Kennel Assistant

**Job Title**: Kennel Assistant Liverpool

**Location**:Freshfields Animal Rescue, Liverpool

**Hours**: Full time - min 37.5 hours per week. Shift patterns between 7am - 5pm. Some weekend shifts required.

**Reports to**: Kennel Head/Operations Manager Liverpool

**Job Purpose**: To make a positive difference to the lives of animals and people through the proactive rescue and rehoming of dogs in need. To share animal welfare knowledge and proactively encourage the highest standards of care for dogs in our communities.

**Key Activities**
- Daily care, watering, feeding, cleaning kennels, hygiene and exercise of dogs, supervision of animal handling and transportation, prevention of outbreaks and transmission of disease.
- Co-operation under direction from the Deputy Operations Manager with the consulting veterinary surgeon in respect of the examination and treatment of dogs including ensuring that treatments and medications are administered in the prescribed quantity at the specified intervals.
- Non-veterinary health assessment, in collaboration with other staff, of dogs entering and leaving the rescue, ensuring completion of all associated reports.
- On-going assessment, in conjunction with other staff, of dogs within the facility with respect to their health, welfare, general condition and suitability for rehoming. Drawing attention of superiors to dogs not considered to be fully healthy or considered to require veterinary attention.
- Regular inspection of all equipment within the facility, with early reporting of any defects or deficiencies, found, also assisting with stock control of equipment, feeding and cleaning supplies. Ensure the facility and surroundings are maintained in a tidy and presentable standard and secure at all times.
- Ensuring every dog secures a new home in as short a time as possible including liaising with the public visiting the facility, and acting as a point of contact for public enquiries about dogs within the facility.
- To undertake other duties as required by the Kennel Unit Head and/or Operations Manager.

While at work all staff are required to:

- Take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts and omissions.
- Co-operate with the charity’s policies and procedures for health and safety

Knowledge, skill and experience:
Education qualifications:

- Good general standard of education

Professional/Technical Qualifications/Skills:

- Good customer care skills
- Good communication skills
- Good administrative skills
- Pragmatic approach to animal welfare

**Experience**:

- **Must have hands-on experience of working with dogs within a professional environment in a paid or voluntary position.**

Job Context:

- Work is assigned by the Kennel Head
- Work is carried out within the general guidelines of the charity. Specific targets are set by the Kennel Head or Operations Manager.
- Work is assessed through regular one to one meetings, team meetings and quarterly supervisions with the Kennel Head.
- The post holder should have the ability to make decisions on the routine matching of dogs to potential adopters as per rescue rehoming guidelines, dog acceptance and allocation to the centre and dog nutritional requirements.
- The post holder is part of front line staff providing care for dogs, maintaining good customer relations and projecting a professional image for the charity.

Additional Information:

- The post holder must be able to work effectively unsupervised and as part of a team.
- The post holder must be confident in dealing with difficult dogs and all breeds of dog.
- The post holder may need to drive the establishment vehicle under the charities insurance as directed by the Kennel Head/Operations Manager
- The post holder will be required to work to a Charity accepted standard.
- Post holders need to be aware that the role is physically challenging and demanding with early starts in all weathers.
- This job description is a statement of the job content agreed. It should not be seen as precluding future changes.
- Days can change, flexibility is essential.
- There may be occasions where unpaid overtime is required.
- A full, clean driving license with your own transport is essential.
- Public relations interactions will be required.

**Salary**: £10.42 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 37.5 per week

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Weekend availability

Application question(s):

- What previous experience do you have working in a kennel environment - specifically with dogs with complex needs?

**Experience**:

- kennel: 1 year (required)

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Kennels FTC 24
Expected start date: 02/04/2024