Animal Care and Welfare Technician in Horley

Plus allowance of between 27.86% for Gatwick and 28.99% for Felixstowe, which equates to an additional £8,705 for Gatwick or an additional - £8,963 for Felixstowe pa based on salary minimum.

The Dog Team is a small team within UK Command Operations with a hugely important mission; to transform our canine detection capability and performance, ensure that we have the right policies, processes and procedures in place to support the operational business to drive up performance and ensure our dogs are trained on Control Strategy Priorities.

Detector Dogs provide a specialised service to front line staff. They are a highly visible demonstration to society of our work in addressing criminality. Border Force has both body and goods detection dogs.

We have two posts available at Gatwick Dog Unit and one post at Felixstowe Dog Unit.

As a Dog Team Animal Care and Welfare Technician, you will play a crucial role in supporting handlers and training instructors, by ensuring you monitor and record the welfare needs of each animal, as well as ensuring that all dogs receive the appropriate level of exercise and enrichment to meet their individual needs when the handler or instructor is off duty.

It is therefore essential that applicants have a natural affinity with animals and be prepared to provide the highest levels of care and welfare management to all dogs within the Border Force Detector Dog programme.

You should be aware that the post is physically demanding and requires a high level of fitness as you will be required to lift and carry the dogs. This will be assessed during the selection process. You will also be required to work outdoors in often hostile weather conditions.

Within your Personal Statement, you are required to confirm the following three (3) Essential Criteria:

• It is essential that you are comfortable and confident around dogs.

You must not have been disqualified from:

• Keeping or owning a dog under the terms of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; or
• Having custody of a dog under the terms of both the Animal Welfare Act 2006 & the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

You will also need to demonstrate these additional Essential Criteria:

• You should have experience of working with or looking after animals in a professional capacity or hold an animal care/management related qualification.
• Proven verbal communication skills to engage clearly and confidently with dogs, colleagues, members of the public, Veterinary providers, and other external stakeholders.
• Proven written communication skills with good attention to detail.
• Able to work effectively as part of a team, whilst also having the confidence and resilience to work alone with minimal supervision when required.
• Able to adapt to unexpected situations, troubleshoot issues and make informed decisions.
• Able to multi-task, work to tight deadlines and take responsibility for your work.

Training

A high level of physical fitness is required as this post is physically demanding. It is essential applicants can lift and carry dogs as well as provide daily exercise and high intensity interval training to a number of dogs who may have to be exercised individually.

This role requires Public and Personal Safety Training 2 (PPST2). This demands physical activity and physical contact with delegates on the course.

Travel

This role may require undertaking kennel duties at other Border Force locations across the UK. Responsibilities include caring for, feeding, and exercising Border Force dogs, including at partner organisation facilities where dogs may be housed to meet operational needs. Therefore, there will be a requirement for overnight stays away from your unit of appointment with frequency determined by business requirements.