paid in full
• Generous CPD allowance, plus access to Knowledge Hub, BSAVA library, and funded advanced training
• Excellent Nursing Career Pathway and ongoing professional development
• Up to 33 days holiday annually (with the option to buy/sell additional days)
• Health cash plan and Employee Assistance Programme
• Network of 400 Wellbeing Champions, Pastoral Support Vets, and personal mentors
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Staff pet care discounts: 50% off services, MiPet food, and medications
• Performance-based bonus scheme recognising both practice and individual contribution
• Health Shield support for physical and mental wellbeing
• Monthly line-manager check-ins and regular wellbeing support

About the Practice

The Village Animal Hospital in Caterham is part of CVS Group, one of the UK’s largest veterinary healthcare providers. The practice is ISFM Gold-accredited and an RCVS-approved training practice, reflecting their commitment to high standards and professional development. With state-of-the-art facilities and a spacious hospital environment, they care for a wide range of companion animals and small species.

CVS Group provides comprehensive support to all its practices, including expert HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance, and procurement teams. The group invests significantly in practice facilities and prioritises staff wellbeing, with dedicated Wellbeing Champions and mentoring networks across all sites.