Animal Care Assistant (32 hrs/week) United Kingdom
Job description
A vacancy has arisen for an Animal Care Assistant to join our team at the Cornwall Branch Rehoming Centre near St Columb. The Centre help rehabilitate and rehome ill-treated and unwanted dogs, cats and small domestic pets, as well as caring for sick and injured wildlife before they transfer to specialist wildlife care centres.
This role is for 32 hours per week (4 days), working on a shift pattern, including weekends and public holidays. Standard working day is 8.00am to 5.00pm (1 hr lunch), but flexibility is require to occasionally change days or take more hours according to Centre needs.
Candidates must have previous work experience/employment in an animal care role and preferably some customer facing experience. As well as day-to-day care of animals at the Centre, you will assist with animal adoptions, including introductions to prospective new owners, making telephone and/or video calls to discuss rehoming needs and dealing with members of the public face-to-face. Good verbal and written communication skills are therefore vital, as well as computer literacy for use of Centre databases. A full, clean, manual driving licence is also required for driving Branch vehicles.
All our Animal Care Assistants are required to deliver the highest possible standards of animal welfare, ensuring every animal receives optimum care during their journey through the Venton Centre.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Ensure optimum physical and emotional care of all animals at the Centre.
- Support the daily functioning of the kennels, cattery and small animal sections by providing exemplary standards of welfare for all animals in our care.
- Carry out timely cleaning, feeding, watering, exercise and contact with the animals.
- Support the Centre Vet Nurse and visiting Veterinary Surgeon with health checks and administering medication to animals in the Centre.
- Ensure compliance with our licencing conditions and all legal and health and safety regulations.
- Ensure exemplary standards of welfare of animals during handling and transportation.
- Maintain the highest standards of hygiene and cleaning in the animal sections and contribute to the general upkeep and care of the centre environment.
- Adhere to dog training plans devised by the Centre Clinical Behaviourist and assist with dog-to-dog introductions to assess rehoming criteria.
- Ensure accurate, detailed records are kept for each animal’s overall care, including health checks, feeding, temperature, medication and handling.
- Ensure that animals are prepared for adoption in accordance with Centre procedures including carrying out health checks, vaccination, neutering, micro-chipping and any other treatments required.
- Ensure an outstanding service to animals, adopters and visitors.
- Make introductory telephone or video calls to potential adopters to discuss rehoming needs and assist with face-to-face "animal meets".
- Maximise rehoming by positively promoting animals and assist potential adopters to select animals appropriate to their circumstances by providing accurate and relevant information and advice.
- Undertake other tasks as directed by your Line Manager.
- Undergo training as decided by your Line Manager, which may include travelling to the training venue.
- Drive the Branch vehicles on Branch business as directed by your Line Manager.
- Assist with our fundraising events.
Please Note: RSPCA Cornwall Branch is an independently registered charity, working under the umbrella of the National RSPCA and employment in this post will be with the Cornwall Branch.
Due to the location of the Centre, with no public transport links, own transport is essential.
If you feel you have the correct working experience and qualifications to meet the needs of this role, please apply via Indeed with your CV and a covering letter to explain your suitability for this post.
Please do not visit the Centre regarding this vacancy. Only applications via Indeed will be accepted, so please do not email or post your application to us.
As we always receive a large number of applications for our vacancies, we will be unable to respond to all applicants individually. If you are successfully short-listed for interview, you will be contacted within 10 working days of the closing date of Friday 17 March 2023.
Once we have received sufficient interest in this vacancy, we may close the advert early to evaluate candidates.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Salary: £9.59 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability
COVID-19 considerations:
Covid precautions: Additional sanitisation, lateral flow tests for all staff and volunteers.
We are closed to public visitors unless by appointment.
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience working in a customer facing role? If this is not included in your CV, please explain in covering letter.
Experience:
- employment in Animal care: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Full UK Manual driving licence (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 17/03/2023
