Ready to make a real difference to animal welfare? Join the RSPCA as an Animal Rescue Officer and respond to cases of cruelty, neglect, and injury across Norfolk and Suffolk, with comprehensive training and a supportive team behind you.
As an Animal Rescue Officer with the RSPCA, you'll respond to reports of animal cruelty, neglect, and injury across the Cambridgeshire and Norfolk region, working from bases in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Bungay, and Beccles. This is a field-based role involving significant independent travel, including frequent long-distance driving up to 150 miles per day, though you'll remain closely connected to a supportive and experienced team.
The work is deeply meaningful but physically and emotionally demanding. You'll engage with people from diverse backgrounds in challenging situations, using calm communication and strong judgement to de-escalate tensions, gather information, and make accountable decisions about animal welfare and public safety. The RSPCA recognises the emotional demands of this career and provides mental health resources, inclusive policies, and ongoing development to support your wellbeing and long-term progression.
Much of your time will be spent working independently across towns, cities, suburbs, and rural areas. You'll work shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends, with rotas planned in advance wherever possible to balance operational needs with your wellbeing.
The RSPCA is the UK's leading animal welfare charity, operating across England and Wales. The organisation is committed to preventing animal suffering through rescue, education, and advocacy. This role sits within the frontline rescue operation, serving the Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Group across multiple locations including Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Bungay, and Beccles.
The RSPCA actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion, welcoming applicants from all ethnic backgrounds, faiths, cultures, and life experiences. The organisation recognises that skills gained through community leadership, caring responsibilities, public service, and lived experience are highly valuable, and operates internal affinity networks supporting women, neurodiversity, parents and guardians, carers, and minority ethnic staff members.
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