Wildlife Assistant

**Location**:West Hatch Wildlife Centre, Taunton

**Contract**:4-month contract

**Salary**: £18,965- £19,953 per annum + 4% shift allowance

**Hours**:Full time (35 hours per week)

**Closing date**:Monday 1 May at 23:30

Please note, interviews are expected to be held on Tuesday 2 May between 9am and 4pm, with an extra date to be added shortly.

We're looking for 3 Wildlife Assistants to join our brilliant team at the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre to help us during our busiest time of the year. West Hatch has some of the best wildlife rehabilitation facilities in the country, with over 120 rooms and specifically designed enclosures.

Our Wildlife Assistants play a fundamental role in supporting the rescue, rehabilitation and release of a variety of British wildlife including orphaned and injured wild animals, from hedgehogs to seal pups. We care for our patients for as long as it takes to get them fit for return to the wild.

**What you’ll be doing as an RSPCA Wildlife Assistant**:

- Primarily, you’ll be ensuring the cleanliness, hygiene and maintenance of all areas, including pens, aviaries, pools, treatment rooms, kitchen and storage areas.
- Carrying out care, feeding and rehabilitation procedures involving hands-on treatment and monitoring of all sorts of wildlife species requiring different approaches.
- Accurately recording information and assisting in the collation of statistics.
- Assisting with the release of wildlife including the identification, surveying and preparation of release sites as well as the transportation of the animal to the release site.
- Working both evening and weekend shifts.

**You’ll have**:

- Experience of handling, rehabilitating and assessing a variety of British wildlife species.
- The emotional resilience to regularly manage injured and distressed wildlife.
- Days are varied and busy, so you’ll be highly organised and adept at planning your day effectively and working under pressure.
- Ability and comfortable to work alone and unsupervised.
- Good interpersonal skills, a natural communicator and enjoy talking to people as much as you enjoy helping our wildlife
- A whizz at keeping and maintaining computerised records.
- Whilst it is not essential you have a driving license, we are located in a rural area with limited public transport.

**What's in it for you?**

It's an exciting time to join us in the decade of our bicentenary as we focus on our Strategy to 2030. The RSPCA works 365 days a year, rescuing all animals of all types from abuse, neglect, and injury.

We value and recognise our employees' contribution and are proud to offer an extensive benefits package that includes:

- Great annual leave benefits - 25 days annual leave on entry rising after 5 years
- Additional society day around Christmas
- Generous pension scheme
- Associated life assurance and group income protection scheme
- Access to a healthcare cash plan
- Employee assistance programme
- Family friendly policies

**Our values**:
We are compassionate *We are inspirational *We are committed *We are expert *We act with integrity.

**How to apply**

Please note we are not accepting unsolicited CVs from agencies for this opportunity.

Ending cruelty, promoting kindness and alleviating suffering to animals.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 4 months

**Salary**: £18,965.00-£19,953.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company pension
- Life insurance
- Sick pay
- Wellness programme

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Weekend availability

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 01/05/2023
Reference ID: 0477