Receptionist / Animal Care Assistant

**A. MAIN JOB PERAMETERS**

JOB TITLE: - Receptionist / Animal Care Assistant

LOCATION: - RSPCA Southport Ormskirk & District Animal Centre

ACCOUNTABLE TO: - Animal Care Manager

B. OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Provide front of office reception services, establishing good customer relations and maintaining related administrative procedures, together with care for animals in the Animal Centre.

C. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To have responsibility and to assist management and other staff & volunteers to maintain the following:

- Cleaning / hygiene
- General Care:

- Approach, handling, restraint
- Exercise
- Coat Care
- Routine Health - monitor physical condition
- monitor behavioral patterns
- vaccination and worming
- treatments and medications
- Observation and Reporting
- Feeding / watering
- Micro-chipping & Fund-Raising Events
- Record keeping
- Public relations, customer care and administration
- Volunteers
- Health and Safety, including risk assessment
- Security &Maintenance
- Other

To maintain and operate effective reception services, use the Branch’s Animal Welfare Management System (Anilog) and ensure that Branch website(s) and Social Media pages are kept up to date. Working with the Branch Manager and other staff, you will complete the following duties:

- Undertake reception duties and deal with members of the public, national RSPCA staff and volunteers.
- Booking in & out of animals and updating Anilog.
- Ensure the smooth running of the Centre shop / operation of till and maintaining records.
- Recording, storage and retrieval of reception records.
- Use a variety of software packages including Microsoft Word & Excel.
- Order Animal Centre supplies.
- Clean the Reception Building (including Ladies’ and Gent’s Toilets).
- Provide basic Animal Care assistance, including cleaning and feeding of animals, when reception is closed.
- D. General_
- Answerable to the Branch Manager during the Animal Care Manager’s absence.
- To attend any training courses as required.
- To ensure compliance with RSPCA standards / policies.
- Observe all Health & Safety instructions and procedures.
- Ensure that all areas are secure and the need for repairs & maintenance is reported.
- To undertake any other duties commensurate with the job and as requested.

EXPLANATION

1. **Cleaning and Hygiene**

Clean, disinfect and maintain, to a standard of cleanliness set by management, all animal accommodation, isolation and exercise areas; food preparation, laundry, storage, treatment and destruction facilities. This might also include reception, offices, stores, staff facilities including toilets and outside areas.

2. **General Care**

Attend to the needs of the individuals, including:

- Exercise

Coat Care/grooming

Administration of first aid, treatments and medications as directed

Assist with the humane destruction of animals, including carcass disposal

3. **Observation and reporting**

Assist with the inspection and or treatment of animals by a Veterinary Surgeon, or other authorised person at the Animal Centre.

Carry out checks on animals, including the taking of temperature and inspection of eyes, ear, nose and throat for signs of infection or abnormality.

Report any abnormalities to Animal Care Supervisor or Management.

4. **Feeding and Watering**

Following instructions as laid down by management, prepare and provide food and water for all animals in the establishment.

**5. Micro-chipping & Fund Raising Events**

Taking part in the arranging of micro chipping events, micro-chip implantation and completion of micro-chip records. Providing instruction in pet restraint when appropriate to members of the public. Taking part in fund raising activities being undertaken by the branch as directed by the Animal Care Manager and Branch Manager. For example, Fun Dog shows and Paws in the Park.

6. **Record Keeping**

Maintain records, registers and statistics as required by management. Use of Branch computer systems to record any of records maintained in the day to day duties of the post.

7. **Customer care and administration**
- Attend to the needs of the client/customer/general public.
- Liaise with colleagues in other departments/RSPCA Branch workers/volunteers.
- Assist with ordering, stock rotation, presentation, sales and stocktaking.
- Complete documentation relating to acceptance and release of animals.

8. **Volunteers**

Assistance in volunteer induction, training and daily supervision.

9. **Health and Safety, including Risk Assessment**

Procedures as laid down in the Health and Safety manual are to be observed in all

aspects of work.

10. **Security & Maintenance**

Make sure building/exercise areas are secure, check before work commences and when work finishes. Report any faulty equipment, lighting, heating, ventilation equipment, etc to the appropriate authority within the establishment.

11. **Other**

Assistance at fundraising events at the Animal Centre or in the Branch’s Area.

Any oth