Assisted Animal Therapist

Due to expansion and increasing demand for our services, an exciting position has become available for an Assisted Animal Play Therapist. The successful therapist will work in school term time with their own therapy dog. If you have therapeutic experienceof working with children a strong understanding of dog behaviour and a dog(s) suitable for the role, then this is the perfect role for you to widen your experience of assisted animal play therapy. **We are looking for: -** 1) A qualified play therapist or registered children’s counsellor (must be level 5 or above and registered with a professional counselling body) who owns their own suitable dog (will be temperament tested). 2) An understanding of dog behaviour and an ability to react and alter practice to cater for the dog’s needs. 3) Advanced DBS check. 4) Willingness to drive between schools and clean license. **Responsibilities** 1) Managing their own workload. 2) Working 1 to 1 with children therapeutically. 3) Liaising with all staff responsible for the children’s welfare. 4) Always Managing the dog’s welfare, stopping sessions if necessary for the dog’s wellbeing. 5) Reporting to and liaising with Owner/director Alison Colley. 6) Always upholding company ethics and standards. 7) Fully understanding and operating within safeguarding standards and reporting any concerns to DSLonsite and Alison Colley. 8) Keeping up to date with changes in legislation regarding both therapy and handling dogs in schools. 9) Where necessary speaking to parents and assisting schools with the same. **Hope’s Therapy Dogs** "Helping to support children and adults in their emotional and mental health journey through partnership with therapy dogs and other animals. We believe that every man, woman, and child has been born for such a time as this. Their own unique contributionis needed right now and as such, there is always hope" Hope’s therapy dogs, based in the Liverpool region is, a family business set up in memory of their daughter, Hope. Hope’s dying wish was that her Mum (Alison) would train her dog (Pippa) to become a therapy dog and help other children. Currently we have4 dogs and work in 15 schools, providing emotional support to up to 90 children in any given week. We are fully committed to providing an excellent service which always delivers healing therapy to children whilst at the same time promotes happy dogs. We understandthat the best dogs for schools are not necessarily lap dogs and do well if they enjoy some action, providing they enjoy working with children. We are working to teach schools how to work with dogs ethically. We are also committed to expansion and becomingthe largest and best dog therapy service in the Northwest. We believe dedication and a commitment to learning from each other always pays off and we are determined to be a company that invests in our staff’s growth and mental health whilst they invest in thechildren in our care. Initially the post will be a contract for 12 -hours term time only with further hours becoming available as we expand and have further dogs/ animals on the team. Our culture is one of kindness, compassion, generosity, lifting up the weak and marginalised, no gossip, charitable giving, putting others before ourselves, our employees are inherently valuable not only in our employ but as individuals with their own partto play.