ABOUT THE ROLE
The role reports to the Kennel & Cattery Lead and is responsible for the general day-to-day care of animals during their time at the centre. They ensure the safety and welfare of the dogs and cats in our care, engaging with members of the public and continually providing excellent customer service to optimise animal and customer journeys. The role will be expected to work cross-functionally in both the Cattery and Kennels.
Animal Intake:
- Ensuring a compassionate, empathetic, non-judgemental approach is taken with all members of the public needing to relinquish a cat or dog
- Arrange and conduct intake assessments
- Maintain accurate admission paper and electronic records in line with agreed procedures
Animal Care:
- Responsible for the welfare of animals in the Charity’s care, ensuring the highest standards of care are given at all times, in line with ADCH Code of Practice and the Charity’s guidelines and considering the individual needs of each animal
- Responsible for the day-to-day care of all animals, including the cleaning and maintenance of accommodation, feeding, exercising, socialisation and enrichment
- To work closely with all members of the welfare team regarding the progress of animals in our care, always keeping in mind the ultimate goal of rehoming
- Responsible for delivering the agreed training and behaviour interventions to applicable animals
- Uphold RCVS standards and conform to welfare and veterinary procedures for the administration of all medication conforming to legal requirements including the storage and handling of drugs and disposal of waste.
- Maintain accurate paper and electronic records in a timely manner, ensuring animal information is recorded in line with agreed processes and procedures
- Responsible for conducting behavioural assessments in line with agreed procedures
- To monitor the health and wellbeing of the animals, ensuring that any animal illness, injury or behaviour issues are recorded and reported immediately to the Kennel & Cattery Lead or
Welfare Operations Manager in their absence
- Carry out veterinary visits as appropriate
- Responsible for ensuring vet visits and instructions are carried out as necessary. To cooperate with the vet in respect of the examination and treatment of animals including ensuring that treatments and medications are administered in the prescribed quantity at the specified intervals
- To ensure all veterinary advice is followed exactly, monitoring progress and identifying and flagging any relevant changes uncovered in the animals health before and after medication
- To ensure all animals have the required medication and treatment in line with standard procedures, including correct timing of neutering, vaccination, flea and worm and microchipping
Animal Rehoming:
- Positively promote rehoming, be knowledgeable of the rehoming procedures, giving advice to those wishing to rehome a pet and assist customers with any homing enquiries, providing accurate information to ensure a thorough matching process is adhered to at all times
- Conduct adoptions alongside the Welfare Coordinator, covering a high level of customer service and a thorough matching service.
- Oversee introductions between our animals and potential owners existing pets
- Recommend when an animal is ready for rehoming and carry out necessary preparations
- Provision of photographs/videos and promotional content in preparation for rehoming
- Ensure all animals available for homing are advertised in a positive and professional manner, focusing on evidence based matching criteria
- In conjunction with the Kennel & Cattery Lead, promote and implement optimum ‘Length of Stay’ so no animal is in our care longer than necessary
Other Duties:
- Maintain high standards of work at all times
- Provide effective and compassionate customer service
- Ensure all areas of the centre are kept hazard free, clean and tidy at all times
- To work alongside other members of the team, including volunteers providing support as appropriate
- To attend relevant training and personal development opportunities to fulfil requirements of the role
- Ensuring and considering the cost-effectiveness of all operations and activities
- Ensure that cash control and handling procedures are fully adhered to
- Deal with public enquiries in a timely and professional manner, including but not limited to: telephone enquiries, emails, social media and visitors to the centre
- Positively promote and contribute to centre fundraising activities at all times
- Adhere to all Rain Rescue policies and procedures
- Carry out other duties relevant to the post as directed by the Kennel & Cattery Lead or other members of the centre Leadership team or Board of Trustees
ABOUT YOU
The ideal candidate will have a love of dogs & cats and a passion to help match them into the right new home, with an understanding of animal behaviour and a desire to learn more. You will have experience of working in a similar role and be comfortable in an environment where no two days are ever the same and sometimes tough decisions are needed. You will be hard-working and reliable and possess a passion for animal welfare and an empathy with people. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and have eective time management.
Required knowledge, skills and experience:
- Full clean driving licence
- Ability to work constructively and collaboratively with all colleagues and volunteers across the centre
- Understanding of The Animal Welfare Act and behavioural issues
- Sound awareness and understanding of medical and behavioural problems and issues and how they may be displayed in a rescue environment
- Ability to care for cats and dogs from a range of different backgrounds, competently and safely handling them using the appropriate methods
- Experience working in the charity sector, preferably in animal welfare
- Understanding of rescue centre operations and ability to implement safe procedures
- Professional and empathetic customer service skills
- High attention to detail for accuracy and welfare considerations
- Good communication and relationship building skills
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written
- Confident IT skills and good organisational and decision-making skills
Personal attributes:
- Responsible
- Trustworthy
- Compassionate
- Adaptable
- High level of Integrity and attention to detail
- Dynamic
- Resilient
Rotherham, South Yorkshire
