Small Animal Head Nurse

Location: West Cambridge Site

The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH) is seeking an experienced and motivated Small Animal Head Nurse to lead our inpatient nursing team.

QVSH provides 24-hour multidisciplinary small animal referral care, alongside supporting a growing first opinion practice. Our inpatient nursing team plays a central role in ensuring safe inpatient care, effective patient flow, and high-quality support for clinical teams and students. 

The Role

As Head Nurse, you will lead and develop the inpatient nursing and Veterinary Care Assistant (VCA) teams, ensuring consistently high standards of care across all inpatient areas. You will hold professional oversight of nursing practice, driving operational efficiency and fostering a positive, collaborative working and learning environment.

Working as part of the hospital's operational leadership structure, you will be responsible for ensuring that nursing provision, staffing models, and patient care processes support the effective delivery of clinical services. You will work closely with the wider Leadership Team to maintain high clinical and regulatory standards, contribute to service improvement initiatives, and support staff development across the hospital. 

Key Responsibilities

You will ensure high standards of patient care and smooth day-to-day operations. You will oversee workforce planning, staffing, and patient flow, working closely with clinical and leadership teams to support service delivery, continuous improvement, and compliance. The role also involves fostering a positive learning environment and supporting staff and student development. This role requires flexibility to support a 24/7, 365-day service, including participation in a weekend rota. 

About You 

You are an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse with a strong background in small animal practice and demonstrable leadership experience. You have excellent organisational and communication skills and are confident leading teams in a fast-paced environment. You are committed to high standards of care, collaborative working, and driving service improvement within a clinical setting.

Benefits: 

• 41 days' annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
• Generous defined benefit pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements, with scope for informal hybrid working in line with service needs
• On-site parking (subject to need/availability)
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Access to a dedicated Personal and Professional Development team
• Wellness programme including Occupational Health team and Staff counselling
• Staff discount scheme including shopping vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Travel to work loans
• Eye care voucher scheme
• Discounted gym membership

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to: Alice Bird, Associate Hospital Director via email: arb59@cam.ac.uk.

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact qvsh.hr@vet.cam.ac.uk quoting the reference number PP50051.

For information about the Department, please visit: www.vet.cam.ac.uk

Further particulars for the role and information about the Department are available via Further Particulars - Small Animal Head Nurse. If you are viewing this advert on an external site, please visit the University's job pages for access.

Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and applicants may be invited to visit and/or attend an interview prior to the closing date. We reserve the right to close the position early if all available roles are filled. This advert may be extended if a sufficient number of applications has not been received by the closing date.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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