At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and assist customers with empathy, handling complaints and providing information.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a compassionate charity dedicated to animal welfare.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, wellbeing support, pension scheme, and discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience and excellent communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 14350 - 14350 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 22 September 2026
Department: Fundraising, Comms & Engagement
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Burford
Reporting To: Customer Care Supervisor
Compensation: £23,917 / year
Description Contract: Permanent, part time, 21 hours per week
Salary: £14,350 per annum (FTE £23,917)
Location: Hybrid working, 2 days at Burford, OX18 4PF
Working pattern: Monday 9.00am to 2.00pm, Tuesday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm. We can offer some flexibility around these hours, for example 10.00am to 2.00pm, while ensuring service needs are met.
Closing date: Tuesday 22 September 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 29 September & Friday 2 October 2026
Join Blue Cross as a Customer Care Officer and play a pivotal role in providing essential support and information to our supporters, clients, and the public. As the compassionate first point of contact, you'll offer a listening ear, expert advice, and signposting services, ensuring that every interaction leaves a positive impact on those seeking assistance. This is a hybrid role with 2 days a week in our Burford office.
More about the role:
- Handling complaints from service users with empathy, professionalism, and attention to detail.
- Documenting and investigating complaints and supporting timely resolutions.
- Responding in writing to enquiries and feedback across letters, email, and social media.
- Resolving enquiries and requests promptly, escalating complex issues where needed.
- Staying up to date with Blue Cross initiatives and campaigns to provide accurate information.
- Acting as a brand ambassador, promoting our mission and values in every interaction.
- Processing telephone donations accurately and compliantly.
- Supporting clients who may be distressed, both over the phone and face to face, with a calm, professional, and compassionate approach.
This role is pivotal in ensuring every interaction with Blue Cross leaves a positive impression, even when addressing concerns or complaints, and contributes to our mission of providing compassionate care to animals and their owners.
About you:
You’ll bring excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with a wide variety of people in a busy environment. Resilient and adaptable, you’ll be comfortable handling sensitive and emotionally charged conversations while maintaining professionalism and compassion.
Essential knowledge, skills, and experience:
- Customer service experience within a busy office or call centre environment.
- The ability to multi-task and demonstrable experience of responding to a high volume of telephone and email enquiries.
- A calm, confident telephone manner.
- Demonstrable resilience and experience of dealing with distressed and angry enquirers.
- Excellent keyboard skills, knowledge of Windows and MS Office and the ability to learn and navigate multiple IT systems.
- Experience of handling complaints.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- The ability to self-manage while working collaboratively as part of a team.
- The ability to demonstrate understanding and apply our Blue Cross values.
Desirable knowledge, skills, and experience:
- An understanding of basic animal welfare.
- An understanding of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act.
- Experience working with CRM or ticketing systems.
- Previous experience of working in the charity/voluntary sector.
Blue Cross benefits:
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:
- Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays).
- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support.
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family.
- Health cash plan.
- Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme.
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution.
- Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
- Life assurance.
- 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance.
- Enhanced family friendly policies.
- Recognition scheme.
- Annual volunteer days.
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers.
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.
Customer Care Officer (part time) in Burford employer: Blue Cross For Pets
Blue Cross at Victoria animal hospital in London is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the wellbeing of both staff and animals. With opportunities for continuous professional development and a commitment to high standards of care, employees can thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact in the community. The location in vibrant London provides unique advantages, including access to diverse cases and a dynamic team environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Care Officer (part time) in Burford
✨Connect with the Community
Get involved in customer support communities online! Platforms like Reddit and specific Facebook groups can be goldmines for sharing opportunities and tips. You can find out about part-time roles that might not even be advertised yet — it's all about who you know!
✨Attend Local Job Fairs
Job fairs are perfect for snagging part-time gigs! Keep an eye out for local hiring events and career expos in your area. It’s a brilliant chance to meet representatives from companies like Blue Cross For Pets and show off your personality in person.
✨Boost Your Visibility
Showcase your skills in online customer support forums or by offering help on platforms like Zendesk Community. A strong online presence can catch the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers looking for genuinely passionate candidates.
✨Apply Directly Through Us!
Don’t forget, applying through our website is one of the best ways to catch our attention. Tailor your application for the part-time customer support role at Blue Cross For Pets and let us see your personality shine through!
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Care Officer (part time) in Burford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Communication Skills:In customer support, communication is key! Make sure your CV and cover letter highlight your ability to clearly convey information and resolve issues. Use examples that illustrate how you've helped customers or colleagues in the past.
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Abilities:Employers want to see how you tackle challenges. Include specific instances where you resolved a tough issue for a customer or improved a process. Real life scenarios are a great way to showcase your critical thinking and adaptability.
Tailor Your Application to Part-Time Work:Since this is a part-time role, be upfront about your availability in your cover letter. Highlight how you can balance work with your other commitments. It shows you're organised and committed to making the role work for both you and Blue Cross For Pets.
Get Familiar with Our Brand:Before applying, take some time to learn about Blue Cross For Pets and our approach to customer support. Mention in your cover letter why you're excited about supporting our customers specifically. It’ll show your enthusiasm and that you've done your homework!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross For Pets
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
In customer support, being able to communicate clearly and effectively is key. During the interview, make sure to demonstrate your listening skills and your ability to explain solutions simply. Use examples from past experiences where you resolved customer issues successfully.
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with common customer support tools like ticketing systems (think Zendesk or Freshdesk) and chat software. If you’ve used any of these in previous roles or during your studies, be ready to chat about your experiences. Showing you can hit the ground running with these tools will impress Blue Cross For Pets.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
Since this is a part-time role, emphasise your ability to adapt to different shifts and your willingness to handle varying customer volumes. Share any experiences where you thrived in a fast-paced environment or juggled multiple tasks, which can highlight your time management skills.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Interviewers often love scenario-based questions in customer support roles. Be ready to tackle common customer situations, like how you'd handle an unhappy customer. Practising responses to these scenarios will showcase your problem-solving ability and customer service mindset, which Blue Cross For Pets will surely appreciate.
