Dog Triage Welfare Specialist

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association; Reading; Remote; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity is seeking a Dog Triage Welfare Specialist to provide high-quality health triage services for dogs. This fully remote role requires strong IT skills and veterinary knowledge. Responsibilities include responding to health inquiries, collaborating with stakeholders, and adhering to triage protocols. This is a fixed-term contract for 6 months, offering a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in dog health or veterinary care is preferred.
• Ability to engage with customers, including visually impaired owners.
• Commitment to professional development.

Responsibilities

• Deliver national health triage services via the Guide Dog Information Line.
• Adhere to triage protocols for effective service delivery.
• Refer complex health issues to the manager or veterinary team.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for coordinated delivery of care.
• Monitor performance metrics and identify improvement areas.

Skills

Strong IT skills

Veterinary knowledge

Communication skills

Job description

About The Role

The Dog Triage Welfare Specialist helps people with sight loss live the life they choose by delivering an efficient, high-quality dog health triage service. This role entails triaging and coordinating health treatment needs for dogs residing in the community through a national call service. Collaborating closely with the Veterinary Services and Community health teams, the role ensures that our volunteers and service users receive accurate advice, and our dogs receive appropriate treatment when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver national health triage services by responding to all calls escalated from the Guide Dog Information Line (GDIL), which require technical health support and advice for all customers regarding dog health and veterinary care.
• Adhere to triage protocols and procedures to maintain consistency and effectiveness in service delivery.
• Refer complex or high-priority dog health issues to the manager or veterinary service team and provide ongoing telephone support to customers as needed.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure smooth coordination and delivery of care for dogs in the community.
• Assist in coordinating with external veterinary suppliers based on the severity and nature of reported health issues.
• Help monitor performance metrics related to triage services and contribute to identifying areas for improvement.
• Support efforts to identify trends and patterns in reported health issues, facilitating proactive interventions and preventive measures.
• Support dog welfare by assisting in the development of health-related policies and projects.
• Engage in professional development opportunities to ensure veterinary knowledge remains up to date.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, and operational standards.

This is a fully remote role, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, within a supportive team. It’s a fixed-term contract for 6 months and a great opportunity to join a well-respected charity. Strong IT skills are essential, and you’ll be providing advice and support on dog welfare, including to visually impaired owners.

About Us

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.