Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

Role: Head Veterinary Nurse

Contract: Fixed term contract - Maternity Cover

Location: Ashfield Durham

Hours: Full time (40 hours per week)

Salary: Up to £40,000 dependent on experience 

At CVS, caring is what we do. As a Head Veterinary Nurse, you'll be at the heart of promoting pet wellness—monitoring patients' health, supporting their recovery, and offering reassurance to the people who love them. Because for us, caring isn't just a job—it's in our nature.

We put our people first—because when you're supported, you can deliver the very best care. With industry-leading learning, hands-on training, and guidance, you'll have everything you need to grow your skills and confidence. Whether you're looking to progress in your current role or explore new career pathways, CVS is the place to nurture your future career.

We are looking for a motivated and positive RVN to lead the nursing team within our practice, including but not limited to:

· Advocating and driving nurse consults and clinics

· Managing the smooth day-to-day running of the practice

· Supporting and coaching our SVN's

· Being a point of contact for the nursing team

· Maintaining and complying with the Practice Standards Scheme

About Us:

We are a well-established practice located on the outskirts of Durham.

Our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment are matched by a warm, experienced veterinary team committed to delivering outstanding care — from routine check-ups and preventative treatments to complex surgery and ongoing medical support.

What Our Team Say:

· "Working at Ashfield Veterinary Surgery is incredibly rewarding — the team is supportive, compassionate, and truly passionate about delivering excellent patient care. It's a place where you feel valued and proud of the work you do every day."

· “Ashfield Veterinary Surgery is an incredibly supportive and friendly place to work, with a team that truly values each other. It's a practice where you can grow, feel appreciated, and make a real difference every day.”

About You:

We are looking for someone reliable and ambitious with excellent communication, patient and client care standards, that has great attention to detail. This role would suit an RVN who is ready to take a step up in responsibility or an experienced Senior/Lead or Head Nurse looking for a better work/life balance. The ideal candidate would be someone who can lead their team with a positive and motivating style.

The benefits 
At CVS, we know that care for our patients starts with dedicated people like you. That's why we invest in your growth and your future. When you join us, you'll get: 

• RCVS fees paid in full 

• Generous CPD allowance, Knowledge Hub access, BSAVA library, and funded advanced training opportunities 

• Excellent Nursing Career Pathway 

• Up to 33 days holiday (with the option to buy/sell) 

• Health cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions, and enhanced family leave policies 

• Staff pet care discounts – 50% off services, MiPet food, and medications 

Join us at CVS 
We're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to do their best work. We foster an inclusive and equitable workplace, where diverse perspectives are invited and people feel safe to speak up. 

Wellbeing support is always available, from monthly line-manager check-ins to our network of 400 Wellbeing Champions, Pastoral Support Vets and personal mentors. We offer leading benefits and policies, such as our Health Shield which provides support for physical and mental health. 

Our aim is to free up clinical colleagues to do what they do best, so we offer practices a wide range of operational support. Central expert HR, recruitment, payroll, IT, finance, procurement teams are on hand to support with all aspects relating to the smooth running of each practice. 

We prioritise investment in our facilities, delivering significant enhancements across numerous practices through a dedicated multi-million-pound improvement fund. 

Interested? Please click apply now!