Head Veterinary Nurse (HVN)

Job Description

Introduction
Our Client is a corporately owned small animal practice in Liverpool looking for an experienced Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to lead and develop its nursing team. This is a senior position within a busy and growing practice, offering the opportunity to combine hands-on clinical nursing with leadership, mentoring and responsibility for maintaining high clinical standards.

Working Hours / Rota
This is a full-time position, with the successful candidate responsible for helping to produce and manage the nursing rota to maintain appropriate staffing levels across the practice.

Specific shift patterns, weekend requirements and any out-of-hours responsibilities have not been provided and can be discussed during the recruitment process.

Role Description
The Head RVN will oversee the day-to-day management of the nursing team while remaining actively involved in clinical work. Responsibilities will include mentoring nurses, Student Veterinary Nurses and VCAs, identifying training needs, holding nursing meetings and one-to-one sessions, and supporting appraisals and development plans.

The role will also involve managing rotas, monitoring workflow and resources, maintaining clinical and infection control standards, and supporting the implementation and review of clinical protocols and SOPs. Working closely with the Practice Manager and Veterinary Surgeons, the successful candidate will help drive continuous improvement across the practice.

Team Size
The successful candidate will lead and support a multidisciplinary nursing team that includes Registered Veterinary Nurses, Student Veterinary Nurses, VCAs and support colleagues, working closely with the wider veterinary and management teams. Specific team numbers have not been provided.

Practice Details
The practice is a busy and growing small animal clinic with a strong focus on clinical standards, patient care and the continued development of its nursing department. The Head RVN will have significant input into how the nursing team develops, including clinical protocols, training, workflow and professional standards.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be a qualified RVN with a minimum of five years’ post-qualification experience and previous senior, supervisory or leadership experience within a busy small animal practice. Strong anaesthetic, surgical and inpatient nursing skills are essential, alongside experience producing and managing staff rotas.

They should be an organised and confident leader with excellent communication skills who enjoys coaching and developing colleagues while maintaining clear standards and accountability. A Clinical Coach qualification and experience with nurse consultations, SOPs, recruitment, appraisals or performance management would be advantageous.

This is just some of the information about the job and company, but there will be more questions. Tempus Veterinary Recruitment is happy to get those questions answered for you during the recruiting process. Tempus Veterinary Recruitment is here to make the recruiting process simple and stress free.

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