Animal Care Assistant (2117)

We are looking for a new Animal Care Assistant to join us on a fixed-term contract for 12 months. You will be working as part of the team at the RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre near Middlesbrough. 

The animals that come into our care at Great Ayton are identified by our Animal Rescue Officers and Inspectors as those most in need. Often abandoned, abused and neglected they all receive care, attention and love from the team. We look after cats, dogs, rabbits and other domestic animals as well as farm animals. At any one time we could be caring for over 150 animals!

Working hours: 35 per week (8.30am-4.30pm with a one hour lunch break), working a 4 week rolling roster which includes every other weekend and some bank holidays.

To find out more about life at the centre, you can visit our social media pages:

RSPCA Great Ayton Facebook

RSPCA Great Ayton Instagram  

Are you ready to be part of our journey and make a difference?

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity at the largest animal welfare charity in the UK as an Animal Care Assistant. 

Our Animal Care Assistants are essential to the care,  rehabilitation and eventual rehoming of animals who have been rescued from cruelty and neglect.

You'll start your day cleaning the enclosures of our intakes, ranging from dogs, cats, rabbits and other small domestic species, as well as feeding, watering, grooming and exercising them.

You'll ensure the highest standards of welfare, and will monitor and report on animal behaviour, wellbeing and health. You will also administer medication or treatment prescribed by a Vet and implement behaviour modification programmes with guidance from our Behaviour and Welfare Advisors and the wider team.

Once the animals in our care are ready for their forever home, you'll work with potential adopters to assess their suitability and provide post-adoption advice and support.

• Experience working with animals, particularly dogs, in a professional or voluntary capacity (not as a pet owner). We are particularly interested in hearing from you if you have experience of dog grooming, working in a private boarding kennel or as an animal carer for another charity or company.
• Resilience - many of the animals in our care have been victims of neglect and/or cruelty. 
• Willing to undertake practical work outdoors in all weather.
• Excellent communication and team working skills - you'll be working with colleagues across the RSPCA, volunteers and members of the public.
• Able to multitask and work under pressure - working with animals can be busy and unpredictable! 
• Comfortable with using IT - you'll be keeping computerised records on the animals under your care. 
• We are located in a rural area with limited public transport. It is therefore important you have your own means of transport to travel to and from work.

Desirable:

• Animal care qualifications
• Driving licence 

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles may need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK  as we are unable to sponsor visas.

We are really lucky that some of our roles attract a high level of interest, and for this reason we review applications as they are received. Unfortunately on some occasions this means roles may close earlier than advertised, so early submissions are highly recommended. 

We do try to give feedback where we can but sometimes, due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission. For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications, in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities, as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA.

Should you need any support with your application or interview process please contact resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk