Head Veterinary Nurse - Anaesthesia

Applications will close on Friday 19th September.

We are delighted to open applications for a Head Anaesthesia Nurse to join Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists on a fixed-term maternity cover basis. This is a senior leadership role within our anaesthesia and pain management service, offering the opportunity to combine advanced clinical nursing with people leadership and team development in a busy, multidisciplinary referral hospital.

Find a world of opportunity at SCVS

Reporting into the Nurse Manager, you will provide leadership and direction to the anaesthesia nursing team, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the service. You will act as a role model and mentor, supporting your team of 6 Anaesthesia Nurses while maintaining the highest standards of patient care and safety.

This role blends hands-on clinical anaesthesia with operational oversight. You will be responsible for managing daily workflow, staff rotas, and resources, while also overseeing equipment, SOPs, and health & safety. Alongside this, you will play a key role in recruitment, inductions, appraisals, and the ongoing professional development of your team.

As a visible and approachable leader, you will foster collaboration across all disciplines, ensuring your team feels supported, empowered, and able to deliver gold-standard patient care.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing clinical leadership within anaesthesia, supporting and mentoring your nursing team.
• Overseeing daily workflow, staff rotas, and resources to ensure safe and efficient service delivery.
• Maintaining anaesthesia equipment, consumables, and protocols in line with SOPs and health & safety requirements.
• Supporting recruitment, induction, appraisals, and the professional growth of the anaesthesia nursing team.
• Delivering hands-on clinical care, including anaesthetic planning, patient monitoring, and post-operative support.
• Working collaboratively with anaesthetists, clinicians, and the wider nursing leadership team to deliver an efficient and effective service.
• Leading departmental meetings and contributing to service development within SCVS and the wider IVC Evidensia network.

Joining a team you are proud to be a part of

SCVS are a specialist-led small animal hospital equipped with the expertise and knowledge to support the most complex of cases. As a large multidisciplinary referral hospital, we offer impressive facilities and state-of-the-art equipment which enable us to provide outstanding treatment to our patients from the initial consultation right through to discharging them from our care. We are conveniently based in Ringwood, Hampshire, just off the A31.

We have an outstanding team of recognised specialists across a multitude of disciplines. We also have a dedicated rehabilitation team who provide physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to aide post-operative recovery. The care and comfort of our patients is always at the front of our minds. Our advanced nursing team provide excellent care to all patients during their stay at SCVS. We also have a team of dedicated veterinary care assistants to ensure patients feel reassured and comforted during their stay.

The qualities we're looking for

We are seeking an experienced and confident Registered Veterinary Nurse with extensive knowledge of anaesthesia and analgesia. You will combine excellent clinical expertise with strong organisational and problem-solving skills, while also being a compassionate, people-focused leader who supports your team’s growth and wellbeing.

You will thrive under pressure in a busy referral hospital, with the ability to make sound decisions and adapt to challenges. Previous referral experience or advanced anaesthesia qualifications (such as a certificate or VTS) would be advantageous, but we also welcome applications from those in large, busy first opinion hospitals with strong anaesthesia foundations and the drive to develop further.

Above all, you will be passionate about patient safety and comfort, committed to supporting your team, and motivated to lead by example in line with the values of IVC Evidensia.

Working Hours

This is a fixed term contract position for 12 months maternity cover. The weekly hours are 27.5 per week across 3 days, including 1:5 Sundays. Preferred days of work would be Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday but this is open to discussion, and shift times will fall between 08:30-19:30.

Because our people matter

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business, and investing in our people, teams and hospitals is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary in line with your level of experience, you will benefit from –

Please note benefits are listed on a full-time equivalent basis:

Work-life balance

6.6 weeks annual leave

Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday

Wellbeing

Private medical insurance

Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay

Cycle to Work scheme

Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing

Development

£550 CPD allowance with 3 days paid leave

Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy

Access to Vetlexicon – our online encyclopaedia provider

All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding

All our Vets get £1000 per annum to spend via our Care Fund

Infection Prevention and Control Programme

Quality Improvement Programme

Professional Memberships

VDS cover

RCVS fees

Additional

Pawsome Benefits – reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100s of retailers

Pension – 5% Employee/3% Employer

Discounted staff pet care