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Job description

Background

We are a council approved, Five Star rated doggy daycare, home boarding and luxury cat hotel, set in 15 acres of beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside just 5 minutes from Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield. We pride ourselves on offering a top quality service to discerning dog and cat owners who rely on us to provide the best care for their animals while they are at work or on holiday. We are not a kennels!

We are family run and have been established for over 10 years. The owners have a lifetime of experience with animals and are heavily involved in the day to day running of the business alongside the staff members. Both the doggy daycare / home boarding business and the cat hotel are highly regarded locally with excellent reviews and are used by local vets for their own animals.

We are seeking to expand the team and need someone who can care for dogs and cats. The role is likely to be roughly 50% dog and 50% cat focused but we are looking for someone who is happy to switch between both businesses as needed.

What makes us different

We offer a superb working environment and we keep all areas immaculate – you will have the benefit of a heated staff building with kitchen, toilet and shower facilities. We are not the typical doggy daycare with muddy fields and a log cabin! We are looking for exceptional staff who place animal care above all else and in return for your commitment we provide a friendly and welcoming work environment with engaged management where everyone is focused on excellence.

We only accept certain breeds of dog so that we can ensure a safe yet fun environment for our doggy visitors – we select our clients based on their sociable nature and ability to fit into the groups of dogs that we already have.

Our cat hotel has received rave reviews – there really is nothing else like it in the area – we have invested heavily in the most spacious, top quality accommodation and we offer excellent care and enrichment for our feline visitors. As a result we are frequently booked up a year in advance!

What kind of person are we looking for?

You must have had a minimum of one year’s experience working with dogs in a doggy daycare or kennels or be able to demonstrate a minimum of one year’s experience in a professional animal setting (e.g. at a vet or an animal charity). We pride ourselves on our high standards and so you’ll need to have a willingness to learn and be trained to do the job the way we like it done.

You will be someone that loves being outdoors, even in bad weather and you must have a passion and affinity for animals. You will be enthusiastic and self motivated with good organisational skills.

We need someone who can interact with clients in a professional way. You will be representing the business. We are looking for a “people person” who enjoys meeting and talking to clients and can give them professional feedback on how their dog or cat behaved while they were with us

You will have really high standards. We keep the premises immaculate, so you’ll need to be prepared to do things in a five-star way!

You will be comfortable using IT systems, such as our booking system and also posting photos to social media and updating owners.

You’ll also have great communication skills, not only with owners but internally within the team and with management.

Ideally you will live close to Gerrards Cross/Beaconsfield and have your own transport so you can be here on time. We place huge importance on dependability.

What are the specifics of the role?

It’s a 5 day week and one of these days will be at the weekend – although there may be periods where weekend work is not required, but you need to be prepared to be available if needed.

For a full time 5 day a week employee the salary is £21,000 per year, plus pension and 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)

We offer induction training and the opportunity for ongoing development - ideal for someone searching for a long term role with the potential to grow. After a successful six month probation period, we are prepared to help you gain OFQUAL qualifications.

You will be dealing with all aspects of the care of cats and dogs. This includes the preparation of cat pens and dog rooms, managing the arrival and departure of animals, feeding, enrichment and daily care, observing health and behaviour and documenting it, identifying and reporting risks and issues, exercising dogs in groups or in pairs plus feeding, light washing and grooming.

A vital part of the job is communicating in a professional manner with clients both verbally and in writing. This includes providing updates on their animals, sending photos and emails and developing a rapport with owners to engender trust. You may need to post social media updates, or send photos to owners.

Duties

Include but are not limited to:

· Working in a team with other animal care team members and working with the Directors

· Following our guidelines and standard operating procedures

· Checking dogs and cats in and out, using our IT system. Meeting and greeting customers and always projecting a positive image of the company. Chatting to customers about their pets, their stay with us and engendering trust and peace of mind with the client.

· Delivering excellent care for the animals. Feeding cats and dogs, administering medication where appropriate and keeping documentation as required.

· Escalating issues and concerns to the Directors

· Establishing a safe and enriching daycare environment for the dogs

· Grouping dogs according to temperament, energy level and size so that they enjoy their stay to the maximum. Identify issues before they become a problem.

· Walking dogs and leading play sessions in the fields

· Being observant and reporting any concerns about health and welfare of any animal in our care

· Taking daily photos for client updates and social media.

· Organising and carrying out training for dogs

· Managing the cattery operations to the standard and according to the procedures laid down by the Directors

· Cleaning the cat pens, carrying out light grooming and play with the cats, feeding and completing care logs.

· Providing emergency cover, potentially including short periods of live-in care if the Directors are away

If all this sounds like a match, then we would love to talk to you. Click Apply Now and we look forward to meeting you!!!

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £21,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• CHALFONT ST. GILES: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Why do you want to work for us?
• Are you willing to do some weekend work?

Experience:

• animal care in a work setting (NOT your own pets): 1 year (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 15/06/2023