Relevant Experience of Handling Dogs in a Working Environment
Job Title: / Freedom Project Assistant (Temporary Contract)
Reporting to: / Freedom Project Senior Assistant/ Outreach Projects Manager
Location: / Islington, LondonEC1V (office based)
Contract: / 12 months
Hours: / Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm
Revised: / May 2012
Post details / This post is for women only and is exempt under section 7.2 (e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Summary
Dogs Trust Freedom Project is a pet fostering service for women fleeing domestic violence. The service places dogs into volunteer foster homes on a temporary basis until their owners are able to have them back. We also take referrals for cats and arrange care for them with Cats Protection. The Freedom Project has been running successfully in the Greater London Area since June 2004 and in Yorkshire since July 2005. We are currently looking to recruit a full-time Assistant to work alongside our full-time Senior Assistant for an initial 12 month fixed term contract.
The project takes referrals from various agencies, including; women’s refuges, the police service and local authority housing departments. Each foster placement is continually monitored and each volunteer foster carer receives ongoing support and advice. For safety reasons owners are unable to visit their pet during its placement, however regular updates and photographs are sent.
We are looking for someone who has extensive experience of handling dogs in a working environment. The candidate should have excellent communication skills, a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and an understanding of the problems experienced by families fleeing domestic violence with pets. A large part of this role involves transporting dogs and cats across London and the Home Counties, so candidates should have a full UK driving licence and experience of driving as part of a previous role.
Duties
Freedom Project
Collect and transport dogs and cats from safe locations in Greater London and the Home Counties
Assess suitability of Volunteer Foster Carers by carrying out home checks and interviews
Carry out monitoring visits and makephone calls to Volunteer Foster Carers during each placement
Monitor the health and behaviour of foster dogs during each placement
Provide advice and support to Volunteer Foster Carers
Liaise with veterinary surgeries regarding subsidised treatmentand payment procedures
Order dog food and dog accessories for the project
Update clients on their dog’s progress including sending them monthly photographs and updates
Liaise with refuges/housing departments
Maintain contact databases for foster carers, clients and foster dogs
Assist in answering public enquiries coming into the project via telephone, email and letter
Assist the Outreach Projects Manager and Senior Freedom Project Assistant with developing Freedom Project policies and procedures when required
Attend events to promote the service and recruit Volunteer Foster Carers
Attendregular update meetings with the Senior Freedom Project Assistant and Outreach Projects Manager
Cover the day to day running of the service in the absence of the Senior Freedom Project Assistant
Provide the Senior Freedom Project Assistant with weekly reports
To cover out of hours mobile phone rota one week in six
Duties Continued
General
To assist and support the Outreach Projects team when required
Liaise effectively with internal Dogs Trust departments when required
To implement and abide by all Dogs Trust and Freedom Project service policies
Ensure that all Health and Safety procedures, as deemed necessary after assessment of risk, are implemented and followed
Carry out any other duties as directed by the Senior Freedom Project Assistant, Outreach Projects Manager or Veterinary Director
Person Specification
Essential
- Relevant experience of handling dogs in a working environment
- Competent driver, with a valid driving licence, who has driven as part of a previous role
- Confident communicator (written and verbal), able to deal with sensitive and challenging situations in an appropriate manner
- Ability to work and communicate as part of a team but able to prioritise and to take responsibility for own workload
- IT literate, able to use elements of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel & Outlook) and bespoke databases
- A commitment to the wellbeing and care of animals
- An understanding of the problems faced by women fleeing domestic violence with pets
- A valid driving licence
- Desirable
- A veterinary or dog behaviour background
- Experience of transporting animals as part of a previous role
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