Animal Care Worker
What is the work like?
As an animal care worker, you could look after animals in a number of different places, such as kennels, animal rescue centres and animal sanctuaries. You could also work as an animal welfare assistant at Blue Cross adoption centres, animal collection officer for the RSPCA, or animal care auxiliary at an animal hospital.
Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- preparing food and feeding the animals
- keeping animals clean and grooming them
- exercising dogs in a yard or taking them for walks
- cleaning out kennels, pens and cages and changing bedding
- looking after animals who become ill or distressed.
In some jobs you could have other duties, for example, keeping records, taking bookings and advising owners on looking after their animals.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You will not need any qualifications for most animal care jobs, although some employers do ask for qualifications such as GCSEs.
Before you start looking for work it will be useful to have experience with animals. Volunteering is a useful way to get experience, and show employers that you are enthusiastic and interested in working with animals.
You can find out about opportunities for volunteering in your area from Volunteering England. You could also contact animal welfare organisations like Blue Cross and the RSPCA to see if they need volunteers.
If you would like to do some training before applying for your first job, you could complete courses such as the following:
- BTEC First Certificate/Diploma in Animal Care
- BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Animal Management (Care).
You should check with colleges for entry requirements for the courses.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are employed as an animal care worker, you will receive on-the-job training.
You could also do qualifications such as NVQs in Animal Care at levels 1, 2 and 3. Level 1 is a general basic qualification. At levels 2 and 3 you can follow a general option, or specialise in one of the following:
- Boarding
- Pet Care and Retail
- Zoos/Wildlife Establishments
- Dog Grooming
- Open Farms
- Animal Welfare
- Breeding.
- Dog/Animal Warden
- Animal Training.
You can also do distance learning courses including the OCN Level 2 National Small Animal Care Certificate with the Animal Care College.
Where can I go for more information?
Southwater
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 9RS
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
Priorslee
Telford
Shropshire
TF2 9PQ
Tel: 0800 917 2509
Godmanchester
Cambridgeshire
PE29 2LJ
Tel: 0870 062 1122
Burford
Oxfordshire
OX18 4PF
Tel: 01993 822651
High Street
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7JG
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Animal care workers can earn from £11,000 to £13,000 or more a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
As animals have to be looked after seven days a week, you may work shifts, often including early starts and some evenings and weekends.
Although working with animals can be very rewarding, it can also involve hard physical work. You will also need to be prepared for some unpleasant tasks – for example, cleaning out animal pens and cages can be smelly and dirty – and in some jobs you could spend time working outdoors in all weather conditions.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a real interest in working with animals
- the ability to handle animals patiently, gently and confidently
- the ability to cope with upsetting situations like working with animals which have been ill-treated or injured
- willingness to do dirty or unpleasant tasks.
What opportunities are there?
Look out for vacancies in newspapers, at Jobcentre Plus offices, and on websites such as Animal Jobs Direct.
With experience, you may be able to progress to supervisor or manager, or become self-employed.
You could also use your experience as a basis for moving into other animal care careers – see Related Profiles.
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