Animal Care Assistant

We are current looking for an Animal Care Assistant's to join the team at the Edinburgh Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre. This centre offers rehabilitation and rehoming to domestic, exotic and equine animals.

Since 1839 the Scottish SPCA has existed for one reason – to make Scotland the best place in the world for an animal to call home. We rescue, protect and lead the conversation on animal welfare. We are Scotland’s animal champions.

Our Animal Care Assistants are there to provide a safe environment for all animals whilst in the care of the animal rescue and rehoming centre and to help animals find loving new homes wherever possible.

Working with many different types of animals, no day will ever look the same. The role responsibilities include feeding, grooming, cleaning and maintaining animal accommodation, exercising and socialising animals according to their individual needs, carrying out routine health checks, and administering vet approved medication and care when required.

• Hours
  – 37.5 hours per week, 10 days in 14to include weekend working on a rota basis
• Salary – £24,784.50 per annum (FTE)
• Contract Type – Permanent

• Assist with any treatments, medications, births and general care of all animals within the ARRC in line with vet team processes
• Maintain and monitor accurate animal record following and updating each animal’s care plan as required
• Attend to the welfare needs of all animals (food preparation/feeding routines, grooming & exercising)
• Animal accommodation, isolation areas, pens, treatment rooms and exercise facilities are maintained to strict standards of cleanliness and hygiene
• Handle enquiries from the general public and provide excellent customer service
• Conduct educational tours of the centre
• Assist with home checks for rehoming animals
• Assist with the humane destruction of animals including carcass disposal in line with the Society’s policy of not putting healthy animals to sleep
• Promote Scottish SPCA membership to the public where appropriate
• Provide key holder duties in case of sickness/emergency where applicable
• Participate in the on-call rota if desired

• Team-working including colleagues and Society volunteers
• Follow instructions and work to set processes
• Excellent customer care and communication skills
• Good attention to detail in a fast-paced role
• Treats others with professionalism, courtesy, and respect at all times
• Capacity to adapt, recover and move forward
• Flexibility to cover shift pattern which to include weekends
• Drive to improve personal development
• A willingness to work within group shift pattern
• A passion for animal welfare

This position will require completion of a PVG check due to working with youth volunteers.

We are fortunate that some of our roles attract a high level of interest therefore, we may have to close roles earlier than advertised. Early application submissions are highly recommended. This also means that we cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates due to receiving high levels of applications.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equine Welfare Member of the National Equine Welfare Council.