Dog Welfare Specialist

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association; Atherton; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 20,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Real Living Wage Employer

26 days annual leave

Excellent pension scheme

Flex pot - flexible benefits

Buy/sell annual leave

Discounts and cash-back scheme

Job summary

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is seeking a proactive Dog Welfare Specialist to support welfare decisions and canine health across Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, North Stafford, Cumbria and surrounding areas.

The role requires regular travel and a weekly or bi-weekly presence at the Atherton site, with 21 hours per week (9am–5pm, Monday, Tuesday and Friday). You’ll collaborate with veterinary professionals and volunteers to ensure outstanding welfare and quality of life for our dogs.

Qualifications

• Vocational qualification in canine health and welfare to NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• Ability to travel across the designated regions and hold a full UK driving licence or demonstrate alternative arrangements.
• Experience working with dogs in a professional welfare environment.
• Experience coaching, teaching, mentoring or supporting others to develop knowledge, skills or competence.

Responsibilities

• Assist in operational delivery of dog welfare services across the designated area.
• Collaborate with Dog Triage and veterinary services to provide in-person advice and support to volunteers and clients.
• Carry out in-person welfare assessments as directed by the Dog Welfare Operations Manager.
• Gather veterinary information to support treatment decisions and liaise with veterinary professionals and clients.
• Interpret complex technical information for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure dogs receive required health screens and investigations in collaboration with GDS colleagues.

Skills

Canine health & welfare

Welfare assessment

Veterinary case management

Stakeholder communication

Driving / transport ability

Education

NVQ level 3 in canine health and welfare

Job description

Come and join us as a proactive and purpose-led Dog Welfare Specialist and be part of something life-changing - helping people with sight loss live the life they choose. This is a highly visible and collaborative role requiring regular travel across Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, North Stafford, Cumbria and surrounding areas. You'll work closely with colleagues and stakeholders across a diverse geographical area, so flexibility and a willingness to undertake frequent, and occasionally daily, travel is essential. A regular weekly or twice-weekly presence at our Atherton site will also form an important part of the role, enabling effective teamwork, relationship building, and service delivery. Regular hands-on involvement with our dogs is a key aspect of the role, including organising on-site clinics, monitoring health and welfare, and supporting evidence-based welfare decision making. For this role you'll be working 21 hours per week, worked 9am to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday and Friday. As a Dog Welfare Specialist at Guide Dogs, you'll play a key role in ensuring our dogs receive the highest standards of care and welfare. Working closely with guide dog owners, volunteers, veterinary professionals and colleagues, you'll provide expert advice, assess welfare needs, interpret complex health information and support informed decisions that maximise canine health, wellbeing and quality of life. The Dog Welfare Specialist will be an expert in canine health and welfare, welfare assessment, veterinary case management and translating complex technical information into practical guidance for a wide range of stakeholders. Our Dog Welfare Specialists play a huge part in ensuring everything we do enables us to deliver on our purpose and exceed expectations.

Job Responsibilities

• As part of a regional team, assist in the operational delivery of all dog welfare services ensuring best practice.
• Collaborate with the Dog Triage and veterinary services teams to provide in person advice and practical support as appropriate to volunteers and clients within the designated geographical area.
• Adhering to prioritisation criteria carryout in-person welfare assessments, as directed by the Dog Welfare Operations Manager.
• Responsible for gaining all relevant veterinary information to support decisions on treatment plans. Consult with internal and external veterinary professionals and/or clients to identify the most appropriate course of action, maximise the dog's veterinary care and welfare.
• Interpret or clarify technical information to aid understanding for internal and external stakeholders.
• In collaboration with Guide Dog Service (GDS) colleagues, ensure all dogs allocated to the Dog Welfare Specialist, receive required health screens and investigations.

Skills and Competencies

• Vocational qualification specific to canine health and welfare to NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• One of the following:
  1. 2 'A' levels (one of which must be a biological or social science subject) (QCF level 3 / SQCF levels 6-7)
  2. OR equivalent qualifications, or experience.
• Able to meet the travel requirements of the role which involves transporting dogs. In the absence of a full valid UK Driving License, you will be expected to demonstrate how you will fulfil this aspect of the role via alternative means.
• Experience working with dogs within a professional environment, applying welfare-based decision making to support positive outcomes.
• Experience coaching, teaching, mentoring or supporting others to develop knowledge, skills or competence.
• Experience of dealing with complex canine health cases in a veterinary, rescue or welfare environment.
• Sound understanding of canine welfare principles and their practical application.
• Good knowledge of common canine health conditions, treatment options and ongoing management requirements.

Contract Details

• Part-time (21 hours per week worked Monday, Tuesday and Friday ) Contract (12 months) Disability

Benefits

• £18,600 per year + excellent benefits
• 26 days annual leave. After three years of continuous employment, this increases to 28 days plus bank holidays.
• Real Living Wage Employer
• Flex pot - equal to a proportion of your annual salary to use on our wide variety of flexible benefits
• The option to buy and sell annual leave
• Discounts and cash-back scheme
• Excellent pension scheme (We will match your pension contributions plus 2% up to a maximum of 9% employer contribution)
• And lots more!