Key Details:

• Working Days: 40 hours per week.
• Hours:
• 4x 10-hour days (start times either 07:30/08:00/08:30) with a 1-hour lunch
• 1:7 full working weekends (start time either 07:30/08:30), TOIL either side of weekend to maintain 40-hour working week
• Share of bank holidays (both on-call and working – approximately 2 bank holidays per year).
• Share of on-call shifts during the week (2.5 hours shorter shift on on-call days to guarantee rest period)
• 1:14 weekends on-call (16:30-07:30 Saturday and Sunday night)
• Duties: First opinion and referral nursing across medical, surgical, imaging, rehabilitation, inpatient care, and shared weekend/bank holiday cover
• Salary: The salary ranges from £26,000 to £33,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

About the Role:

• Our client is seeking an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse to join a collaborative team at a busy small animal hospital in Chichester. The role covers a balanced rota across theatre, wards, diagnostics, consult support, and inpatient care, with exposure to both first opinion and referral casework.
• Shifts are 10 hours, four days per week, within patterns of 7:30 am–6:30 pm, 8:00 am–7:00 pm, or 8:30 am–7:30 pm, with a protected 1-hour lunch.
• The rota includes equal participation in daytime inpatient care and assistance with emergencies over weekends and bank holidays. Two days off in lieu are provided for any weekend worked.
• There is no out-of-hours requirement, other than rare last-resort backup to a dedicated emergency team on a rota.

Candidate:

• Candidates must be RCVS-registered and hold a valid driving licence.
• The successful nurse will model the practice’s values of humility, respect, empathy, work ethic, honesty, communication, and teamwork.
• The role offers scope to develop clinical interests, including coaching, certificates, and leadership pathways, with funded CPD and ongoing support.

The Benefits:

Benefits include funded CPD with certificate support, standard pension, 40% staff discount for own pets, enhanced parental leave (six months at 90%), enhanced sickness benefit (two weeks at 100%), seven weeks’ holiday including bank holidays, and access to occupational health and mental health support.

About the Practice:

The practice is a proudly independent small animal group with four branch clinics and two state-of-the-art hospitals, including the Chichester site where this role is primarily based. The team works closely with sister emergency and referral services to provide continuous, personalised care. Facilities support advanced medical and surgical work, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation. The clinical environment is designed to be warm and calming, creating a supportive space for patients, clients, and the team.

The culture is inclusive and collaborative. The leadership promotes clinical freedom and a personal approach to care. Nurses are encouraged to develop their skills and interests, with structured support for progression. While the position is based at the Chichester hospital, occasional support at other branches may be required.

Job Reference No: JN-032025-29068