Livestock farming & maintenance worker - Cumbria

Outdoor Learning; Carlisle; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

3% employer pension

32 days annual leave (pro rata)

Job summary

Susan’s Farm CIO in Cumbria is seeking a Livestock Farming and Maintenance Worker to join our small educational charity. You will work across our two sites (about 140 acres) independently, caring for cattle, sheep, and poultry on an organic farm.

The role includes stock checks, animal welfare, and farm maintenance, with occasional work with adult groups. A full UK driving licence for towing a trailer is essential; fixed-term 12 months with probation and 32 days leave pro rata are offered.

Qualifications

• Farming experience and knowledge
• Experience with stock checks and moving cattle/sheep
• Ability to identify common livestock ailments and maintain welfare
• Experience with farm maintenance tasks such as fencing and gates
• Full UK driving licence with trailer towing capability
• Willingness to learn to operate a quad bike on site

Responsibilities

• Carry out stock checks at both sites.
• Identify and treat common ailments among cattle and sheep.
• Line feed cattle and sheep in winter at both sites.
• Load and transport live animals in a trailer, including to abattoir.
• Carry out farm repairs, e.g. fencing and gates.
• Support seasonal tasks such as lambing, haymaking, tupping.

Skills

Farming experience

Stock checks

Livestock handling

Farm maintenance

Full UK driving licence

Quad bike operation (learning)

Animal welfare

Job description

• Livestock farming & maintenance worker - Cumbria

Location: Houghton, Carlisle, Cumbria
Salary: £26,227 FTE
Closes: 10/11/26

Livestock farming & maintenance worker at Susan’s Farm CIO

Part-time, 15 hours a week. Fixed term 12 months, with three months' probation period.

Salary: £26,227 FTE (£10,491 pro rata). 3% employer pension contribution. 32 days annual leave including bank holidays (97.5 hours pro rata).

About Susan's Farm

Susan’s Farm is a small educational charity running day services for adults, young people and children through an organic livestock farm near Carlisle, Cumbria. Our vision is that people’s lives are transformed by working together in purposeful outdoor activity so they can reach their full potential. We run educational visits for schools, an alternative provision service for young people who struggle with secondary school, and group sessions for adults.

Purpose of Role

We are looking for a Livestock Farming and Maintenance Worker to join our team. You will work largely independently across our two sites of around 140 acres, which we farm as a tenant. Our current stock is a suckler herd of seven pedigree English Longhorn cows and 20 followers, plus a flock of 35 mule sheep, hens and a horse. We are certified organic to Soil Association standards and Pasture for Life accredited. We sell our own meat through local markets and direct sales. In addition to farm work, there will also be the opportunity to work with one of our adult groups.

Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment at Susan's Farm

Susan’s Farm believes that all children and adults at risk deserve to live, study and work in an environment that promotes their health, well-being and development and is free from abuse, maltreatment, and exploitation. Susan’s Farm is committed to the safeguarding and protection of all children and adults who attend our services. To do this Susan’s Farm will ensure that all staff members are suitable for a position for working with children and adults at risk. Our safeguarding policies and safer recruitment policy are available here. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended in 2013 & 2020). Applicants invited to interview will be required to complete a self-disclosure form. Confirmation of appointment is subject to a check with the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) which will be arranged and paid for by Susan’s Farm.

Right to work

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. A statutory right-to-work check will be conducted prior to employment.

Site maintenance and farming support

• Carry out stock checks at both sites
• Identify and treat common ailments among cattle and sheep (lameness, flystrike etc.)
• In winter, line feed cattle and sheep at both sites
• Load and transport live animals in a trailer, including to abattoir
• Carry out farm repairs, for example to fencing, gates etc.
• Remove weeds and cut back overgrown vegetation using a mower / strimmer
• Support seasonal tasks: lambing, haymaking, tupping
• Contribute to keeping indoor and outdoor areas clean, tidy and secure
• Feed cats and chickens, collect and box eggs as required

Team and group work

• Work with the Farming Lead, education staff, external contractors and volunteers as required

Safeguarding and health & safety

• Report all safeguarding issues in line with organisational policies.
• Follow organisational risk assessments and health & safety policies at all times.

Person specification

• Farming experience, knowledge and skills
• Experience of carrying out stock checks, and moving and handling cattle and sheep, including loading and unloading.
• Experience of identifying and treating common ailments among cattle and sheep (lameness, flystrike etc.)
• Experience of carrying out farm maintenance tasks, e.g. fencing repairs
• Full UK driving licence, and competent to drive towing a trailer. Able, or willing to learn to ride a quad bike with a trailer and mower.
• Understanding of, and commitment to high standards of animal welfare, and supportive of organic and sustainable farming

Other experience, attributes and skills

• Supportive of Susan's Farm's educational work with adults and young people, and empathy for children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Willingness to undertake safeguarding training as required.
• Able to understand and follow organisational policies.
• Willing to pitch in with day-to-day tidying and maintenance, to support the running of the organisation.
• Ideally able to work out of hours approximately twice monthly to take stock to abattoir, and available to come in occasionally on non-working days in an emergency and when additional staff capacity is required Experience of a small farm setting
• Experience of working in a small team
• Confident to drive a nine-seater minibus, or to learn.