Head Veterinary Nurse

Applications will close on Friday 19th September.
We are excited to open applications for a Head Surgery Nurse at Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists. This is a senior leadership role within our theatre team, offering the opportunity to shape the surgical service, support the growth of our people, and ensure gold-standard patient care across a busy, multidisciplinary referral hospital.

Lead the future of surgical nursing at SCVS
Reporting into the Nurse Manager, you will provide leadership and direction to the surgical nursing team. You will act as a role model, balancing clinical expertise with people management, ensuring the perioperative service runs safely, smoothly and efficiently.

This is a varied and rewarding role, combining hands-on clinical work with operational oversight. You will be responsible for maintaining high standards in theatre, coordinating resources, and ensuring procedures run efficiently, while also supporting recruitment, rotas, performance reviews, health and safety, and the ongoing professional development of your team.

As a visible and approachable leader, you will nurture a supportive culture within the department, guiding your team to deliver their best and ensuring seamless collaboration across all disciplines in the hospital.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Providing clinical leadership and support to the surgical nursing team, acting as a role model and mentor.
• Managing daily workflow, staffing, and resources to ensure safe and efficient surgical lists.
• Overseeing surgical equipment, stock, and theatre protocols, ensuring compliance with SOPs and health & safety standards.
• Supporting recruitment, induction, performance reviews and professional development for the team.
• Scrubbing in and providing advanced perioperative nursing care where needed.
• Working collaboratively with clinicians, the senior nursing team and other departments to maintain a smooth and efficient service.

Joining a team you are proud to be part of
SCVS are a specialist-led small animal hospital equipped with the expertise and knowledge to support the most complex of cases. As a large multidisciplinary referral hospital, we offer impressive facilities and state-of-the-art equipment which enable us to provide outstanding treatment to our patients from the initial consultation right through to discharging them from our care. We are conveniently based in Ringwood, Hampshire, just off the A31.

Our recent expansion has provided us with a new purpose-built theatre complex, a two-storey facility housing a large client reception and waiting area, 10 new consulting rooms, along with a new rehabilitation centre. The improvements do not stop here, with further additions to include a new diagnostic suite and ICU area, plus much more.

We have an outstanding team of recognised specialists across a multitude of disciplines. We also have a dedicated rehabilitation team who provide physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to aide post-operative recovery. The care and comfort of our patients is always at the front of our minds. Our advanced nursing team provide excellent care to all patients during their stay at SCVS. We also have a team of dedicated veterinary care assistants to ensure patients feel reassured and comforted during their stay.

You will be leading a team of 3 Surgical RVNs and 3 Surgical VCAs.

The qualities we're looking for
We are seeking an experienced and confident Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong surgical and anaesthesia knowledge, alongside demonstrable leadership experience. You will combine excellent organisational and problem-solving skills with an empathetic, people-focused approach to management, supporting your team to grow while maintaining accountability and high standards.

You will be comfortable working under pressure in a busy referral environment, with the ability to respond effectively to challenges and make sound decisions. Previous referral experience is desirable, and a certificate in surgery or anaesthesia would be advantageous, but we would also welcome applications from candidates from large, busy first opinion hospitals with strong surgical foundations and the drive to further develop their expertise.

Above all, you will be passionate about patient care, invested in your team's development, and motivated to lead by example in line with the values of IVC Evidensia.

Shift pattern
This is a full-time, 40hr/week position working over 4 or 5 days at your preference, between the hours of 07:00-19:00. There are no planned weekends but you will be required to participate in the bank holiday rota, and occasional additional cover in the event of team absence.

Because our people matter
We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business, and investing in our people, teams and hospitals is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive salary in line with your level of experience, you will benefit from -

Work-life balance

• 6.6 weeks annual leave
• Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday

Wellbeing

• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing

Development

• £550 CPD allowance with 3 days paid leave
• 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
• All our Vets get £1000 per annum to spend via our Care Fund
• Infection Prevention and Control Programme
• Quality Improvement Programme

Professional Memberships

• VDS cover
• RCVS fees

Additional

• Pawsome Benefits - reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100s of retailers
• Pension - 5% Employee/3% Employer
• Discounted staff pet care