Animal Care Assistant (2797)

We're on the lookout for two passionate Animal Care Assistants to join our dedicated team at the RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre, near Middlesbrough on a permanent basis.

Every animal that comes through our gates has a story - most are abandoned, abused or neglected. From cats, dogs, rabbits and small furries to farm animals, we care for them all. On any given day, we can be looking after 150+ animals, each one getting the love, attention and rehabilitation they deserve.

Shift pattern: 08:30–16:30, including every other weekend.

Are you one of our kind?

Our recruitment journey - key dates for you to note: 

We believe in transparency and a stress-free experience. Here is a quick look at what you can expect.

1. Application

           You'll be asked a few targeted questions designed to help us understand your experience, unique skills, and future potential. This is your first chance to stand out!

2. Panel Interview  -w/c 30th March 

            If your application hits the mark, we'll invite you to meet us in person. You'll sit down with the  Manager and Deputy Manager for a competency based interview.  

3. Second stage - If we are interested in your application after the first interview we will ask you back for the second stage. Here we will be delving into your knowledge a bit further on animal behaviour, dogs in particular.  We will have a series of videos for you to watch and questions will be asked based on the content you see.  You will also receive a tour of the centre and get to meet some of the team.

As an Animal Care Assistant, you'll be at the heart of our mission helping animals rescued by our Inspectors to recover, rebuild trust and find their forever homes.

Your day will include:

• You'll start your day by cleaning the accommodation 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.
• Working with adopters to match animals to the right homes, and offering post-adoption support.

No two days are the same, it's hands-on, rewarding and sometimes tough, but always worth it! 

Essential

• 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 working as an animal carer for another charity or animal boarding establishment or as a dog groomer.
• Resilience - most of our animals have been through trauma, and need patience and compassion.
• Practicality - you'll be outdoors in all weathers, mucking in as part of the team.
• Communication skills - working with colleagues, volunteers and the public is a big part of the role.
• Adaptability - animal care can be unpredictable, so you'll need to stay calm under pressure
• IT confidence - you'll use digital records to track each animal's journey.
• Transport - We are located in a rural area with no public transport links nearby. 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 will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK - We are unable to sponsor visas at RSPCA

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed  to our 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. Your transferable skills & lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family! 

We're here to support you and encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please feel free to contact us at resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk or 0300 123 0685 so we can ensure the process works for you.