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- Tasks: Provide daily care and enrichment for animals, ensuring their wellbeing and preparing them for adoption.
- Company: Join the National Animal Welfare Trust, a charity dedicated to rescuing and rehoming animals in need.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days annual leave, life assurance, pension scheme, and access to wellbeing resources.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal welfare while gaining hands-on experience in a supportive team environment.
- Qualifications: Passion for animal care, experience handling animals, and willingness to work weekends are essential.
- Other info: This part-time role is perfect for those looking to gain valuable experience in animal welfare.
- Animal Care Assistant (Part Time) Hertfordshire
Animal Care Assistant Hertfordshire
A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join the National Animal Welfare Trust’s team at our Hertfordshire Centre as an Animal Care Assistant.
You will be working for a charity that never stops caring for its animals and people. We believe every pet deserves a chance to thrive in a loving home. Across our five rescue and rehoming centres across the south of England, we care for homeless and unwanted cats, dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs – helping them find the families they’ve been waiting for.
Location:NAWT Hertfordshire, Tyler\’s Way, Watford, WD25 8WT
Hours:16 hours per week, working Saturday and Sunday
Salary:£12.21 per hour
Closing Date:13th July 2025
To Apply: Send your CV and Covering Letter to s.yates@nawt.org.uk
Please note that due to the nature of our work, we are unable to offer this role to people under the age of 18.
About the role
You will have a vital role and will be responsible in providing high-quality daily care, handling, and enrichment for animals within our rehoming centre, supporting their physical and emotional wellbeing and contributing to their successful rehoming. You will work closely with a dedicated team to ensure the centre runs smoothly and maintains high welfare standards.
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care & Welfare
- Feed, groom, and exercise animals according to individual care plans
- Clean enclosures, bedding, and feeding areas to a high hygienic standard
- Administer basic medical treatments under supervision (e.g. flea/worm treatments, medication)
- Monitor animal health and behaviour, reporting concerns promptly to senior staff
- Provide mental and physical stimulation through play, training, and enrichment
- Help animals adjust to shelter life and prepare them for adoption such as lead walking, crate training and basic obedience
Adoption & Rehoming Support
- Assist with introductions between potential adopters and animals
- Provide accurate and compassionate information to visitors and adopters
- Help maintain accurate records of animal care, behaviour, and medical needs
- Follow health & safety protocols at all times
- Maintain a clean and safe working environment for staff, volunteers, and visitors
- Support fundraising, events, or outreach initiatives as needed
Person Specification
- Genuine passion for animal welfare, rescue and rehoming work
- Experience handling animals (personal or professional)
- Good communication skills and a team-player mindset with ability to work on your own initiative
- Manual working tasks
- Willingness to work weekends and public holidays on a rota basis
- Previous work or volunteering experience in a kennel, cattery, or shelter
- Qualification in animal care or welfare (e.g. Level 2/3 Animal Care)
- Familiarity with animal behaviour and basic training techniques
Working Conditions
- Outdoor and indoor work in all weather conditions
- Hands-on animal handling, including cleaning, feeding and lead walking a wide variety of dog breeds
- Uniform is provided
- Empathy and emotional resilience when dealing with sometimes challenging circumstances, such as animals in distress and potential euthanasia cases
So, if you are the kind of person who enjoys a busy and varied role, with an empathy for the aims of NAWT, and would relish the opportunity to gain lots of experience within animal welfare – this may be the job for you!
As part of our commitment to making NAWT a great place to work, we offer access to the following employee benefits:
- 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays rising to 38 days after 5 years of service (pro-rated for part time employees)
- Group Life Assurance Scheme
- Contributory Pension Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
We are an inclusive organisation and are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from the communities we work in. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit.
If you feel you have the right skills to be a successful Animal Care Assistant at our Hertfordshire centre, please send your CV with your cover letter to Stefi Yates, Centre Manager: s.yates@nawt.org.uk at NAWT Hertfordshire.
The full description of the Duties and Responsibilities is below.
Please note we are accepting applications on a rolling basis and may close the recruitment process for this role prior to the deadline, so early applications are encouraged. Unfortunately, we are only able to make contact with those applicants who will be invited to interview.
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Animal Care Assistant (Part Time) Hertfordshire employer: National Animal Welfare Trust
Contact Detail:
National Animal Welfare Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Animal Care Assistant (Part Time) Hertfordshire
✨Tip Number 1
Show your passion for animal welfare! When you get the chance to speak with someone from the NAWT team, share your personal experiences with animals and why you care about their wellbeing. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly aligns with the organisation's mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with common animal behaviours and basic training techniques. Being able to discuss these topics during an interview will demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to providing the best care for the animals at the centre.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees of NAWT if possible. They can provide valuable insights into the work environment and expectations, which can help you tailor your approach when applying and interviewing.
✨Tip Number 4
Be prepared to discuss how you handle challenging situations, especially those involving distressed animals. Sharing specific examples of your emotional resilience and problem-solving skills will show that you're ready for the realities of working in animal care.
We think you need these skills to ace Animal Care Assistant (Part Time) Hertfordshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in animal care, whether through previous jobs or volunteer work. Emphasise any qualifications you have in animal welfare and your passion for helping animals.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your genuine passion for animal welfare and why you want to work with the National Animal Welfare Trust. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your skills in handling animals and working as part of a team.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Highlight skills that are particularly relevant to the role, such as communication, teamwork, and manual handling. Provide examples of how you've used these skills in past experiences, especially in animal care settings.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting your CV and cover letter, take the time to proofread for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Animal Welfare Trust
✨Show Your Passion for Animal Welfare
Make sure to express your genuine passion for animal welfare during the interview. Share any personal experiences or stories that highlight your commitment to helping animals, as this will resonate well with the charity's mission.
✨Demonstrate Relevant Experience
Be prepared to discuss your experience handling animals, whether through previous jobs, volunteering, or personal situations. Highlight specific examples of how you've cared for animals and any relevant training you may have received.
✨Communicate Effectively
Good communication skills are essential for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Be ready to answer questions about how you would handle various scenarios involving animal care and interactions with potential adopters.
✨Prepare for Practical Questions
Expect practical questions related to animal care, such as how you would clean enclosures or administer basic treatments. Familiarise yourself with common animal behaviours and care techniques to demonstrate your knowledge and readiness for the role.
