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- Tasks: Lead and manage a passionate nursing team, ensuring top-notch patient care.
- Company: Join the supportive team at White Cliffs Vets, part of IVC Evidensia.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and wellness initiatives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in animal care while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in veterinary nursing and strong leadership abilities required.
- Other info: Work-life balance and career growth opportunities in a beautiful Kent location.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 42000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Head Veterinary Nurse – Small Animal role at IVC Evidensia
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head Veterinary Nurse to join our supportive team at White Cliffs Vets. You will play a key role in overseeing the nursing team and ensuring best practices are followed.
You will lead by example, driving high standards of care, creating nursing team shift and role rotas, setting up and reviewing SOPs, supporting CPD development, and providing ongoing support to the nursing and wider practice teams.
Key responsibilities:
- Leading and managing the nursing team, providing guidance and support
- Creating nursing team shift and role rotas, managing holiday requests
- Overseeing patient care to ensure best practice in all nursing aspects
- Assisting in managing clinical and operational procedures, including stock control and clinical protocols
- Performing a wide range of nursing duties, including surgeries, consultations, and inpatient care
- Collaborating closely with the Leadership team and veterinary team to improve operational efficiency and patient care
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about developing people, improving systems, and strengthening practices through effective leadership. It is your chance to influence positive change and grow within a supportive and forward-thinking environment. You will also work collaboratively with other practices in the area, sharing ideas, resources and offering support.
About Us
White Cliffs vets is a spacious small animal practice situated in a beautiful part of Kent near to the White Cliffs of Dover, with easy access to mainland Europe via ferry from the port of Dover. It is surrounded by beautiful coastline and countryside and nearby is the historic city of Canterbury, offering a wide variety of shops, bars and restaurants as well as cinemas and a theatre. We have a large waiting room with separate cat and dog areas, 4 consulting rooms, a dedicated nurse consult room, internal lab, prep room including dental area, large theatre and separate cat and dog wards along with separate isolation facilities.
We have a skilled and close-knit nursing team comprising of 4 Registered Veterinary Nurses and one Year 3 Student Veterinary Nurse, working a mixture of full-time and part-time hours. As Head Veterinary Nurse, you will play a vital role in leading this team, maintaining high clinical standards, and delivering exceptional care to our patients and clients.
Our vet team is comprised of 3 experienced vets, one of whom is just embarking on a surgery certificate and supported by a Lead Vet from a sister practice in the area. We have two reception colleagues and a Director of Practice. The practice has a caring and supportive culture with plenty of opportunity to learn from senior and visiting colleagues and we encourage the sharing of CPD to ensure that we are delivering the best care for our patients and clients.
The welfare of our team is very important to us and we strive to provide a good work/life balance and supportive environment.
Working hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM or 8:20 AM – 6:20 PM, with one weekday off per week. Includes one Saturday morning in four (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM).
Because our people matter:
We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from:
- Work-life balance: 6.6 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
Wellbeing:
- Private Medical Insurance
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline
- Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
- Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
Development:
- £550 CPD allowance with 24 hours paid CPD leave pro rata
- Certificate support
- Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
- Access to Vetlexicon – our online encyclopaedia provider
- All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding
- Infection Prevention and Control Programme
- Quality Improvement Programme
Professional Memberships:
- VDS cover
- RCVS fees
Colleague Benefits:
- Company pension scheme. IVC Evidensia will make a contribution as well
- Supporting a greener commute to work with a Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria
- Voluntary benefits: we give you the flexibility to choose from a range of voluntary benefits to suit you
- Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers
- Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice
Salary of up to £35,000 pa DOE
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Head Veterinary Nurse - Small Animal employer: IVC Evidensia
Contact Detail:
IVC Evidensia Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Veterinary Nurse - Small Animal
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the veterinary field, attend local events, and join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to veterinary nursing. Role-play with a friend or family member to build your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for animal care during interviews. Share stories about your experiences, whether it’s a challenging case you handled or a time you went above and beyond for a pet. This will help you stand out!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our practice.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Veterinary Nurse - Small Animal
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head Veterinary Nurse role. Highlight your leadership experience, clinical skills, and any relevant certifications. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for veterinary nursing and how you plan to lead our team at White Cliffs Vets. Let us know why you're the perfect fit for this exciting opportunity.
Showcase Your Team Spirit: We value collaboration, so don’t forget to mention your experience working with teams. Talk about how you've supported your colleagues in the past and how you plan to foster a supportive environment at our practice.
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at IVC Evidensia
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your veterinary nursing knowledge, especially around best practices and clinical protocols. Familiarise yourself with the specific responsibilities of a Head Veterinary Nurse, as well as the values and culture of IVC Evidensia. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and alignment with their mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head Veterinary Nurse, you'll be leading a team, so be prepared to discuss your leadership style and experiences. Think of examples where you've successfully managed a team or improved processes. Highlight how you can drive high standards of care and support your colleagues in their professional development.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the practice, the team dynamics, and opportunities for CPD. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the practice is the right fit for you.
✨Be Yourself
While it's important to be professional, don't forget to let your personality shine through. The team at White Cliffs Vets values a caring and supportive culture, so being authentic will help you connect with them. Share your passion for animal care and how you envision contributing to their team.
