Animal Care Assistant

About the Role

You'll be at the heart of animal rescue and rehabilitation at the RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre, a busy facility near Middlesbrough caring for over 150 animals at any given time. From dogs and cats to rabbits, small furries and farm animals, each arrival tells a story of abandonment, abuse or neglect, and your role is to help them recover and find their forever homes. Working a full-time 35-hour week on a 12-month fixed-term contract, you'll be hands-on, outdoors in all weathers, and part of a dedicated team committed to the highest welfare standards.

Shift pattern: 08:30 to 16:30, including every other weekend. You'll need your own transport as the centre is in a rural location with no public transport links nearby.

Key Responsibilities

• Clean and maintain animal accommodation, ensuring hygiene and comfort for all residents
• Feed, water, groom and exercise animals daily, with particular focus on dogs, cats and small domestic species
• Monitor and report on animal behaviour, wellbeing and health, flagging any concerns to the team
• Administer medications and treatments prescribed by veterinary staff
• Implement behaviour modification programmes under guidance from the Behaviour and Welfare Advisors
• Work with potential adopters to match animals to suitable homes and provide post-adoption support
• Maintain detailed digital records to track each animal's progress and journey

Requirements

• Experience working with animals, particularly dogs, in a professional or voluntary setting (previous pet ownership alone does not qualify)
• Preferred backgrounds include: animal care work for another charity, animal boarding establishment experience, or dog grooming
• Resilience and compassion, understanding that most animals have experienced trauma
• Practical approach to hands-on work in varied weather conditions
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with colleagues, volunteers and the public
• Adaptability and ability to stay calm under pressure in an unpredictable environment
• Basic IT confidence for digital record-keeping
• Own transport to travel to and from the rural location
• Legal right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship not available)
• Willingness to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Desirable

• Relevant animal care qualifications
• Driving licence

Benefits

• Competitive salary of £24,479 plus 4% shift allowance
• 35-hour working week (full-time)
• 25 days annual holiday
• Pension scheme
• Healthcare cash plan
• Life assurance
• Occupational sick pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Dog-friendly workplace policies
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff discount schemes
• Family-friendly policies
• Professional development support

About the Practice

The RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre is part of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a registered charity dedicated to animal welfare across England and Wales. The centre cares for rescued animals ranging from domestic pets to farm animals, each requiring specialist attention and rehabilitation. The team works with animal rescue inspectors and behaviour specialists to provide comprehensive care and find suitable adoptive homes.

The organisation values diversity and actively welcomes applications from all backgrounds, particularly from underrepresented groups including people of colour and those with disabilities. The RSPCA is committed to creating a supportive, inclusive workplace where every team member can thrive.