At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.
We are seeking a knowledgeable, confident Head Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Homefield Road Veterinary Surgery on a full-time basis.
We are a two-branch clinic with a close-knit, supportive team culture. Homefield Road practice in Bury St Edmunds is a modern, purpose-built facility that opened in 2009. Hawkedon offers the charm of a peaceful village setting. Both sites are fully equipped to provide the highest standard of care for our clients and their pets.
We are passionate about professional development and empowering our nurses to thrive. You’ll be encouraged to pursue your individual interests through CPD and supported to grow within a practice that truly values its people.
Our experienced team of vets, nurses, and support staff bring a wide range of skills and interests, creating a collaborative environment where everyone supports one another in our busy clinics. Training and career progression are actively encouraged, with many of our clinical team either holding or working towards additional qualifications. This allows us to offer a broad range of expertise and specialisms across the practice.
Our nurses play a vital role within the team. They are given a high level of responsibility, with opportunities to fully utilise and develop their skills across all aspects of nursing.
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 for 40 hours over 4 or 5 days per week,, covering a variety of shifts, including a 1-in-6 Saturday morning rota, 8:30 am-2 pm.
General responsibilities include:
Leading and supporting the nursing team
Overseeing nurse rotas and workflow
Maintaining clinical standards and protocols
Supporting and mentoring student nurses and junior team members
Assisting with theatre, inpatient care, and consultations
Stock control and equipment management
Promoting a positive and collaborative team culture
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 inspiring vet care, 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
We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world-class learning resources.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.