Job Information
Linnaeus Lead Wards Registered Veterinary Nurse in Hammersmith, United Kingdom
JOB TITLE: Lead Wards Registered Veterinary Nurse
REPORTING TO: Head of Nursing Services
START DATE: May 2024
SALARY: £36,000-40,000 DOE
London Vet Specialists are recruiting for an enthusiastic Registered Veterinary Nurse with experience in a referral hospital wards and/or a senior nursing role to join the team as a Lead Wards RVN in our new hospital in Hammersmith in May 2024. It’s an exciting opportunity to join LVS as your input will help create and shape our new multidisciplinary hospital.
Company Profile
London Vet Specialists originated as a boutique small animal referral centre in Belsize Park and in Spring 2024, will start a new chapter with a major expansion and relocation to a new state-of-the-art site in Hammersmith, West London. The hospital boasts an incredible location on the banks of the river Thames and nestled within the bustling and thriving Hammersmith & Fulham neighbourhood. We currently have specialists in multiple disciplines including soft-tissue surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, anaesthesia, cardiology, dermatology & diagnostic imaging and will be additionally incorporating neurology, oncology, orthopaedic surgery & emergency and critical care.
Linnaeus is a forward-thinking partnership of highly respected primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, comprising some of the best clinicians in the profession. Linnaeus invest in quality practices who put patient care at the heart of everything they do. Together we provide a growing community of like-minded veterinary professionals who are passionate about what they do.
Role Overview
The Lead Wards RVN will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Head of Nursing Services (HoNS), Lead Nurses, Clinical Director and Clinicians across the hospital to ensure the efficient delivery of outstanding patient care within the wards, ICU & OOH (night) services. You will work enthusiastically with the nursing team to help maintain a happy and efficient working environment. This role requires strong, decisive, clear communication and the ability to inspire and motivate the team in order to deliver the Linnaeus nursing strategy and achieve the hospital’s goals.
Your work will remain primarily clinical, to include wards nursing and care for inpatients across all disciplines, feeding tube, central line and urinary catheter maintenance & care and assisting with diagnositc procedures. As a focused role, we recognise and appreciate your area of special interest & expertise and so your work will be scheduled and prioritised within the wards department; though may be required to help in another area within the capabilities of an RVN on occasion.
Your leadership responsibilities will include providing line management and training to team members, conducting performance reviews, SOP development and coordination for all relevant personnel working within your team. As this role provides leadership to our night nursing team, the rota pattern will consist of one week of twilight shifts (1pm – 10pm) in every four weeks to ensure crossover with your team. This position will also share patient flow responsibilities to schedule and coordinate case throughput across all departments of the hospital alongside the other lead nurses.
Key Responsibilities
Provision of a high and sustainable quality of patient care by you and your team, primarily within the wards & ICU.
Provideleadership to those working within the wards & nightteams.
Demonstrate an excellent work ethic and capability in all nursing duties, includinga high levelof hygiene and the ability to recognise and undertake relevant actions with regards to infection control.
Maximise efficiencyfor the wards to prevent delay inproceduresand cases through the hospital,includingsharing patient flow responsibilitiesacross all servicessuch asscheduling of diagnostics, liaising with anaesthesia, theatre and imaging use and adapt as required.
Oversee and support allinpatient care and the implementation of nursing care plans.
Ensure equipment is appropriatelymaintainedand serviced.
Ensure effective communication ismaintainedwithin the wards & nightteams.
Work with the Lead NursesandHoNSwhererequiredto help develop a skills matrix for nursing requirements within the wards.
As a cat-friendly clinic, you will support the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) cat-friendly standards across the hospital.
As a dog-friendly clinic, you will support the Dogs Trust and British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA) dog-friendly standards across the hospital.
UseVetSafereporting to reflecton incidents or near misseswherepatientcare can beimproved andencourage its use withinyourteam.
Seek opportunities tomaintaincompetence in other areas of nursing to ensure a strong level of general nursing capabilities are still achieved. Where suitable take part in role swaps to preserve this competence.
Benefits
5 weeksAnnual Leave plus BankHolidays
Additional Birthday Leave
RCVS & VDSFeesPaid
EnhancedSicknessPay
EnhancedEqualFamilyLeave
Life Assurance
EmployerContributionPensionScheme
External CPDFunded
ExtensiveFreeOnline Linnaeus CPDProgram
CareerProgressionOpportunities
Generous Staff Social Calendar
EmployeeAssistanceProgram
EyecareVoucherScheme
Free Annual Flu Jab
Cycle-to-Work Scheme
At Linnaeus, we are committed to supporting the physical and mental health of all our Associates. We have an amazing team of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) across our practices and central support office in addition to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme which is available for everyone.
If you would like to apply for this role, please click the Apply Button or for more information, please feel free to reach out directly to our Referral Nursing Talent Acquisition Business Partner – Becca Thompson at Becca.Thompson@linnaeusgroup.co.uk