Inpatient Lead in Bury St Edmunds

This role involves taking the lead for the practice’s inpatient care and diagnostic imaging services.

Our Bury hospital offers a broad range of clinical care, including first opinion services, inpatient care, emergency treatment, and certificate-level referrals, in state-of-the-art facilities.

We’re looking for a confident hospitalist who can lead an enthusiastic team in providing evidence-based care to a range of patients.

Swayne & Partners in Bury St Edmunds is a large, purpose-built practice with extensive facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. In addition to a strong first opinion base, we run a full night service that takes cases from around 25 other local practices, have a high inpatient caseload, and offer a certificate-level referral service in internal medicine, imaging, and orthopaedic surgery.

On-site provision includes:

• Five consult rooms
• Large prep area
• Two sterile operating theatres
• Dental suite (including x-ray)
• Pharmacy
• Two imaging rooms
• Cat and dog wards
• A full isolation ward with separate yard
• Extensive in-house lab including full range of IDEXX blood analysers and Imagyst cytology
• New CT scanner installed last year
• High-quality ultrasound

We are now seeking an Inpatient Lead to provide clinical and operational leadership for our first opinion service, improve our client experience, and support the continued growth and success of the practice.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced small animal vet ready to take the next step into a leadership role, or for an existing clinical leader seeking a new challenge. The role will involve leading on both clinical and operational matters relating to inpatient care, including medical procedures and diagnostic imaging services. You will also be jointly responsible for developing the practice’s referral service, alongside the Surgical Lead. There will be dedicated time set aside for the non-clinical aspects of the role. As part of the practice leadership team, reporting to the Clinical Director and alongside the Head Nurse, Practice Manager and other Service Leads, you will help to set and deliver the practice’s strategic priorities. The role is a new one within the practice, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape and develop it over time.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing and maintaining high, evidence-based clinical standards in our inpatient care and referral services, whilst encouraging a contextualised approach to patient care.
• Leading on clinical governance matters relating to inpatient care, including clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Leading on the use of VetSafe within the practice, collating feedback and presenting findings at clinical meetings.
• Working with the kennel manager to ensure high standards of inpatient nursing.
• Working with the Clinical Director to ensure good billing practices for inpatients, medical procedures and diagnostics.
• Dealing with complaints relating to the above areas of responsibility.
• Participating in the training of our recently graduated vets and student nurses.
• Participating in our out-of-hours rota.

About You:

• RCVS-registered Veterinary Surgeon with a certificate in Internal Medicine or Imaging.
• Confident in the management of a wide variety of inpatients, including those who are critically ill.
• Confident with a variety of medical procedures, including emergency stabilisation techniques, and strong diagnostic imaging skills.
• Excellent communication and team-building skills.
• Passionate about clinical excellence and team development.
• Previous leadership and mentoring experience, including as a VetGDP Adviser, is preferred.
• Experience in performing CT scans would be an advantage. Interpretation is not required.

Salary & Benefits:

• Generous CPD allowance, including support for certificate study.
• RCVS fees & VDS cover paid by practice.
• 5 weeks annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro rata).
• Additional annual leave earned with service.
• 3 weeks occupation sick leave (pro-rata).
• Enhanced pension contributions.
• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave.
• Generous colleague discount scheme for up to 5 registered pets.

Our Group Kin Vet Community is a network of 24 practices across the South and East of England. We are committed to clinical excellence, teamwork and continuous professional development.