The Head Nurse is the team leader for all nursing and ancillary staff within a PetAid hospital and co-ordinates and supervises the day-to-day activities of the team to ensure an efficient, professional and caring service to clients and patients in line with PDSA policy. The Head Nurse assists the Senior Veterinary Surgeon with the organisation of all PetAid hospital activities and administration, and is expected to deputise for them in their absence, taking responsibility for all matters other than clinical decisions.
Head Nurses are expected to actively participate in nursing duties, assisting Veterinary Surgeons in their duties by carrying out all reasonable instructions. They also supervise the activities of the nursing and ancillary staff, ensuring that they work efficiently to maintain the required legal, professional and personal standards necessary to support the PDSA veterinary service.
Management responsibilities include recruitment and selection, counseling and discipline, rota management and staff training (including student veterinary nurses). The Head Nurse is also responsible for liaison with the Senior Veterinary Surgeon to identify opportunities to implement Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act for suitably trained and skilled Veterinary Nurses who are on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' list.
The Head Nurse is expected to liaise with the Senior Veterinary Surgeon over the provision of accurate and timely management information to the relevant area and head office departments and to be responsible for monitoring stock control, ensuring orders are placed and deliveries checked.
The Head Nurse is also responsible for the reception team, ensuring all enquiries are dealt with accurately and effectively.
Conditions of employment
- Clear contract of employment.
- 38 hour working week standard 7.5 hour day finishing by 6.00pm.
- Weekends minimum of 1:4 weekends (Saturday and Sunday) with extra duty payment given plus time off the following week.
- 25 days annual holiday entitlement, increasing with length of service.
- Bank holidays covered on a rota basis with time off in lieu.
- Annual salary review for cost of living rises plus published incremental salary scales.
- Membership of occupational pension scheme after satisfying eligibility criteria. Access to a stakeholder scheme from commencement of your employment.
- PDSA provides a uniform, which should be worn at all times whilst on duty.
- Hair of shoulder length or longer should be tied back at all times whilst on duty.
Sensible shoes should be worn at all times whilst on duty.
Opportunities for employment
Extensive in-house training is available to all professional staff in the following areas:
- Specialist continuous professional development
- Personal development
- Management skills
The opportunity also exists to become involved with the training of student veterinary nurses by becoming an NVQ Assessor.
How do I apply?
Applicants for a post of Head Nurse within PDSA must be qualified Veterinary Nurses, whose name currently appears on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' list and who have previous supervisory experience.
Full details of current vacancies for Head Nurses, including specific job descriptions, are available online.
If you have a question about employment opportunities within PDSA please use the email enquiry form to contact us. We will be pleased to hear from you.
Vacancies are also advertised in the Veterinary Record, the VN Times and in local papers.
Job descriptions and application forms are also available from the Human Resources Department, PDSA, Whitechapel Way, Priorslee, Telford, TF2 9PQ.
