Animal Care and Welfare Apprentice

Summary

Golders Hill Park Zoo is based on Hampstead Heath London. The Zoo is home to a range of species including Scottish wildcats, donkeys, red-necked wallabies, Eurasian eagle owl and ring-tailed lemurs. You will also work at our sister site Queen’s Park Children's Farm which houses pygmy goats, sheep and birds. This role undertakes general animal care

Annual wage: £22,240 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Animal care and welfare manager (level 3)
Hours: The working week will be Monday -Sunday, 7.00am -3.00pm working on a scheduled roster.
35 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 2 December
Duration: 2 Years 6 Months
Positions available: 2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

The primary role of the apprentice animal keeper is to carry out animal husbandry and enclosure maintenance tasks within Golders Hill Park Zoo & Queen’s Park Farm in accordance with the Secretary of States Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for the welfare of the animals and enjoyment, recreation, education, and safety of visitors.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

To undertake general enclosure cleaning, animal care, feed preparations & animal observation under supervision
To undertake basic repair, maintenance & installation of enclosures, their furnishings & associated facilities under supervision
To use basic hand/power tools and grounds maintenance equipment under supervision
To attend staff meetings & participate in group emails/messages as appropriate
To work as part of a team with the aim of ensuring productive working relationships within the team and with other employees, team leaders/supervisors & external agencies
To work with and assist volunteers & work placement students in the Zoo/Farm
To undertake the Keeper and Aquarist qualification as part of the City of London Apprenticeship programme and complete coursework and examinations in a timely fashion and to the best of your ability
To assist with paid visitor experiences, ensuring experiences are supervised and carried out in a professional and safe manner
To provide a highly visible presence to engender a sense of well-being for customers & members of the public
To assist in promoting Golders Hill Park Zoo, Queen’s Park Farm and the wider heath to local schools, colleges & other user groups
To assist in enforcing park bylaws and rules of the animal collections
To ensure that you observe departmental safety procedures and use safe working practices specifically with regard to PPE, and adherence to COSHH and risk assessments, reporting accidents and near misses to your supervisors
Actively seek to implement the City of London’s occupational health and safety policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out duties
Actively seek to implement the City of London’s equal opportunity policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post
To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade
This job description may be subject to change, but this will be done in consultation with the post-holder as required

Where you’ll work

Queens Park & Golders Hill Park,

North London

NW3 7HE

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONDON

Your training course

Animal care and welfare manager (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Provide care for animals to meet their welfare needs and in accordance with company policy, legal and regulatory obligations.

Monitor and oversee animal care ensuring the five welfare needs are met and in accordance with company policy, legislation and regulations.

Evaluate animal behavioural characteristics in order to establish animal care requirements.

Assess and evaluate animal health using the least invasive methods and use this to inform the care plan.

Deliver medical and preventative treatments in accordance with company policies and following veterinary advice.

Handle and move animals using the least invasive, minimally aversive methods suitable for the situation.

Assess animal weight and carry out body condition scoring.

Produce care plans to meet the welfare needs of the animal.

Implement animal socialisation strategies to ensure animal health and welfare is maintained.

Select sustainable accommodation solutions that ensure the welfare, safety and security of animals.

Manage biosecurity risks by ensuring disinfecting, cleaning and waste disposal in line with company procedures and legislation.

Complete health and safety risk assessments.

Monitor compliance with risk assessments and provide feedback to support the development of health and safety policies.

Resolve customer complaints.

Collaborate with colleagues, supply chains and customers.

Supervise the day to day running of the business (including the allocation of resources, ordering stock and scheduling workload).

Keep up to date with advances in animal care working practices and technologies and identify opportunities for these to be applied.

Monitor the health and safety of animals and people in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Support and mentor colleagues and provide constructive feedback.

Seek feedback and identify personal development needs. Undertake and apply learning from relevant continual professional development.

Provide operational information to inform team goals and objective setting.

Monitor progress towards the achievement of team goals and objectives.

Assimilate information to make changes to the animal care provision.

Your training plan

You will be supported to achieve the Animal Care and Welfare Manager Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
Theoretical training will be delivered by the training provider on a weekly basis
Practical training and support will be given in the workplace allowing you to embed your learning in the working environment
You will receive 6 hours per week to completed course work within your working hours

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 5)
Maths (grade 5)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Non judgemental
Physical fitness

Other requirements

This position is physically demanding with a lot of outdoor working with direct exposure to the weather. •35-hour week, Monday-Sunday working on a roster. •This position is part of the City of London Apprenticeship scheme applicants should be 16+ and hold no qualifications of the same or higher level in an animal management subject (or similar).

About this company

The City Corporation with a rich history that precedes parliament, the City Corporation has been an ever constant throughout history adapting in order to meet modern demands of the City it serves, and is home to some of the world’s most striking modern architecture. The City of London Corporation forms part of London as a whole, along with the 32 London Boroughs who have responsibility for local government services within their local area. Based at the Guildhall the City Corporation looks after and promotes the City of London.

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, we aim to offer a permanent role within the team if a position is available
Alternatively, we shall endeavour to secure an alternative position within the City of London Corporation

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

City of London Corporation

Laura Botelho

Laura.Botelho@cityoflondon.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000275441.

Apply now

Closes in 4 days (Friday 18 October)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Please apply online and ensure that you answer the questions in the Recruitment Job Pack - please include your answers in the supporting information section of the application form. We are unable to accept curriculum Vitae (CVs)

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