Animal Technician
Job brief
The post holder will maintain the farm area and livestock at Daisy Chain to a high standard ensuring that all legal requirements are met. They will ensure that all visitors, placements and volunteers are supervised at all times. Additionally, they will plan and deliver child centred activities relating to animals.
Hours-8hrs per week with an additional 3 hrs 2 weeks of the month, this will include Sundays 9am to 14:30pm
Salary-£20,397.15 per annum (pro-rata)
Daisy Chain is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone in our care and therefore this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check
Applications will be shortlisted as they are received. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close applications early if the right candidate is found.
Key Tasks
- To maintain the general cleanliness, security and tidiness of all barn and farm areas.
- To ensure the completion of Daisy Chains daily farm routine to the required standards.
- To ensure stock levels of all foods, medications and required materials are maintained at all times and storage of foresaid items meets with COSHH and other relevant legislation.
- To maintain all animal records and documentation to meet with all current legislation and inspections by local authority animal welfare officers.
- To administer medications and liaise with Barn Manager as required.
- To help plan, supervise and participate in all farm visits and activity days as required.
- To ensure the safe and adequate supervision of animals during farm visits
- To supervise placements and volunteers to ensure the completion of their required duties as shown on the Daisy Chain daily planner.
- To deliver training and educational opportunities to visitors as requested.
- To deliver child centred activities relating to animals and their environment
- To liaise with and provide reports and information to the Barn Manager in relation to all farm activities when needed.
- Help implement a positive reinforcement training programme to a range of farm animals under the instruction of the Barn Manager.
- Monitor and record the implementation of the animal training programme. Work closely with and provide feedback to the barn manager of the progress of the animals trained.
- Support staff to develop practical animal handling skills to be used with service users and help monitor animals during sessions when needed
Additional responsibilities:
- Comply with the Charities Health and Safety policy in all employment practices
- Work in ways, which promote equality of opportunity, participation and responsibility
- Maintain the integrity of the Daisy Chain brand in all internal and external communications
- Maintain a proactive approach to your role and responsibilities along with a commitment to contribute and maintain the positive working ethos within the Charity
- Ensure attendance at staff meetings.
- Work in a way that contributes to the continuous improvement of the Charitys services and embraces the organisations quality initiatives
This job outline is intended to indicate the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but, while some variation can be expected in particular duties, the outline is considered to provide a reasonable general description of the post.
Person Specification
Successful candidates will have a strong work ethic, and share our Company values of Passionate, Inclusive, Empowering, Ambitious, Open and Innovative. If you have worked in a similar setting before all the better, but most importantly we are looking for people who share our ethos of improving the lives of autistic and neurodivergent children, adults and families. The below details what we are looking for in an ideal candidate if it is Essential (E) Desirable (D) and how we will assess that skill, via your application (A) at Interview (I) or as part of a task during the interview process (T)
Experience
- Experience of working with a wide range of animals - E, A, I
- Experience of face to face work with young people in a formal or informal setting - E, A, I
- Experience of working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions - D, A, I
- Experience of working in the voluntary sector - D, A, I
- Experience of working at a visitor attraction - D, A, I
Qualifications
- Animal care qualification to at least Level 2 or equivalent - E, A
- Basic numeracy and literacy skills - E, A
- First Aid Certificate D, A
Knowledge & Skills
- Knowledge of current legislation relating to work with children and young people - D, A
- Knowledge of current legislation relating to working with animals -E, A, I
- Knowledge of health and safety procedures and C.O.S.H.H procedures - E, A, I
- Able to plan and deliver animal related activities for children - E, A, I
Other
- Ability to work within agreed and often tight timescales - E, A, I
- Ability to work well independently and as part of a team - E, A
- Accurate monitoring and record keeping skills - E, A, I
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills - E, A, I
- IT literate and able to use all appropriate software packages - E, A
- Willingness to be flexible about the work undertaken - E, A, I
- Understanding of and commitment to the aims, ethos and philosophy of Daisy Chain - E, A
- Ability and willingness to work during the evening and weekends, including Sundays and bank holidays - E, A, I
- Must be physically fit for outdoor work in all weathers - E, A, I
Company Benefits
Our staff do amazing jobs and as such we want to reward our staff that is why we offer
- Enhanced holiday leave of 33 days annual leave (pro rata for part time employees) rising to 35 after 5 years service.
- A bespoke induction plan specific to you and your role which starts as soon as a job offer is accepted.
- Alongside your induction plan new members of staff have a 6 month induction programme and planned meetings with their line manager to ensure the employee is settling in and offer any support needed to fulfil their role.
- Ongoing training and development.
- Our Employee Assistance Programme offers a full range of confidential services designed to ensure you receive professional support that may affect work and home life.
- Company Pension Scheme.
- Staff discount.
- Free on-site car parking and refreshments.
- Social and charitable events.
- Company sick Pay after successful completion of probationary period.
- Savings Club
- Give as you earn scheme for staff to make donation to a charity of their choice if they wish.
- If your role requires membership of a professional Body we will pay your membership fees.
ETHOS & CULTURE
I am passionate about improving the lives of Autistic children and adults and committed to Daisy Chains values, culture, and ethos. I will represent Daisy Chain in a positive manner and will always behave professionally. I will demonstrate empathy and support towards families and collaborate with staff and volunteers in the Daisy Chain team.
Vision: Our shared vision is for every person we support to live a life they enjoy and is meaningful to them at every stage
Mission: To support and empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals through the provision of holistic person-centred services, whilst promoting training, wellbeing, inclusion and acceptance regionally and nationwide
Values: Passionate; Inclusive; Empowering; Ambitious; Open; Innovative
Daisy Chains Six Core Values
Passionate Caring deeply about what you do and where you work. Having a personal investment and motivation to see Daisy Chain succeed.
Open Welcoming discussion, inquiry, and criticism. Having a mind open to new ideas and thoughts.
Inclusive Including many different types of people whom we treat all fairly and equally.
Empowering To give power to someone to enable them to be stronger and more confident within their role.
Ambitious Having or showing a strong desire and determination to achieve.
Innovative Bringing new ideas and creating improved products and services.
To be considered for the role click on the apply button above and submit your CV and details along with The Daisy Chain Application Form. If you have any gaps within your employment history, please state the reasons for these gaps within your CV. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us on 01642 531248.
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.
If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, to enable you to perform to the best of your ability, please let us know when submitting your CV.