Horse Rehoming Team Member (Non-riding post)

Near Great Yarmouth

Full time permanent position

40 hours per week (to include weekends on a rota basis)

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced and confident individual to join the Redwings Rehoming Centre at or Caldecott Visitor Centre, in a non-riding post.

This post is subject to safer recruitment processes to ensure effective safeguarding of all those who come in to contact with our charity. The successful applicant will be required to have a DBS check in place before employment is confirmed.

Benefits include a workplace pension scheme, employee assistance programme, Cycle2Work Scheme, death in service benefit, Sanctuary sick pay and a minimum of 30 days holiday per year including bank holidays.

A live-in furnished shared flat, is available if required (rent payable), to include 4 late evening site checks per week as additional hours. If living offsite you must be available to support with the late evening site checks, this will be arranged as additional hours and on a shared rota basis.

A full manual driving licence is necessary as you will be required to drive company vehicles

Salary £21,673.60 for over 23’s

21-22 £21,174.40

18-20 £15,579.20

In addition, we offer shift workers a premium pay rate on Sundays (time and a half) and Bank Holidays (double time).

Closing date: Monday 17th April 2023

Job Purpose and Scope

This is a non ridden role within the Rehoming department.

To work under the specific supervision of the Team Leader(s) and provide a high standard of care and welfare of the equines at your centre.

Caring for large animals is a very physical activity and the role involves bending, lifting and other labour intensive tasks.

Organisational Relationships

Responsible to the Operations Manager, supervised as required by senior staff members.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• To provide high quality care that ensures all equines have access to suitable water, feed and shelter and to ensure that hygiene is maintained.
• To ensure stables/shelters are mucked out thoroughly, water receptacles are clean and refilled, haynets filled and weighed.
• To ensure instructions regarding the feeding of equines is followed stringently.
• To give a visual health check to the equines including lameness
• To inform senior staff of equine ailments and needs.
• Medication will be prescribed to some of the equines under your care, this you will expected to give on your rounds,
• To ensure paddocks are checked for hazards and clean.

Daily Care

• The catching and holding of horses for the farrier and /or veterinary purposes.
• The grooming, trimming and bathing of equines, with the application and checking of rugs.
• Transporting of equines safely. As an assistant and/or driver of horsebox/trailer.
• Tractor driving, using paddock sweeper and other implements.
• General use of tack and equine handling equipment
• Removal of muck from paddocks manually

Backing, Training and Schooling

• To train all sizes of equines, in accordance with Redwings training policies.
• To carry out all equine groundwork training in accordance with Redwings training policies.
• To retrain equines with unwanted behaviours, in accordance with Redwings training policies.
• To lead out in hand with accompanying member of staff riding / leading.
• To keep all tack and equipment safe and clean.
• To keep accurate records of equine training programmes
• To assist with the matching of Redwings equines and potential guardians.
• To assist with delivering and collecting equines
• Participate in demonstrations, external events and helping at other sites with rehoming equines.
• When appropriate undertake home checks.

Rehoming ridden trials

• To supervise and evaluate riders (including children and/or adults at risk) during ridden trials ensuring that riders are seated safely and securely and providing reassurance to less experienced riders.
• Communicate and interact effectively with potential guardians including children and parents or caregivers.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Education/Qualifications

• A competent handler of horses with proven abilities

Experience

• Previous experience of training and caring for horses in a work based environment. Private based experience with own horses may also be considered at the discretion of the Rehoming Manager.

Skills/Knowledge

• Awareness of the importance to train in accordance with the individual horse’s needs and speed of learning. Possess knowledge on a wide range of training methods. Good communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to prioritise workload and make sound decisions based on equine knowledge and common sense

Qualities/Attributes

• Committed approach to equines and their needs. Receptive approach towards learning new training methods. Attention to detail and ability to adhere closely to working procedures following health and safety regulations. Confident, calm and patient manner. Flexible approach to tasks and rota and a strong team player. Ability to deal with staff from other departments and members of the public in a helpful and professional manner. Adhere to Data Protection and Confidentiality procedures

Other Requirements

• An Enhanced DBS check will be needed for this post. To be prepared to attend meetings or undertake training relevant to the post. To be prepared to provide support to other teams when required to do so.

Desirable Criteria:

Education/Qualifications

• Qualification in an equine related subject

Experience

• Previous experience of working with equines in Backing and Training.

Skills/Knowledge

• Previous experience of working in a Backing and Training Yard

Quality/Attributes

• Previous experience of assessing horses and their training deficits