Head Nurse

Take the next step in your nursing career: in an exciting period of expansion, combine clinical expertise with strong leadership, training, and organisational skills to support both the veterinary team and overall client experience, This practice is in a period of expansion and needs the support of a competent, experienced veterinary nurse to be a great addition to the team. Their Crawley branch provides first-class facilities spread over 4 floors, with species specific waiting areas, consult rooms and wards for our feline, canine and exotic patients. As well as this, they offer modern inpatient, surgical and diagnostic facilities for our patients including two theatres complete with laparoscopic equipment, separate dental suite with dental X-ray, digital X-ray suite, Siemens CT scanner, Mi Lab in-house laboratory and even a tortoise hibernation hotel! The Head Veterinary Nurse (HVN) is responsible for leading the nursing team, ensuring high standards of clinical care, and maintaining efficient practice operations. This role combines clinical expertise with strong leadership, training, and organisational skills to support both the veterinary team and overall client experience. Head nursing duties would include:

• Undertake clinical shifts as an RVN
• Assist leadership team with the oversight of day-to-day operations of the practice.
• Organising daily activities and diary management of nursing staff
• Help develop and implement practice protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Lead the recruitment, selection, and induction of veterinary nurse and VNA team members
• Line management of veterinary nurse & VNA teams including supervision/one to one reviews/annual appraisals/return to work interviews/conflict management
• Effectively manage team rotas
• Manage team development including on the job training and the co-ordination of in house/external CPD as required
• Organise, and oversee work experience placements
• Assist with clinical audits, RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) compliance, and quality improvement projects as required
• Assist with clinical stock control ordering, and maintenance of equipment
• Undertake any other duties as directed by the practice manager, branch manager or lead vet as required
  
  Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with up-to-date RCVS registration.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, supervision, or training.
• Strong clinical knowledge, including anaesthesia, inpatient care, and nursing best practice.
• Exceptional communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work calmly in a fast-paced, sometimes high-pressure environment.
Desirable Attributes
• Previous leadership experience, managing a large team
• Certificate qualifications (e.g., anaesthesia, ECC, leadership)
• Experience with RCVS PSS inspections
  
  WhatsApp - Purovets and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our great opportunities.
  
  5 weeks' annual leave, plus bank holidays
• FTE annual salary range £35,360 to £39,770 depending on experience
• RCVS and VDS memberships paid
• Generous CPD budget
• 30-minute paid lunch breaks, and the practice provides lunch on Saturdays
Rota
• 12-month fixed contract, February 2027 to February 2028
• 40 hours per week, in 8-hour shifts
• Maximum of 1:4 weekends with time off in lieu
• Share of future bank holiday shifts (enhanced compensation)
• Mix of clinical and administrative shifts