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Langford Vets has an exciting opportunity to join our night team as a Deputy Head Night Nurse.

The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting and supporting the Head Night Nurse with organising and line managing the night team, liaising with day teams, and helping to develop and support the hospital, to include continuous improvement projects.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a high standard of nursing care, a desire to learn and a capability to work under pressure. We are looking for a nurse with at least 1-year experience as a qualified nurse.

Previous experience in a referral environment and management is desirable but not essential.

Accountabilities will include but are not limited to:

Setting and maintaining high clinical standards of nursing care.
Working with the Head Nurse, Nursing Manager and Assistant Nursing Manager to develop SOPs, policies and procedures and any other reasonable duties required.
Supporting the Head Nurse and completing appropriate delegated tasks.
Covering the Head Nurse during periods of absence or annual leave.
Upholding policies and leading by example.
Demonstrate a willingness to give and also receive feedback in a constructive manner.
Ensuring staff are working to expected standards and where needed, exploring additional training and support to achieve this.
Deliver Nurse and ACA reviews where appropriate.

The rota pattern for this role is 7 nights on, 7 nights off. The successful candidate would also have opportunities to attend some meetings that may fall more within “daytime” hours, so they will need to work closely with the Head Night Nurse to manage their working hours appropriately.

Benefits and wellbeing

Our people are at the heart of what we do and as your employer we want to ensure we offer flexibility, support and staff development, where possible, through:

Time off
- 5 weeks holiday per year (plus bank holidays)
- Additional holiday entitlement for Long Service

Wellbeing
- On site Mental Wellbeing Champions
- EDI committee
- Employee Forum – to ensure all employees voices can be heard
- Menopause Café
- Wellbeing talks and events
- Cycle to work scheme
- Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and paternity pay (after 2 years’ service)

Health
- SimplyHealth Cashplan membership
- Free annual flu vaccination
- Free Specsavers eye test voucher

General
- Free onsite parking
- U2 bus service link to Bristol
- Annual CPD allowance
- Employee discount
- Generous pension scheme – we match up to 8% pension contributions
- Reimbursement of one professional membership fee per year

How to apply

If this role sounds like the right fit for you, don’t delay, click ‘Apply’ and begin your career with Langford Vets.

Closing date for this role is: 6th August 2025

Interview dates: 13th & 14th August 2025

Responsibilities

Job purpose

Job Title: Deputy Head Night Nurse

Reports To: Head Night Nurse

Job Purpose:

The main purpose of the post is to support with the responsibility of organisation within the Night team, alongside the Head Night nurse, working within the Terms of the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Nurses.

Line management duties of the night nursing and ACA teams will be shared between the head and deputy head night nurse.

To be responsible for organising and participating in the clinical activities during out of hours, within the Small Animal Hospital and out of hours service. Ensure H&S policies are adhered to, and the area is maintained to a high standard throughout.

The job holder will also liaise closely with the Nursing Manager, Assistant Nursing Manager, and other Head Nurses for sharing support with daily activities, alongside the head night nurse.

Principal Accountabilities:

• To organise the clinical activities for the night team, to include ensuring staff are working in areas according to their rota, and following duties required within these areas, acquiring and delivering handovers for in-patients and ensuring all treatments, including medications are carried out correctly.

• To line-manage the night nursing and ACA team alongside the head nurse, this will include rotas, one to one’s, appraisals, allocating holiday allowances, HR policies and procedures, and dealing with staff performance issues with the support of the Assistant Nursing Manager and Nursing Manager.

• To work as a clinical nurse and participate in the all associated rota’s as required.

• To ensure that H&S policies are adhered to at all times, assist with fire drills and evacuation procedures, reporting of accidents and incidents, assist with risk assessments and COSHH for the relevant areas.

• To be responsible for ensuring that the buildings are kept in a clean and well-maintained manner ensuring cleanliness and hygiene are maintained within the unit at all times.

• To raise any issues with the Head Night Nurse and Nursing Manager and organise repair work as required, coordinating with the Operational Manager.

• To be involved in Clinical Governance and Infection Control meetings, where suitable and necessary, and help instigate necessary changes to protocols/policies, ensuring that nursing and ACA teams adhere to them at all times.

• To ensure that relevant audits are carried out and records of in-patients and procedures are documented. Ensuring that any issues arising as a result of these are discussed and documented with appropriate personnel.

• To ensure that the area of work is suitably staffed at all times. To include discussions with Head Night Nurse and Nursing Manager regarding any staffing issues and future planning for new staff requirements.

• Ensure that the equipment within the area is used appropriately and is well maintained, always ensuring good levels of supplies and assist with monthly and annual audits as managed by the Purchasing Officer where appropriate.

• Assessment of BVSc and veterinary nursing and bio veterinary science undergraduates during their rotation through the wards.

• Dispensing and administering (under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon) medication to animals, maintaining accurate stock control and following all protocols relating to drug holding, dispensing and handling and giving clear and accurate instructions to clients when dispensing medication

• Maintaining accurate patient records with regards to all clinical notes, treatment, diagnoses, client communication and client /patient information, this will require an in-depth knowledge of our practice management system.

• Continue with all clinical duties as a night nurse, as per the Night Nurse job Description.

• Supporting the Head Night nurse with the development and management of the night team, promoting and leading by example at all times.

• Maintaining a good working relationship with all team members

• Always communicating in an effective and pleasant manner with clients and colleagues. To include cascading appropriate company communications to your team as necessary.

• Carry out all other reasonable duties as requested by the line manager.

Person Specification

The skills, abilities, experience and knowledge outlined below provide a summary of what is required to carry out this job effectively.

Essential	Desirable
Five years in veterinary practice or ability to prove similar levels of knowledge and experience	Experience of line-managing
Able to carry out veterinary nursing duties as listed above	Advanced Diploma or equivalent critical care qualification
Confidence and experience in effective handling and restraint of animals	Clinical Coach or similar
RCVS Listed Veterinary Nurse	Interest in advancing own qualifications
Communicating effectively with clients
Ability to work within and lead a team
Ability to act independently
Flexible approach to work
Eligibility to work in the UK