Job Specifications
Application Deadline: 16 March 2026
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Location: Suffolk
Compensation: £23,993 / year
Description
Contract: 37.5 hours per week, 12 months fixed term
Salary: £23,993 per annum
Location: Ipswich IP2 8NQ
Closing date: Monday 16th March 2026
Interview date: 24th and 27th March 2026
We’re recruiting a Pet Welfare Assistant for on-site animal care as part of our Rehoming & Fostering team in Suffolk!
At Blue Cross, we're dedicated to providing the best care possible to pets in need. As a Pet Welfare Assistant for our on-site services, you'll play an important role in our mission, ensuring that every pet receives the love, attention, and support they deserve during their stay at our Suffolk rehoming centre. This is a 12 month fixed term contract.
More about the role
Our Suffolk 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 skilled animal handler and assessor, you will be responsible for the ‘preparation stage’ with the pets in our care which involves caring, carrying out assessments and rehabilitation plans, preparing them for the ‘adoption stage’ or the best possible outcome for their circumstances with minimal delay.
As a Pet Welfare Assistant, you will ensure that the welfare standards are met and that rehabilitation plans are followed and supported for pets in our care. Working independently and with the team you will carry out meetings with owners giving up their pet, ensuring all information is recorded, paperwork completed and that the pet is immediately assessed for behavioural or veterinary problems. Working closely with the Adoptions Coordinator you will provide additional in person or virtual advice and practical demonstrations to ensure new owners are fully aware of the work that has been done with the pet and how to continue with any other additional behaviour training or medical provision.
At our Suffolk rehoming centre, we provide on-site 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.
This role is 37.5 hours per week over a 2 week rota:
Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Week 2: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
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. This is a 12 month fixed term contract.
About you
As a skilled animal handler and assessor, you will be intuitive with pets, empathetic and welfare focused having worked in a similar animal related environment. You will also be used to assessing the needs of a pet, alert to the behavioural signs and have a basic knowledge of the use of medication. In addition, you will have a fundamental understanding that the best welfare intervention for a pet is to find a new home and leave on site pet accommodation as quickly as possible.
You will be self-motivated, forward thinking with a collaborative and creative approach to your work, which will ensure to bring your best pragmatic ideas for the care of the pets to ensure the best outcome is achieved. In addition, you will be able to quickly assimilate information, be competent at accurately recording information while also conducting conversations with clients and stakeholders. You will be an excellent communicator, approachable with strong interpersonal skills.
You will know what it is like to work in an emotionally charged environment and have excellent ‘bounce back ability’ and resilience. In addition, you will be emotionally intelligent, showing empathy and knowing how to support clients and colleagues.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
Experience of having previously worked or volunteered with domestic animals or in an animal welfare environment. Some of this experience must have been with dogs.
Previous experience in working in a customer focused environment and used to achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Good organisational and administration skills to include computerised systems.
Current full driving licence.
It would be great (but not essential) 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.
Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached the job description which hopefully gives you everything you need.
How to apply
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About the Company
We are a charity that provides specialist care, services, and support for pets and people throughout their life together. We cherish the profound bond between pets and their owners, recognising the remarkable difference they make in each other's lives. Our work is multifaceted, addressing a range of pet needs: Rehoming & Fostering: We care for and match homeless cats, dogs, horses, and small pets with loving families across the UK, ensuring each pet finds the right home. Veterinary: Our four animal hospitals provide care for...
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