Animal Welfare Assistant

To provide the highest level of care for dogs and cats ensuring their welfare needs are met and working towards preparing them to find a new home and in line with ADCH and Charity guidelines.

What follows is a summary of the main outputs and relevant qualifications & experience that we're looking for. You may be required to undertake other reasonably appropriate duties as required by the needs and demands of the Charity from time to time.

How you'll make an impact on our work:

• Care for cats and dogs in accordance with Rain Rescues Standard Operating Procedures and policies.



• Ensure the cleanliness of the kennels and cat pens and all other areas of the centre at all


times.


• Prepare food and water for the dogs and cats in your care ensuring they are fed on time and in line with the dietary requirements of the animal.



• Provide each animal in your care with opportunities to exercise, play and socialise.



• Perform light maintenance, organisation and stock maintenance duties as required (this will involve scrubbing kennels, keeping drains free flowing from debris, cleaning litter trays,


removing poops and disinfecting all environments)


• Follow the training and behavioural programmes as directed by the Senior team.



• Continually assessing health and medical concerns and reporting to the senior team for


advice and guidance


• Groom and bathe animals as requested



• Ensure that records of each animal which include pen cards, diaries and medication sheets


are kept up to date


• Assist the rehoming of animals incorporating taking good photos and videos and creative


writing for their adoption posts and being part of their progression plan while with us.


• Deliver an excellent customer service to the team, our volunteers, and the public.



• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety policies and procedures in line with Rain Rescues


and statutory standards and rules, ensuring the safety of all persons and pets on and off site

at all times.


• Coordinate animal intake, manage waiting list enquiries, providing compassionate support


and clear guidance for pet relinquishment and rehoming.


• With a clear focus using techniques to reduce an animals length of stay in care, advertise


adoptable animals, handle applications, and communicate with potential adopters, delivering

prompt and professional customer service. Provide adopters with accurate paperwork and

offer post-adoption support and advice.


• Manage the animal journey, including their location, environment, quality of life, and


adoptability, focusing on optimising their length of stay.


• Assist the Kennel Supervisor with welfare volunteer and foster training and support as


required.


• Assist the veterinary team, including feeding, transporting, handling, and medicating animals.



• Oversee and complete daily tasks in the kennel and cattery departments, including feeding,


cleaning, medicating, and socialising.


• Audit and maintain accurate paper and electronic records, including the charity website.



• Manage the onsite welfare shop presentation and sales, and stock take of all welfare


consumables.


• Propose and implement new processes to enhance operational efficiency, identify cost-saving


opportunities, and improve overall effectiveness.


• Previous proven experience of working with Cats and Dogs in preferably in a boarding or


rescue centre environment.


• Proven IT skills



• Able to problem solve working within prescribed procedures.



• Sound awareness and understanding of animal medical and behavioural challenges


and how they may be displayed in a rescue environment.


• Confident in handling cats and dogs from a range of different backgrounds.


Experience & Knowledge - Good to Haves


• Understanding of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.



• Understanding of the ADCH Minimum Standardshttps://adch.org.uk/minimum-standards/



• Experience in rehoming animals and assessing adoption applications.


Qualifications - Good to Have


• Animal Care Qualification at Level 2/3


Behaviours - Essential


• Ability to deal with emotionally demanding situations and demonstrate empathy



• Able to work as part of a team



• Clear communication skills



• Ability to give guidance and oversee volunteers (no management)


Other Requirements - Essential


• Manual Driving Licence



• Able to undertake physically demanding work, including working >15,000 steps a day, able to undertake manual handling and lifting of supplies and animals up to 20kg.
  
  Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week, working on 7 day rota basis


Salary: £11.44 per hr during 6 month probation period. Subject to passing probation, salary increases to £12.56 per hr.