Animal Care Assistant

Scottish SPCA; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The Scottish SPCA seeks an Animal Care Assistant for their Aberdeenshire centre. This role involves caring for diverse animals, including rehabilitation and rehoming efforts, and specifically requires equine experience. Ideal candidates will have practical animal experience and a strong commitment to animal welfare.

Qualifications

• Practical experience working with animals is essential.
• Previous experience in a customer-focused environment is required.
• Commitment to animal welfare is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Feed and groom animals, ensuring proper exercise and socialisation.
• Assist with treatments, medications, and general care.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards for animal accommodations.

Skills

Customer care

Communication

Animal welfare

Teamwork

Resilience

Job description

We are current looking for an Animal Care Assistant to join the team at the Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.This centre offers rehabilitation and rehoming to both domestic animals and equine. This role specifically requires equine experience.

If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please read on for more information.

• Hours– 37.5 hours per week, 10 days in 14to include weekend working on a rota basis
• Salary– £23,809.50 per annum (FTE)

Contract Type – Fixed term 3 months

About the Scottish SPCA

As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, we have been on-hand to protect animals and prevent cruelty since 1839 – that’s over 185 years of creating abetter world for all animals. We’ve grown to become a national charity which celebrates the strength of the human-animal bond and enriches the lives of animals and people. We areScotland’s animal champions.

What does an Animal Care Assistant do?

Our Animal Care Assistants are there to provide a safe environment for all animals whilst in the care of the animal rescue and rehoming centre and to help animals find loving new homes.

Working with many different types of animals, no day will ever look the same.

The role requires feeding and grooming the animals as well as clearing out their accommodation and ensuring each animal gets the appropriate exercise and socialisation they need.

Many of the animals in our care also need routine health checks completed including administering relevant medicines, and this is the role of the Animal Care Assistant to provide this action when required.

Overview of main duties and responsibilities

• Assist with any treatments, medications, births and general care of all animals within the ARRC
• Maintain and monitor accurate animal record following and updating each animal’s care plan as required
• Attend to the welfare needs of all animals (food preparation/feeding routines, grooming & exercising)
• Animal accommodation, isolation areas, pens, treatment rooms and exercise facilities are maintained to strict standards of cleanliness and hygiene
• Handle enquiries from the general public and provide excellent customer service
• Conduct educational tours of the centre
• Assist with home checks for rehoming animals
• Assist with the humane destruction of animals including carcass disposal in line with the Society’s policy of not putting healthy animals to sleep
• Promote Scottish SPCA membership to the public where appropriate
• Provide key holder duties in case of sickness/emergency where applicable.

Please see full Job Description link for more detailed information on the role.

What makes a good Animal Care Assistant?

• Practical experience working with animals
• Experience working with the general public
• Previous experience in a customer focussed environment
• Excellent customer care and communication skills
• A commitment to animal welfare
• Resilient and calm approach to the role
• Ability to act with professional integrity
• Flexible approach
• Able to work well within a team
• A willingness to work within group shift pattern

We are fortunate that some of our roles attract a high level of interest therefore, we may have to close roles earlier than advertised. Early application submissions are highly recommended. This also means that we cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates due to receiving high levels of applications.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equine Welfare Member of the National Equine Welfare Council.