Pet Welfare Assistant - Off-site Services

Blue Cross UK; Hitchin; On-site; GBP 14,985 - 24,976; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

38 days holiday rising to 43 with service

Wellbeing support programmes

Free access to GP services

Health cash plan

Employee assistance programme

Enhanced pension scheme

Life assurance

20% discount on pet insurance

Annual volunteer days

Job summary

Blue Cross UK is looking for a Pet Welfare Assistant to support off-site animal care in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. You will manage pet case loads, ensuring high welfare standards while providing excellent customer support. Ideal candidates are empathetic and intuitive, with experience in animal welfare. The role offers a permanent contract at 22.5 hours per week, with a compensation of £14,985 annually and comprehensive benefits, including holiday and wellness programs.

Qualifications

• Experience working or volunteering with domestic animals or in an animal welfare environment.
• Good administrative skills, including use of computerised systems.
• A full driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Manage a specific number of pet cases within the off-site pet care service.
• Ensure welfare standards are met for pets in foster homes.
• Provide excellent customer service as the public face of Blue Cross.

Skills

Empathy

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Experience with Domestic Animals

Customer Service

Job description

Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services

Location: Hertfordshire

Compensation: £14,985 per year (FTE £24,976)

Application Deadline: 31 May 2026

Description

Contract: Permanent, 22.5 hours per week

Salary: £14,985 per annum (£24,976 FTE)

Location: Hitchin, SG4 8EU

Closing date: Sunday 31st May 2026

Interview dates: 8th, 9th and 10th of June 2026

We’re recruiting a Pet Welfare Assistant for off‑site animal care in our Rehoming & Fostering team in Hertfordshire.

As a Pet Welfare Assistant for our off‑site services, you will play an important role in our mission, ensuring that every pet receives the love, attention, and support they deserve while they are in our off‑site care.

More about the role

As a Pet Welfare Assistant – Off‑site Services, you will be responsible for expertly managing a specific number of pet cases within the off‑site pet care service, which may be rehoming pets in foster care, Home Direct service or pets in temporary crisis care.

You will ensure welfare standards are met and that rehabilitation plans are followed and supported for pets in foster homes.

This role will also be responsible for ensuring the assessment of pets preparing for a new home in off‑site services is completed quickly.

Additionally, you will provide excellent customer service as the centre may be the ‘public face’ of Blue Cross.

We are ambitious and aim to help more pets and people.

About you

You are empathetic, intuitive, and focused on animal welfare, with experience in a similar environment. You can assess pet needs, recognise behavioural signs, and have a basic understanding of medications.

You are self‑motivated and collaborative, bringing practical, creative solutions for the best care outcomes.

Your communication skills are first‑class, making you approachable and effective in sharing critical information with fosterers, clients, and stakeholders.

You are resilient and emotionally intelligent, able to thrive in emotionally charged situations while supporting both clients and colleagues with empathy.

Knowledge, skills, and experience

• Experience of having previously worked or volunteered with domestic animals or in an animal welfare environment.
• Good experience of recording information and being able to accurately convey this when communicating with others.
• Previous experience in working in a customer‑focused environment and used to achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Good organisational and administrative skills, including use of computerised systems.
• A full driving licence.
• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values.

Although not essential, it would be great if you also had:

• Qualification or similar experience in animal behaviour or animal training.
• Experience of cash handling.
• Experience of working to strict health and safety procedures.
• Understanding of safeguarding issues.

How to apply

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 31st May 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.

Blue Cross benefits

Our generous benefits package includes:

• Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
• Free access to GP via MetLife – 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
• Health cash plan
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
• Life assurance
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Recognition scheme
• Annual volunteer days
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.