Outside Team Leader & Animal Care Assistant

Job Description

Job Title:

Outside Team Leader & Animal Care Assistant

Responsible to:  Head Nurses

Job Purpose:

To ensure the efficient running of the outside animal section by providing staff, students &
volunteers the leadership they need to successfully complete the tasks allocated to them
on a daily basis.  Assist with general animal husbandry for the sick, injured and orphaned
wild animals being cared for at Tiggywinkles, including the Visitor Centre.

Key Accountabilities

Ensure high standards of general animal husbandry across the outside animal section and Visitor Centre,
including cleaning and mucking out the cages in the animal section as required.

Ensuring that food is prepared in line with the established protocols and assisting in this process including
providing food and water to the animals

Handling the animals and birds as necessary, following the strict protocols and guidelines provided, and
ensuring that these protocols are observed by everyone in the outdoor animal section

Providing basic medication under Veterinary direction

Ensure that all medical queries are referred to the Head Nurses or Nurse on duty as appropriate.

To Team Lead the students to ensure all daily, weekly and monthly tasks are completed in line with the
requirements outlined by the nursing team.  This includes:

•  Allocating the tasks to be completed that day to the students on duty, taking into account the

priorities of the day and any particular skills/limitations the students may have

•  Giving the students the direction and instructions they need to be able to carry out the tasks

efficiently and thoroughly

•  Monitor the work of the students throughout the day, providing them with feedback and taking

corrective action if any tasks are not completed to the standard required

•  Providing students with the encouragement and support they may need in order to deliver to a high

standard

•  Highlighting any performance issues amongst the students to the Head Nurses

Collecting samples as requested from time to time by the vet or nursing team

Cleaning non-animal areas, including general sweeping, dish washing and washing laundry

Adhere to stock management processes to ensure that supplies are always available

Assisting with deliveries, including unloading/unpacking, storage, topping up the food bins as necessary

Talking to the public if working in the visitor centre areas in a polite and professional manner

Complying with all safeguarding policies and procedures that apply, and ensuring that all relevant policies
and procedures are adhered to

Support the rescue and release of patients when required

Keeping equipment in good working order & reporting maintenance requirements/repairs as necessary

Ensure adherence to the Health & Safety and Security procedures at all times

Attending to other jobs, as reasonable for the role, and as required by the operation

Person Specification

Job Title:

Outside Team Leader & Animal Care Assistant

Attributes

Essential

Desirable

A qualification in animal care.

Previous experience of working
with animals.

Previous experience of leading
a team.

Previous experience of working
with volunteers and students.

A full valid driving licence

Able to demonstrate some
strength and agility to enable
effective working with our wild
patients.

(N.B. Full animal handling
training will be provided).

Attainments /
Qualifications

Previous
Experience

Circumstances

Disposition

Able to take responsibility for own work and
do what’s necessary to get the best possible
results for the Hospital and our patients.

A positive disposition and effective problem
solving skills.

Ability to work effectively both on own
initiative and as part of a team.

Ability to work under pressure and remain
calm when faced with emergency situations.

Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.

Tiggywinkles
Aston Road
Haddenham
Bucks
HP17 8AF
Tel: 01844 292292
www.tiggywinkles.com