Animal Care Apprentice (Suffolk Dog Town Ltd) in Whitton

Location: Intermediate Course Duration: 16 months

Application Deadline Date: 30.6.26

Weekly Hours: 30 hours per week, shifts vary. 8am to 6pm

Animal care vacancy with KEITS at Suffolk Dog Town Ltd (was Ipswich Doggy Day Creche) where you’ll be involved in all aspects of animal husbandry and behaviour. A fantastic springboard enabling you to gain your qualification and prepare for a career within the animal industry. At Suffolk Dog Town we provide Socialisation, Activities, Play & Care for your much-loved dog while you work, rest or play. We treat them as our own and ensure their safety and well-being at all times.

Duties include:

• Contribute to providing a caring, stimulating and safe environment for all dogs
• Caring and general supervision of the dogs
• Vigilance in supervising their care, well-being and entertainment
• Ensuring a plentiful supply of water
• Ensuring dog waste is removed immediately
• Tending to the dogs thoughtfully, gently and with care
• Feeding the dogs correctly (measured and on time)
• Dealing with any dogs with particular needs, i.e. older dogs or some on medication
• Paying close attention to the notices regarding dogs status such as an injury, recent surgery or allergy
• Careful and efficient monitoring of any changes or differences in dogs behaviour/temperament/condition
• Communicating and working with the team
• Treating peers with respect
• General cleaning duties, hoovering, sweeping, mopping, polishing, washing up etc.
• All other miscellaneous duties that may occur on a day-to-day basis
• Any other reasonable duties as per the needs of the business evolves
• You will answer to and work directly with the Managing Director
• Ensuring dogs are happy and safe at all times
• Keeping an open and honest dialogue with senior management

Desired skills:

• Capable of communicating clearly with all members of the team
• Efficient and thorough, paying attention to detail
• Able to follow written and verbal instructions exactly
• Work experience within a dog environment such as a shelter or kennels immediately puts ahead of other candidates
• You will be expected to demonstrate a calm approach
• A natural love of dogs
• A caring and professional approach
• Trustful – Held a position or performed a duty previously which details high levels of trust (at school if this is first position, i.e. prefect, club leader)
• Can prove your reliability, your attendance record must be exemplary
• Highly committed to the dogs' wellbeing and happiness
• Punctual
• Reliable
• Flexible
• Friendly face-to-face manner and personable soft skills
• Outgoing
• Confident
• Positive outlook

Desired qualifications:

• GCSE’s or equivalent in maths and English Grade C/4 or higher are desirable but not essential
• Relevant animal experience is desired
• Applicants cannot already hold a level 2 or 3 in animal care as this will affect eligibility.
• Further training and senior positions may be available on completion of your apprenticeship

Training:

Full training to be provided by the employer and KEITS at the place of employment. The applicant will be working towards and gain a Level 2 Animal Care & Welfare Apprenticeship Standard. The learner will be allocated an industry-specific training consultant who will provide both remote and on-site visits throughout the apprenticeship. The apprentice will work towards an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their apprenticeship.

Things to consider:

• You will be active most of the day, some find the role too tiring and therefore will not be suitable for the position
• It is a long day but most enjoyable – you get what you put in
• We pick up dog mess!
• We work long shifts, which are very tiring, running around after dogs is physically tiring, you need to be fit!
• Paid lunch break
• KEITS Training Services Ltd reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the listed closing date should the need arise