At a Glance
- Tasks: Support animal welfare by managing pet cases and ensuring their care and rehabilitation.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a passionate team dedicated to helping pets in need.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hours with a chance to grow in a rewarding role.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of pets while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience with animals and strong communication skills are essential.
Contract: Permanent, 18.75 hours per week
Salary: £12,488 (£24,976 FTE)
Location: Burford, OX18 4PF
Closing date: Tuesday 16th June 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 23rd 2026
We’re recruiting a Pet Welfare Assistant for off-site animal care, for our Rehoming & Fostering team in Burford. At Blue Cross, we're dedicated to providing the best care possible to pets in need. As a Pet Welfare Assistant for our offsite services, you'll play an important role in our mission, ensuring that every pet receives the love, attention, and support they deserve whilst they are in our offsite care.
More about the role:
Our Burford centre has a wonderful group of dedicated people with varying skills that meld into one team with one mission: to help as many pets as possible. With great facilities, including a woodland, the team are proud of what they can accomplish on a daily basis together.
As a Pet Welfare Assistant – Off-site Services, you will be responsible for expertly managing a specific number of pet cases within the offsite pet care service, these can be rehoming pets in foster or Home Direct service or pets in temporary crisis care. You will be ensuring welfare standards are met and that rehabilitation plans are followed and supported for pets in foster homes. As we want to help as many pets as possible, this role will be responsible for ensuring the assessment of pets preparing for a new home in offsite services is completed in the quickest amount of time.
For many, the centre will be the ‘public face’ of Blue Cross so you will need to ensure that good customer service is at the heart of every interaction. At Blue Cross we are ambitious, and the work carried out by our centres is key in achieving our strategy and ensuring that ultimately, we help more pets and people.
At our Burford 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.
This role is working 2.5 days a week across a 4-week rota:
- Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Week 2: Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Week 3: Monday, Tuesday.
- Week 4: Tuesday and Wednesday.
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.
About you:
The person will be empathetic, intuitive, and focused on animal welfare, with experience in a similar environment. You can assess pet needs, recognise behavioural signs, and have a basic understanding of medications like flea treatments and diabetes management. Self-motivated and collaborative, you bring practical, creative solutions for the best care outcomes. Your communication skills are first-class, making you approachable and effective in sharing critical information with fosterers, clients, and stakeholders. You're resilient and emotionally intelligent, able to thrive in emotionally charged situations while supporting both clients and colleagues with empathy.
Knowledge, skills, and experience:
- Experience of having previously worked or volunteered with domestic animals or in an animal welfare environment.
- Good experience of recording information and being able to accurately convey this when communicating with others.
- Previous experience in working in a customer focused environment and used to achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.
- Good organisational and administration skills to include computerised systems.
- A full driving licence.
- The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values.
Although not essential, it would be great 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.
How to apply:
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Tuesday 16th June 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
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.
- 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.
Pet Welfare Assistant - Off-site Services employer: Blue Cross
At Blue Cross, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises the welfare of both pets and our team members. Located in the picturesque Burford, our centre provides a nurturing environment with ample opportunities for professional growth, including access to continuing development programmes and a generous benefits package that enhances work-life balance. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of pets in need while enjoying a fulfilling career surrounded by passionate colleagues.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Pet Welfare Assistant - Off-site Services
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research Blue Cross and its mission. Understanding their values and goals will help you connect during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips about the interview process and what it’s really like to work as a Pet Welfare Assistant.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to animal welfare and customer service. Role-play with a friend to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity. It shows professionalism and keeps you fresh in their minds!
We think you need these skills to ace Pet Welfare Assistant - Off-site Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Animal Welfare:When writing your application, let your love for animals shine through! Share any relevant experiences you've had with pets or in animal welfare. We want to see that you genuinely care about the well-being of animals.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Pet Welfare Assistant. Use keywords from the job description to show us you understand what we're looking for!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out. This helps us quickly see why you're a great fit for the team!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about Blue Cross and our mission.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross
✨Know Your Stuff About Animal Welfare
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of animal welfare standards and rehabilitation plans. Being able to discuss specific cases or experiences you've had with pets will show your passion and understanding of the role.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Since this role involves interacting with fosterers and clients, be ready to share examples of how you've provided excellent customer service in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you handle emotionally charged situations.
✨Demonstrate Empathy and Resilience
Prepare to discuss how you manage stress and support others in tough situations. Share stories that showcase your emotional intelligence and ability to stay calm under pressure, especially when dealing with animals in crisis.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Expect some practical questions or scenarios during the interview. Think about how you would assess a pet's needs or handle a specific situation. This will help demonstrate your problem-solving skills and practical knowledge.
