Job Description

Are you an experienced RVN with a passion for leadership?

Do you thrive in a supportive, collaborative environment where patient care is at the heart of everything we do?

Westside Vets is looking for an exceptional Head Nurse to join us and provide clinical leadership, inspire our nursing team, and play an integral role in the day-to-day running of the practice.


We are a friendly, RCVS accredited, small animal practice located in Battersea, London. We are part of a wonderful community, just off the vibrant Northcote Road, where we have been providing care to our client's pets for well over thirty years. We have a lovely client base and pride ourselves on providing a professional, friendly and humane service.

About the Role:

This is a permanent full-time position, 5 days a week with 1 in 4 Saturday mornings 9am - 1pm. There are no OOH or on-call duties.


As our Head Nurse, you will lead a small, dedicated team of two RVNs, one SVN, and one VCA.


Your responsibilities will include:

Providing clinical leadership and guidance to the nursing team with confidence and compassion Overseeing in-house colleague training and ensuring continuous professional development Managing stock control and maintaining the inventory Delivering exceptional patient and client care Carrying out nurse consultations, in-patient care, anaesthetics, admits and discharges, and assisting the vets in consultations Collaborating with the Practice Manager and Clinical Director to make team decisions and support practice operations Conducting regular team meetings and wellbeing checks Managing the nurse rota to ensure appropriate coverage Overseeing the daily diary and assisting with team management Supporting the Practice Manager with nurse and reception team sickness, absences, and annual leave Helping to organise team social events and fostering a positive team atmosphere

The Ideal Candidate:

We are looking for someone who can lead by example, deliver high standards of care, and foster a supportive team environment. Our ideal candidate will:

Be a confident and compassionate RVN, with strong leadership skills Have a keen interest in mentoring and developing the team, especially our SVN and VCA Demonstrate excellent communication skills, both with the team and clients Be forward-thinking, adaptable, and able to manage various situations effectively Have excellent clinical knowledge and be confident in their nursing skills Ideally have prior Head Nurse experience, although we are open to experienced RVNs who are ready to take the next step in their career Be committed to providing the best possible care for our patients and clients


As Head Nurse at Westside Vets you will have the opportunity to shape the future of the nursing team and enjoy working within a supportive team environment. Your career satisfaction is important to us, and we provide ongoing professional development opportunities.

Our fantastic range of benefits includes:

Salary - up to 37,000 depending on experience 6 weeks paid holiday including bank holidays 600.00 CPD Allowance per annum Health Shield - wide ranging contributions for health and wellbeing treatments - from dentistry to sports massage RCVS Membership paid plus one other membership subscription VDS cover Enhanced paternity, maternity, adoption, shared parental leave and surrogacy pay Discounted veterinary fees My Perks - offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel, entertainment and much more Cycle to work scheme CPD/training support Company sick pay Colleague engagement survey Annual pay reviews Focus on employee wellbeing

If you are ready to take the next step in your nursing career and join a dedicated team, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and be part of the Westside Vets family!