Senior Branch 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 looking for an enthusiastic and experienced RVN to join us as Senior Branch Nurse and lead our Tadley Surgery. This is a fantastic opportunity for an RVN looking to take the next step in their career and play an important role in the leadership and development of our friendly Tadley team. Donnington Grove Veterinary Group is an established three-branch practice, with our main RCVS Tier 3 Hospital in Newbury and branches in Thatcham and Tadley. We have a large and varied client base, a supportive nursing team and excellent opportunities for professional development. We encourage our nurses to develop their own interests and pursue further qualifications. We have a team of 17 vets, including certificate holders in small animal surgery, ophthalmology and exotics, as well as vets with an interest in internal medicine. This makes us more than a first-opinion practice as we often perform surgeries and treat cases that may otherwise have been referred. Having been established for decades, and with two branch practices in Thatcham and Tadley, we have a huge client base which comes with lots of variety in our caseload. Our nursing team is made up of 15 RVNs and 8 SVNs in various stages of their training. We are supported by a team of 7 nursing assistants. We also have a dedicated team of 3 night nurses. We encourage our nurses to pursue special interests as much as possible; for example, we currently have nurses studying towards nutrition and small animal medicine certificates How You’ll Make a Difference As Senior Branch Nurse, you will provide day-to-day leadership to the nursing team while remaining hands-on clinically. You will work closely with our vets, nurses and support staff to ensure we deliver excellent patient care, outstanding client service and high clinical standards. Alongside your clinical responsibilities, you’ll help lead standards within theatre, support and mentor junior colleagues and contribute to the ongoing development of our nursing protocols and ways of working. Working Pattern * 40 hours per week across 5 days * Shifts between 8:30 am - 7 pm * No weekend work but OOH cover required with TOIL General Responsibilities * Leading and supporting the nursing team at Tadley * Delivering high standards of medical and surgical nursing * Supporting perioperative care and anaesthesia * Providing nurse consultations and excellent client care * Supporting the training and development of RVNs, SVNs and nursing assistants * Taking responsibility for stock control, including monitoring stock levels, placing orders, checking expiry dates, stock rotation and reducing wastage * Taking responsibility for clinical equipment, including regular checks, servicing, maintenance and arranging repairs where required * Helping organise workloads and the smooth running of the branch * Working closely with the vets and Nurse Management Team * Promoting high clinical standards and continuous improvement * Ensuring a positive and supportive working environment You Might Be a Great Fit If... We’re looking for an experienced and confident Registered Veterinary Nurse who enjoys working as part of a team and is ready to take greater responsibility within a busy theatre environment. You’ll bring: * Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS * Confidence supporting anaesthesia, surgical procedures and peri-operative patient care * Strong communication skills and the ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues * Good organisational skills and the ability to ma