Head Veterinary Nurse

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 Bourne Veterinary Practice on a full‑time or part‑time basis.

At Bourne Vets, providing outstanding care for our clients and their pets is at the heart of everything we do. Our highly skilled and experienced team allows us to deliver an excellent standard of care and work up cases in‑house, offering a rewarding and varied caseload. Bourne Vets is a practice in the heart of the countryside in Bekesbourne, Canterbury, Kent, with excellent transport links, just 10 minutes from the City of Canterbury and 30 minutes from the port of Dover and the Eurotunnel  encourage the sharing of CPD and best practice, and hold regular vet, nurse and M&M meetings to ensure we deliver the best care for both our patients and clients.

The welfare of our team is very important to us, and we constantly strive to ensure a good work‑life balance and supportive working environment.

• State‑of‑the‑art equipment including x‑ray, dental x‑ray, laser unit, ultrasound, endoscopy and our separate rehabilitation unit with our underwater treadmill
• Join our team of 5 Veterinary Surgeons (including a Director of Practice and Clinical Services), 7 Registered Veterinary Nurses, 4 Receptionists, and a Practice Manager
• No OOH or on‑call requirements
• Rewarding and varied caseload

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.

• 32‑40 hours
• Varied shift pattern depending on hours – to be discussed at interview
• 1:6 Saturdays 8 am – 5 pm
• No OOH or on call

• Leading, managing and supporting 7 members of the nursing team to maintain high standards of patient care and professional conduct
• Conducting regular one‑to‑one meetings, performance reviews and biannual appraisals
• Organising and attending nursing and management meetings. Some management meetings are held off‑site once a month.
• Supporting practice improvement initiatives and encouraging team involvement in new projects
• Planning and managing nursing rotas, holiday cover, sickness cover and inputting this and nursing shifts into our payroll system

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
• Someone who can advocate for the team and promote nurses carrying out Schedule 3 procedures

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, team development and service improvement
• Structured leadership pathways through our dedicated Nurse Academy, empowering you to shape the future of nursing care within our practice
• Clear career development 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