Job Details
Salary: Up to £35,000 DOE | Contract: Permanent | Working hours: 40 hours per week across 4 days including OOH & weekend rota | Location: Sevenoaks, TN13 | Closing date: 30 June 2026 midday
Clinical leadership, day and night.
About Us
We’re independent and under clinical leadership — not bound by big corporate policy. Our hybrid model means referral‑level care alongside first opinion, and many referral‑level surgical pathways are now standard for first opinion patients too. If you want to do something differently, we can have that conversation. No multi‑layered approval chain, no being treated like you can’t be trusted with grown‑up decisions.
Our facilities back it up: MRI and CT imaging, mechanical ventilation, and access to a diverse team of specialists. The inpatient ward is at the heart of what we do — and we need the right person to lead it, day and night.
The Role
This is a full‑time position working 40 hours across 4 days. As our Senior Ward Nurse and OOH Co‑ordinator, you’ll take a dual leadership position — overseeing the inpatient department during the day and coordinating the OOH nursing team outside of standard hours. You’ll be the clinical go‑to for hospitalised patients and the person who keeps standards high when the rest of the hospital has gone home.
What You’ll Be Up To
* Oversee the care and monitoring of all hospitalised patients, ensuring gold‑standard nursing throughout — day and night
* Develop and maintain inpatient protocols covering monitoring, pain management, and infection control
* Lead, support, and coordinate the OOH nursing team — including rota management, mentorship, and performance feedback
* Champion seamless handovers between day and OOH teams so no patient ever falls through the gap
* Audit clinical practices and processes regularly to drive continuous improvement and consistent quality
* Liaise closely with veterinary surgeons on patient progress and treatment plans
* Oversee ward organisation, equipment readiness, and inpatient capacity to keep things running efficiently
* Support the development of student nurses and junior staff through coaching, targeted CPD, and identifying learning needs
* Build a culture where staff feel confident raising clinical concerns and evidence‑based practice is the norm
* Contribute to hospital policy implementation and continuous improvement initiatives alongside senior management
You’ll Fit Right In If You…
* Are an RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse with proven experience in inpatient and/or emergency & critical care
* Have strong leadership and team management skills — or are genuinely ready to step into that role
* Stay calm under pressure and make sound clinical decisions when it counts
* Genuinely enjoy developing other people and watching the team around you grow
* Have excellent communication and organisational skills, and a proactive approach to problem‑solving
* Are passionate about animal welfare and committed to delivering consistently excellent patient care
* Ideally have experience in a referral or hospital setting, a clinical coaching qualification, or additional certification in emergency and critical care
What We Bring to the Table
4‑Day Working Week – 40 hours across 4 days for a genuinely better work‑life balance
5 Weeks’ Holiday + More – Plus bank holidays, your birthday off if you’re rota’d to work, and an extra week after 5 years
Unlimited CPD – Subject to Director approval, plus your RCVS and VDS fees covered in full
Fair Weekend Rota – 1 in 6 Saturday mornings, 1 in 12 on‑call weekends (supplemented)
Wellbeing & Health Support – Medicash health cash plan (dental, optical & more), EAP, trained Mental Health First Aiders on site, and free Vetlife access
Financial Benefits – Pension scheme, Group Life Assurance at 4× salary with specialist bereavement counselling, and a refer‑a‑friend bonus
Family‑Friendly Policies – Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental pay after 2 years’ service
Outstanding Facilities – Modern surgical environment with MRI, CT imaging, mechanical ventilation, and a diverse specialist team on your doorstep
If you’re a dedicated RVN ready to lead both the inpatient ward and OOH team within a practice that truly values its people and patients, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply Now — careers@pennardvets.com
Please also CC: abby.pye@pennardvets.com
About Pennard Vets
At Pennard Vets, every member of our team is an employee owner of the practice, committed to ensuring our service goes beyond the ordinary. We’re creating an environment that looks after the people that look after the pets. We’re 125 years old, and by operating in this way, we’ll continue to grow for the next 125 years, and beyond.
Equal Opportunities
Pennard Vets is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.
If you need any adjustments to the application or interview process, just let us know.
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