Senior Registered Veterinary Nurse

Wolfe Vets is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are committed to creating a meritocratic and inclusive environment for our people.

About us:

Launched in June 2020, Wolfe Vets is independently owned, with RCVS accredited small animal veterinary care based in Chiswick and Fulham, with exciting plans in place to expand to the wider South-West London area.

We offer an exceptional standard of round the clock care, with referral treatments and facilities, as well as all the routine consultations, health checks and procedures expected at a family vet. We are passionate about pets and animal welfare; we believe that pets and their owners deserve to be treated with expertise and compassion.

Our fantastic team:

Without our brilliant team, Wolfe Vets would not be able to offer an exceptional level of care to our furry patients and their humans. We value every member of the Wolfe Vets team: listening to good ideas, prioritising staff development and using cutting-edge technologies to work to the highest standards. Alongside our exceptional team, you will have the opportunity to work with a variety of visiting specialists that are all advanced certificate holders in their chosen fields which is an exciting part of our team’s development allowing the exposure to complex cases.

We think that Wolfe Vets is a great place to work and understand that looking after each other (as well as the animals in our care) is vital.

In short, we want our people to flourish, and nothing makes us happier than watching a member of our team grow and develop.

The role:

Reporting to the Clinical Operations Managers, the Senior Nurse is a key part of the nurse management team and works to ensure the smooth running of the clinical day.

It is vital that the whole team work together, with strong working relationships between the nurse, vet and client teams. The Senior Nurse has an important part to play in ensuring harmonious communication between teams and creating a supportive, high performing work culture.

Whilst proactively learning and excelling in their own nursing care, the Senior Nurse will lead by example and continuously set high standards for the nursing team and ensure that the nurses receive support and training to deliver outstanding patient care.

Key responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with Clinical Operations Managers and, in their absence, ensure the smooth running of the day-to-day clinical services at the clinics and allocation of duties.
• Ensure that all daily processes and protocols are followed, including ensuring lab tests are run and submitted correctly, in line with SOPs.
• Oversee the monitoring and care of hospitalised patients and oversee anaesthesia monitoring and provide help and troubleshooting for colleagues as appropriate, in line with direction from vets. Bring any concerns to the attention of the attending vets for their input when required.
• Ensure that vets are well supported when they call upon the nurses to help them with patients during consultations.
• Conduct regular reviews of the standard operating procedures to ensure they reflect the latest advances in technology, medicines or methodology.
• Assist with the successful induction and continued guidance & training of new staff members. Be a go-to for questions and help when the Clinical Operations Managers are not available or able to continually provide training on a day-to-day basis.
• Clinical Coaching; providing mentorship and guidance to student nurses and junior members of the nursing team.
• In conjunction with the Clinical Operations Managers, the Senior Nurses are jointly responsible for overseeing the transportation of sick patients between practices, where necessary.
• Support the Clinical Operations Managers to ensure consistent ongoing patient care, keen knowledge of and implementation of approved SOPs and seek to assist in the constant improvement of clinical care standards.

Nursing responsibilities:

• Advanced anaesthesia
• Inpatient care
• Knowledge in all aspects of multi parameter monitoring (Capnograph, ECG, BP etc)
• Scale and polishing and dental radiographs
• Radiography & CT scanning
• Use and maintenance of lab machines
• Admissions, discharges and nurse consults
• Carrying out schedule three tasks (blood sampling, scale and polishes, IVC placement etc)
• Bringing concerns regarding staffing/day to day operations to the attention of the Clinical Operations Manager

Essential experience:

• RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) status.
• Significant, proven experience in a clinical environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Generally, 5+ years of post-qualification experience is required, with previous experience in a team-leading role being highly desirable.

Preferred experience (training can be provided):

• Orthopaedic surgical nursing
• Chemotherapy nursing
• Blood transfusions
• Ventilator use
• Clinical coaching

Personal qualities:

• Passionate about delivering exceptional care to our patients.
• Collaborative, you enjoy working with others in a supportive team environment. You listen to different perspectives and look to reach consensus and a way forward.
• A problem solver: you discuss issues with others in a positive, constructive and empathetic way to find a solution.
• A strong communicator, you understand the importance of keeping everyone updated and included in conversations.
• The ability to multi-task, managing several demands simultaneously.
• Flexible and adaptable (both in responding to last minute emergencies/ change of plans and understanding the pressure on others in such moments).
• You think ahead to anticipate what the vets and patients need and organise the team to respond quickly and efficiently.
• Kind & compassionate to pets, owners and colleagues alike.
• Good humoured, you have a positive ‘can do’ outlook (and understand how important this is for the team culture).
• The ability to give and receive feedback, occasionally having difficult conversations and acting on feedback to make improvements to the business.

Hours & facilities:

The role is mainly daytime working, but on occasion (e.g.: staff sickness, holidays or unavoidable emergencies) you may be required to cover out of hours patient care or emergencies.

Work takes place in our purpose-built clinic on Chiswick High Road, Chiswick and in our purpose-built hospital on Wandsworth Bridge Road, Fulham, however, it may be necessary for this role to work at other Wolfe clinics, as determined by clinic need.

Rewards:

• RCVS fees paid
• Workplace pension
• Cash contributions to routine medical care and treatments (e.g.: dental appointments, opticians etc)
• Discounted pet food and veterinary services for own pets
• CPD funded – up to £1,500 and 3 days study leave (per annum)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (plus your additional days following 2 years’ length of service)
• Loyalty scheme: Additional annual leave after two years of employment (increasing by a day a year to a maximum of 30 days per annum)
• Birthday off - If it falls on a weekday
• Cycle scheme
• Paid overtime & TOIL