Assistance Dog Training Manager

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs (MAAD) to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.

We have an exciting new opportunity to join this innovative charity that is a world-leader in its specialist field.

JOB TITLE:                      Assistance Dog Training Manager

LOCATION:                       Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire

SALARY:                           £33,000 – £37,000 based on experience

JOB TYPE:                         Full-time permanent, with occasional evenings and weekends required

REPORTS TO:                   Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare

The Job

This role requires someone with previous experience in managing and or leading a Dog Training team within an Assistance Dog Organisation, to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Assistance Dog training team. The successful candidate will ensure that the team of Assistance Dog Trainers develop our puppies and dogs in advanced to training to ensure they receive the highest standard of socialisation and training, thereby maximising their chances of becoming a Medical Alert Assistance Dog. They will also play a role in the training and development of less experienced members of the team.

The welfare of our dogs is very important to us. We have a no-kennel policy, and all our dogs live in the homes of volunteers until they are about 20 months old. We are committed to providing quality training and support for all our dogs and the volunteers who look after them.

The role involves working collaboratively across teams and managing stakeholders to streamline the process of training and placing Assistance Dogs.

Specific Responsibilities

Puppies:

• To liaise with the Dog Supply Advisor on puppy intake
• To support and guide the Puppy Assistance Dog Trainers, with all aspects related to socialising and training of puppies from 8 weeks of age to approximately 16 months of age. This will include observing and supporting in:

– Puppy classes

– 1-2-1 training sessions

– Home visits

– Writing up Behaviour Modification Plans

– Any other ad hoc training support

• To ensure training records are up to date
• To work alongside the Head of Department on the Advanced Trainer pick up schedule, ensuring dogs are put into advanced training at an appropriate standard
• To oversee and carry out MDD internal puppy assessment programme – Behaviour Check List (BCL)
• To ensure all puppies in the socialising scheme follow MDD Health and Welfare policies and procedures
• If and when required, to stay away from home, supporting Puppy Assistance Dog Trainers with their puppies and volunteers who are based in our regional areas
• To offer support to dogs and/or volunteers when needed in the absence of the allocated trainer

Advanced Dogs:

• To support and guide the Advanced Assistance Dog Trainers and when needed, to support with the training of their advanced group of dogs. This will include:

– Observing dogs in all areas of development

– Giving practical advice and support

– Assisting in writing up training plans

– Any ad hoc training support

• To carry out the final assessments of dogs in advanced training
• To oversee the preparation of and to deliver in accordance with the instructor pick-up schedule for the MAAD programme dogs within advanced training
• Support the Advanced Assistance Dog Trainers with potential matches for a particular client and dog, and to report this progress regularly to the relevant senior staff
• To offer support to dogs and/or volunteers when needed in the absence of the allocated trainer

Staff Development:

• To work alongside our Assistance Dog Programme Training and Development Coordinator with the training and development of Trainee Assistance Dog Trainers and support in upskilling less experienced Trainers

Puppy Socialiser Recruitment

• To monitor and when necessary, highlight to the Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare, a shortage of Puppy Socialisers and Temporary Fosterers
• When required, assist in the recruitment of new volunteer Puppy Socialisers

Other

• To liaise with the Health and Welfare Coordinator on any health issues regarding puppies and dogs within the Assistance Dog Training Scheme
• To liaise with the Instructor Manager on any dogs that are entering or currently in the Medical Alert Assistance Dog (MAAD) programme.
• From time to time, you may be required to have a dog living with you for additional training for a set period
• Highlight to the Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare in a timely manner, if you feel a dog is not reaching the appropriate standard or may be more suitable for another role. Detailed, evidenced reasons why, must be supplied
• To oversee the rehoming of withdrawn puppies and dogs from the Socialising Scheme
• To support the Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare with the quarterly Trustee reports
• Update the Harlequin CRM database in a timely fashion to ensure accurate and up to date training, veterinary and health records
• Support the charity’s fundraising, communications and volunteering teams as required
• Share best practice with colleagues across the charity
• To be familiar with ADUK and ADI regulations, ensuring that you adhere to these standards with regards to behaviour, obedience, welfare, and branding
• To liaise with and provide support for volunteers who may operate as part of the Medical Alert Assistance Dog department or charity as a whole

Other tasks or ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager required to ensure the successful running of the charity.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to manage and support a highly driven team of dog trainers.
• Ability to demonstrate high quality judgement and a proven track record in relation to the following:
• Dog training matters including the analysis of temperaments, appropriate training methods and requirements necessary to maintain public confidence in assistance dogs.
• Solutions to training and behavioural problems.
• Assistance Dog Training including the ability to assess each person’s preferred learning style and adapt as appropriate your training approach, the specific programmes to be followed.
• Welfare and safety and appropriate time for referral to others.
• Appropriate support to trainee staff.
• Dealings with other staff, clients, and members of the public.
• Strong and clear teaching and instructing skills.
• Ability to plan work, be organised and ensure that time is utilised effectively for yourself, colleagues, and Puppy Socialisers.
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people internally and externally. This will include clients and their families, fosterers, other professional service providers, members of the public, the media, managers, and other colleagues.
• High level of IT literacy and report writing skills including experience of using Microsoft-based programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Power Point.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Practical knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Had management or team leader experience for a minimum of 2 years within an ADUK Dog Training team.
• ADUK and ADI regulations.
• Basic theory of practical dog training.
• Law in relation to dogs.
• Knowledge of medical conditions relevant to puppies between 8 weeks and 2 years of age.
• Dog and human psychology.
• Health and safety implications of dog and puppy socialiser handling. Some experience of assisting with the training and development of less experienced colleagues.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• You should be supportive of the charitable aims of Medical Detection Dogs and capable of working as part of a team, as well as being able to motivate yourself.
• You should be adaptable and positively embrace change by not only being flexible towards the ideas of others but also putting forward ideas to colleagues. This will involve creativity in problem-solving and making appropriate responses to new ideas and unexpected situations.

Values & Behaviours

There are a few key values that we believe are important in the workplace:

· Respect

· Cooperation

· Honesty

· Fairness

Based on the values listed above, we encourage the behaviours below in the charity:

· Respectful communication

· Cooperating with others

· Honesty in all interactions

· Fairness in decision making.

Benefits

• Sick Pay
• Health Cover
• 26 days holiday, increasing with service
• 5% Employer Pension Contribution
• Life Assurance
• Free On-site parking

Finally, the successful candidate will also be expected to:

• Hold a full UK Driving Licence
• Provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK.
• Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Work some evenings and weekends