Animal Welfare Assistant Reading, England
Job description
Highcroft Luxury Boarding Kennels and Cattery is set in 6 acres of grounds and surrounded by woodland and open fields. It provides an ideal setting for our purpose-built excellent boarding facilities. We are seeking an experienced candidate to join our existing team of animal carers who are dedicated to providing an enjoyable, fun and safe environment for our guests, whilst delivering a professional, quality service.
Main Job Purpose
To ensure the daily environmental and emotional animal welfare needs of our guests are met. To complete administrative tasks ensuring continuity of care and to provide feedback to customers. To assist in the daily operation of reception.
Main Duties
Ensure sleep environment is clean, dry and comfortable by performing all daily cleaning/sterilising operations in line with our documented procedures.
Ensure nutritional needs are met preparing foods in line with individual dietary requirements. Provide fresh water throughout the day.
Prepare / Administer medication in line with our documented procedures.
Perform and document preliminary health check assessments and complete written animal boarding records.
Perform animal behaviour assessments, ensuring safe handling at all times.
Follow individual care plans, to ensure that individual enrichment and exercise opportunities are followed – walking, playing, interacting, training exercises and feeding enrichment exercises.
Perform daily monitoring of health and wellbeing and take action to ensure all necessary adjustments to individual care plans are highlighted and undertaken.
Perform basic grooming of dogs and cats and undertake any training required to enhance these skills to meet business needs.
Perform Reception duties including engaging with customers, checking our guests in and out and dealing with telephone enquiries.
Ensure the establishment is kept clean and tidy and perform basic maintenance tasks as required.
Undertake any other duties as required by the Management Team.
Our Expectations
We are a small company, so everyone on the team is vital to the successful running of the business. The successful candidate will have a friendly, mature and professional attitude and must be extremely reliable, punctual, flexible and trustworthy.
Caring for animals is full-time, all year-round. In this position you will be required to work at least one day every weekend and Bank Holidays, Easter, Christmas and New Year.
As we are a seasonal business, candidates considered for permanent positions will be expected to work variable hours. School holidays are our busiest times, so there are restrictions on taking holidays at these times. The days and hours you are expected to work are subject to change according to the time of year.
Education and Training
Minimum Level 2 qualification in an Animal Welfare or related subject is preferable but not essential if you have worked in an animal realtated environment for at least one year.
Qualities
- Good communication skills
- Energetic and self-motivated
- Conscientious
- A 'can do' attitude
- Trustworthy, flexible and reliable
- The desire to progress and enhance your knowledge
Experience and Skills
You will have previous experience of working in a Kennels and Cattery Boarding environment or within a Dog Training or Dog Day Care environment: - 1year (Preferred)
The position involves meeting with customers, so experience with the general public would be an advantage.
Basic IT skills advantageous
Requirements
It is vital that you are able to get to us easily. Applicants for permanent positions must hold a valid driving license and have their own car.
This can be a very demanding physical position so applicants must be physically able to do the job and must be able to care for and deal with dogs.
You will need to demonstrate an understanding of dogs and cats and their needs.
You should be able to demonstrate both your desire to work within the field of animal care and within our establishment.
Be happy to work outside in all weathers and to work effectively within a small team.
You are required to be flexible to meet changing business needs.
This is a tremendously rewarding and varied role for the right candidate.
- To be considered for this role, applicants must submit their CV together with a covering letter that demonstrates their suitability for the role and explains why they want to join our team.
Successful candidates will be invited to a taster day prior to a formal offer.
Part-time / Full time Permanent and Temporary Contracts available.
We will not consider applications without a covering letter.
Candidates for permanent contracts must be available to work 365 days a year including weekends, public and school holidays.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent, Temp to perm
Salary: £19,000.00-£22,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Reading, RG7 5XB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
