Pet Welfare Assistant - Onsite and Offsite Services (Small animals): Rolleston

Our Rolleston rehoming centre is a 65-acre site in Staffordshire, opened in 2006 we can care for up to 55 horses in our paddocks and stables. We also have a small cattery that can care for up to five cats. We have a dedicated team who care for and rehome pets in our care both on and off site. We have a team of volunteers that support horse/cat care and admin, along with a great foster network who provide off site spaces for pets. Our rehoming team works hard to not only rehome pets from the centre but also through our home direct rehoming scheme.
As a skilled animal handler and assessor, you will be responsible the 'preparation stage' with the pets in our care which involves caring, carrying out assessments and rehabilitation plans, preparing them for the 'adoption stage' or the best possible outcome for their circumstances with minimal delay.
As the Pet Welfare Assistant, your responsibilities extend both on and off-site, supporting the efficient operation of the Pet Care Service on-site and coordinating fostering and home direct initiatives. You will ensure that the welfare standards are met and that rehabilitation plans are followed and supported. Working independently and with the team you will carry out meetings with owners giving up their pet, ensuring all information is recorded, paperwork completed and that the pet is immediately assessed for behavioural or veterinary problems. Working closely with the Adoptions Coordinator you will provide additional in person or virtual advice and practical demonstrations to ensure adoptees are fully aware of the work that has been done with the pet and how to continue with any other additional behaviour training or medical provision.
This is a part time role working 15 hours per week on the following fixed working pattern:

Week 1: Wednesday
Week 2: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Your working day will be from 8:00 until 16.30.
At our Rolleston rehoming centre, we provide onsite accommodation for pets in our care 24/7. Overnight shifts are usually undertaken by team members who live on site. Occasionally, you will be expected to carry out night checks or stay in on site accommodation overnight when the resident team members are either not working or away for a period of time. These duties are organised on a local rota and shared between all members of the team.
If you excel in an environment where you can see the difference you make every day, then this is the role for you. Interested? Then apply and let's work together to see if this is the role for you., If you would like to talk to us about any reasonable adjustments or changes to our recruitment process to support you to be your best, then please get in touch either via email at jobs@bluecross.org.uk, via telephone on or if you would prefer a video call then we can arrange this using Microsoft Teams.
Our values
Our values define the way we do things. We use them every day to guide us, and to make sure we put people and pets at the heart of everything we do.
Compassionate: We listen, we are non-judgmental, we are kind and caring to the pets and people we encounter, and we offer support in difficult times
Courageous: We make brave decisions, embrace change, and encourage innovation, ensuring we always act with integrity - doing the right thing even when no one is looking
Inclusive: We value all our relationships and work in an open and positive culture where we celebrate our diverse talents and empower you to be you

As a skilled animal handler and assessor, you will be intuitive with pets, empathetic and welfare focused having worked in a similar animal related environment. You will also be used to assessing the needs of a pet, alert to the behavioural signs and have a basic knowledge of the use of medication e.g., hibiscrub, flea and tick treatments, diabetes management. In addition, you will have a fundamental understanding that the best welfare intervention for a pet is to find a new home and leave on site pet accommodation as quickly as possible.
You will be self-motivated, forward thinking with a collaborative and creative approach to your work, which will ensure to bring your best pragmatic ideas for the care of the pets to ensure the best outcome is achieved. In addition, you will be able to quickly assimilate information, be competent at accurately recording information while also conducting conversations with clients and stakeholders. You will be an excellent communicator, approachable with strong interpersonal skills.
You will know what it is like to work in an emotionally charged environment and have excellent 'bounce back ability' and resilience. In addition, you will be emotionally intelligent, showing empathy and knowing how to support clients and colleagues.
Knowledge, skills, and experience

• Experience of having previously worked or volunteered with domestic animals or in an animal welfare environment.


• Previous experience in working in a customer focused environment and used to achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.


• Good organisational and administration skills to include computerised systems.


• Current full driving licence.


It would be great (but not essential) 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.


Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached the job description which hopefully gives you everything you need.

Blue Cross benefits, Blue Cross is a national charity that has been helping sick, injured and homeless pets since 1897.

Every month we help thousands of pets and their people by providing veterinary care, expert behaviour advice and find homeless pets loving families. We also offer education for future generations plus pet bereavement support for those who have lost their beloved pet companion.

We love the ways that pets can make such an amazing difference to the people they live with and we offer lifelong support and advice to help that unique relationship thrive. With your support we can give back to more pets and their families who need our help.

Pets change lives. We change theirs.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
We believe that every pet should enjoy a healthy life in a happy home, and we always seek to recruit the best people who share our values and commitment so we can continue to help and support pet owners across the UK to achieve this.
At Blue Cross, we want you to feel that you belong, without the need to hide any part of who you are.
Diversity and inclusion at Blue Cross means creating a workplace where all people, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, nation or country of origin, disability, age, and socioeconomic backgrounds are welcome, respected, supported, and have access to equal opportunities.
We are working hard to reflect the world we live in and the communities we serve at every level of our organisation. As much as we have made positive advances, we consider diversity and inclusion to be a work in progress - a continual commitment that remains a priority for all of us.

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.
In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:

• Enhanced annual leave entitlement: 30 days plus bank holidays


• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution


• Health cash plan


• Life assurance


• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme


• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support


• Free access to GP via MetLife


• Recognition scheme Annual volunteer days


• Claim for professional fees