About the Role
You'll be joining Wellpet Vets' small animal team as Head Veterinary Nurseāa senior clinical leadership position where you'll shape nursing standards, mentor a capable team, and drive quality improvement across the practice. Based primarily at the main Shenley site with weekend shifts at the Edgware consult-only branch, this role combines hands-on clinical work with strategic nursing leadership in a genuinely supportive environment.
The team here is tight-knit: three vets, one experienced RVN, three SVNs, and a welcoming reception team. Work is shared fairly, and the practice actively tailors cases to individual interests wherever possible. You'll work a 38-hour week spread across 4ā5 days (shifts between 8:30 am and 8 pm), with a manageable 1:4 weekend rota covering Saturday mornings at Shenley and Sunday mornings at Edgware. Wednesday availability is required. The practice is well-equipped with ultrasound, digital x-ray, and IDEXX in-house laboratory facilities.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct nursing consults and lead clinical nursing care across the practice
- Provide senior clinical and professional leadership to the nursing team (one RVN and three SVNs)
- Set and maintain high nursing standards, ensuring consistent quality of patient and client care
- Lead clinical governance and quality improvement activity
- Develop, mentor, and support the nursing team to build confidence and capability
- Assist vets in theatre and surgical operations
- Work closely with practice leadership to shape culture, performance, and ways of working
- Share expertise and dynamic skillset with nursing colleagues across both sites
Requirements
- Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
- Significant experience in small animal clinical practice with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills
- Proven track record of leading, mentoring, and developing nursing teams
- Strong understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement, and professional standards
- Excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills
- Confidence and clinical expertise to guide and support colleagues
Benefits
- Leave: 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off, with increasing allowance based on length of service
- Family Support: Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
- Development: Ā£550 CPD allowance plus 24 hours paid leave; certificate support; RCVS and VDS fees covered
- Health & Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare Cash Plan, Cycle to Work scheme
- Pension: Workplace pension scheme
- Career: Clear progression pathways into wider practice leadership roles; ongoing learning and development in governance and strategic growth
- Perks: Discounted veterinary care; voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to hundreds of retailers for discounts and cashback
- Culture: A collaborative, values-led environment focused on care, community, and continuous improvement
About the Practice
Wellpet Vets is a small animal practice serving Shenley with a friendly, collaborative team culture. The practice features modern clinical facilities including ultrasound, digital x-ray, and IDEXX laboratory machines, enabling high-quality diagnostics and treatment. With two locationsāthe main site in Shenley and a consult-only branch in Edgwareāthe practice is well-positioned to offer flexible scheduling while maintaining close teamwork.
Wellpet Vets is part of IVC Evidensia, the UK and Europe's leading veterinary care group comprising over 900 practices and referral hospitals. IVC Evidensia is committed to supporting careers without limitsāinvesting in learning, innovation, and wellbeing to help teams grow in confidence, capability, and fulfilment at every career stage.
