Senior Ward Nurse & OOH Coordinator

Clinical leadership, day and night.Salary: Up to £35,000 DOEContract: PermanentWorking hours: 40 hours per week, across 4 days. Includes OOH & Weekend RotaLocation: Sevenoaks, TN13Closing Date: 30 June 2026, middayHave you ever finished a long OOH shift quietly redesigning the handover system in your head — knowing it could run so much better with the right person leading it? Does that ring a bell? Keep reading — we may be just what you're looking for.We're looking for a Senior Ward Nurse and OOH Co-ordinator to take genuine ownership of our inpatient department and out-of-hours nursing team. You'll set the clinical standards, lead the people, and make sure every hospitalised patient receives gold-standard care — whatever the hour. A professional home for someone who leads with calm authority and isn't satisfied with "good enough."A Bit About UsWe'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 RoleThis 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 ToOversee the care and monitoring of all hospitalised patients, ensuring gold-standard nursing throughout — day and nightDevelop and maintain inpatient protocols covering monitoring, pain management, and infection controlLead, support, and coordinate the OOH nursing team — including rota management, mentorship, and performance feedbackChampion seamless handovers between day and OOH teams so no patient ever falls through the gapAudit clinical practices and processes regularly to drive continuous improvement and consistent qualityLiaise closely with veterinary surgeons on patient progress and treatment plansOversee ward organisation, equipment readiness, and inpatient capacity to keep things running efficientlySupport the development of student nurses and junior staff through coaching, targeted CPD, and identifying learning needsBuild a culture where staff feel confident raising clinical concerns and evidence-based practice is the normContribute to hospital policy implementation and continuous improvement initiatives alongside senior managementYou'll Fit Right In If You…Are an RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse with proven experience in inpatient and/or emergency & critical careHave strong leadership and team management skills — or are genuinely ready to step into that roleStay calm under pressure and make sound clinical decisions when it countsGenuinely enjoy developing other people and watching the team around you growHave excellent communication and organisational skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solvingAre passionate about animal welfare and committed to delivering consistently excellent patient careIdeally have experience in a referral or hospital setting, a clinical coaching qualification, or additional certification in emergency and critical careWhat We Bring to the Table4-Day Working Week 40 hours across 4 days for a genuinely better work-life balance5 Weeks' Holiday + More Plus bank holidays, your birthday off if you're rota'd to work, and an extra week after 5 yearsUnlimited CPD Subject to Director approval — plus your RCVS and VDS fees covered in fullFair 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 accessFinancial Benefits Pension scheme, Group Life Assurance at 4× salary with specialist bereavement counselling, and a refer-a-friend bonusFamily-Friendly Policies Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental pay after 2 years' serviceOutstanding Facilities Modern surgical environment with MRI, CT imaging, mechanical ventilation, and a diverse specialist team on your doorstepIf 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.PennardVets 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.J-18808-Ljbffr