Behaviour and Welfare Advisor

The Rspca; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An animal welfare organization in Aylesbury seeks a Behaviour and Welfare Advisor to monitor and improve the welfare of cats and small animals. The role requires a Level 5 qualification and a full UK Driving Licence. Responsibilities include developing intervention plans, training staff and providing placement advice to ensure rehoming success. The position emphasizes teamwork and regular support.,.

Qualifications

• Level 5 qualification attracting 120 UCAS points.
• Full UK Driving licence required.
• Right to work in the UK.
• Previous experience with behavior modification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assess and monitor the behaviour and welfare of cats and dogs.
• Develop tailored behaviour and welfare plans.
• Support and train staff and volunteers.
• Provide adoption advice to ensure successful rehoming.

Skills

Behavior modification

Training principles

Excellent communication

Strong IT skills (Google platform)

Education

Level 5 qualification (120 UCAS points)

Job description

Overview

Onsite role: Your base will be at our Blackberry Farm Animal Centre located in Aylesbury. Due to the location and limited public transport, a driver’s license is essential for this position.

We value belonging to the team from the start, with regular check-ins and team meetings. A teammate is always available for support or a quick chat. We anticipate strong interest in this role and therefore encourage early applications; the closing date is 23 September.

What a day might look like: At RSPCA, no two days are the same. As a Behaviour and Welfare Advisor, you’ll assess and monitor the welfare of cats and small animals, with a growing focus on cats arriving from multi-cat households that may present complex behavioural issues due to poor early socialisation. You’ll design and implement structured intervention plans to enable faster rehabilitation, shorter stays, and greater rehoming success. You’ll work closely with colleagues, volunteers and behaviour specialists, providing training, advice and hands-on support at your base and across other centres, ensuring animals with the most challenging needs have the best chance of a happy future.

Responsibilities

• Assess and monitor the behaviour and welfare of cats and dogs in our care.
• Develop and implement tailored behaviour and welfare plans, with a focus on more complex cases.
• Support and train staff and volunteers to care for and rehabilitate animals effectively.
• Provide pre- and post-adoption advice to help ensure successful rehoming and reduce return rates.
• Visit other RSPCA centres, branches and private boarding establishments to support animal welfare decisions.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Applicants must hold a Level 5 qualification attracting 120 UCAS points (UK Tariff or equivalent). Candidates who are currently working towards such a qualification may be considered if they can demonstrate substantial, directly relevant work experience and a clear developmental pathway towards completion.
• Full UK Driving licence – you will frequently be required to travel between multiple sites.
• Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Right to work in the UK; we are unable to sponsor visas at RSPCA.
• Desirable: Proven ability to apply theory of behaviour modification and training principles (beyond personal pets); experience training others in handling, training and behaviour modification; strong IT and administrative skills (preferably Google platform); excellent communication skills to support and engage colleagues, volunteers and the public.

Working Arrangements and Additional Information

• Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Sunday on a rota.
• We are building a diverse society and actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.
• We are committed to a positive candidate experience; feedback may not always be possible due to high application volumes.
• For application or interview support, please contact 0300 123 0685.