Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate nursing team and ensure high-quality patient care.
- Company: Join Wellpet Vets, part of IVC Evidensia, the UK's leading veterinary care group.
- Benefits: Enjoy 6.6 weeks' annual leave, private medical insurance, and a £550 CPD allowance.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with clear career pathways and ongoing development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in animal care while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Must be a Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong leadership and clinical skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 42000 £ per year.
We are seeking a knowledgeable, confident Head Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Wellpet Vets on a full-time basis. At Wellpet Vets, you’ll be joining a close-knit and supportive team of three receptionists, three vets, one RVN, and three SVNs. We take pride in fostering a friendly, collaborative environment where everyone works well together and enjoys both the day-to-day practice life and regular social events outside of work. Work is shared evenly across the team, and we aim to tailor appointments and surgical cases to individual interests within our vet and nursing teams wherever possible. Our practice is well-equipped, with facilities including ultrasound, digital x-ray, and IDEXX in-house laboratory machines. This role is primarily based at our main site in Shenley, with weekend shifts at our consult-only branch in Edgware.
IVC Evidensia is the UK and Europe’s leading veterinary care group, made up of over 900 practices and referral hospitals, united by a shared purpose of happier animals, happier owners. At IVC Evidensia, we believe careers should be built without limits. Our people are supported to make more clinical impact, access more career opportunities, and play an active role in their local and professional communities. Through investment in learning, innovation, and wellbeing, we create environments where our teams can grow in confidence, capability, and fulfilment at every stage of their career.
How You’ll Make a Difference
As a Head Veterinary Nurse, you will provide senior clinical and professional leadership for the nursing team, overseeing all nursing aspects of the practice and supporting the delivery of high-quality patient and client care. You’ll be responsible for setting and maintaining nursing standards, leading clinical governance and quality improvement activity, and developing a capable, confident nursing team. Working closely with the wider practice leadership team, you'll play a key role in shaping culture, performance and ways of working. This role is based on a 38-hour working week, spread across 4 or 5 days, with shifts ranging between 8:30 am and 8 pm. The position includes participation in a 1 in 4 weekend rota, consisting of Saturdays at Shenley (9:15 am-1:15 pm) and Sundays at our Edgware branch (9:15 am-1:15 pm). Availability to work Wednesdays is required.
General responsibilities include:
- Nurse consults
- Assisting Vets in theatre and operations
- Ensuring high standards of patient care
- Share expertise and dynamic skillset with the other members of the nursing team
You Might Be a Great Fit If...
You are an experienced and confident Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong leadership capability and a passion for clinical excellence. You'll bring:
- Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
- Significant experience in clinical practice with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills
- Proven experience of leading, mentoring and developing nursing teams
- Strong understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement and professional standards
- Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills
How We’ll Support You
At IVC Evidensia, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:
- A senior leadership role with accountability for nursing standards and team development
- Clear career pathways with progression opportunities into wider practice leadership roles
- Ongoing learning and development to support leadership, governance and strategic growth
- A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement
What We Offer Our Team
- 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off
- Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
- Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
- Private Medical Insurance
- Employee wellbeing initiatives including - Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
- £550 CPD allowance plus 24hrs paid leave
- Certificate support
- RCVS and VDS fees covered
- Pension scheme
- Discounted veterinary care
- Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you - including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers
- Up to £36,000 DOE
Head Veterinary Nurse employer: Wellpet Veterinary Practice, Shenley
Contact Detail:
Wellpet Veterinary Practice, Shenley Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Veterinary Nurse
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the veterinary field, attend local events, and join online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they even hit the market.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your achievements, case studies, and any special projects you've worked on. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your expertise as a Head Veterinary Nurse.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on how your leadership skills and clinical experience align with the values at Wellpet Vets.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Wellpet Vets and contributing to our collaborative culture.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Veterinary Nurse
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for veterinary nursing shine through. We want to see your enthusiasm for providing high-quality patient care and how you can contribute to our friendly team at Wellpet Vets.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure to tailor your CV to highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the job description. We’re looking for someone with strong leadership capabilities and a solid background in clinical practice, so don’t hold back on showcasing those!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Use bullet points where necessary to make your achievements stand out and ensure we can quickly see why you’d be a great fit.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wellpet Veterinary Practice, Shenley
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your veterinary knowledge, especially around clinical governance and quality improvement. Be ready to discuss your experience with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills, as well as how you've led and developed teams in the past.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a nursing team or improved patient care standards. Think about specific situations where your leadership made a difference, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Emphasise Teamwork
Since Wellpet Vets values a collaborative environment, highlight your ability to work well within a team. Share experiences where you’ve fostered a supportive atmosphere or contributed to team success, showing that you can fit right into their close-knit group.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the practice culture, ongoing development opportunities, and how they support their staff. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.