Dog Training and Volunteer Officer (Part-time)

Role

The Training and Volunteer Officer is an exciting new role for Dog A.I.D. and will support the Senior Training Advisor in developing the training opportunities we offer to our Volunteer Trainers.

We require an experienced dog trainer who must have experience in coaching others in training dogs and must be confident in co-running events and workshops.

The role is home based but will involve travel in and around the Chertsey area and other areas from time to time for workshops and does include some weekend work.

About Us

Dog A.I.D. was established in 1992 to assist physically disabled people, improve their quality of life by helping them train their own pet dogs to provide assistance with day-to-day tasks and in some circumstances providing life-saving interventions.

In 1996, the Dog A.I.D. Scheme was launched nationally at Crufts and today benefits from a team of over 85 trainers and assessors working on a voluntary basis across the U.K. from its base in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

The training takes up to two years with both dog and disabled owner (our ‘client’) receiving specialist education from our network of trainers and attaining a fully qualified Assistance Dog status through three distinct stages.

Dog A.I.D. is a member of Assistance Dogs UK, a voluntary coalition of ten Assistance Dog charities that aims to promote the freedom, independence and rights of people with Assistance Dogs across the UK. All Assistance Dogs UK dogs adhere to the highest training and welfare standards as set out by Assistance Dogs International and International Guide Dogs Federation.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Plan and co-host regular online drop-in sessions for trainers.
• Plan and run practical training workshops for both clients and trainers.
• Supporting volunteer trainers in their development with Dog A.I.D.
• Source webinars from external sources for trainer CPD opportunities.
• Develop training resources such as videos to show training steps for training, taskwork and public access work.
• Develop written resources for clients on training, taskwork and public access work.
• Support with rolling out an Assessors Course currently being developed.
• Support client training at a training venue in Chertsey, some Fridays and Sundays.
• Help to develop a longer term project of an Assistance Dog Trainer Course and Mentoring Scheme.

Person Specification

• Minimum of 3 years Dog Training experience.
• Accredited learning in Dog Training and behaviour.
• Sound and current knowledge of dog handling and training techniques and learning theory.
• Experience of training for specific behaviours.
• Ability to put theory into practice.
• Experience in coaching others.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Confident working independently and within a small team.
• Proactive, not requiring direct supervision, a person who uses their initiative to get things done.
• Team member who considers others as well as their own work.
• Passionate about Dog A.I.D.’s service and delivering impactful work.

Applicants shortlisted and invited for interview will be required to provide a video of how to train a specific behaviour and written instructions of the steps . Initial Interviews will be held virtually.

Due to the nature of the charity’s work, an enhanced DBS check will be required. This will only be undertaken for successful applicants.

For information about the charity, please go to our website www.dogaid.org.uk

Apply by sending a covering email with your CV.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 15 per week

Salary: £11.95 per hour

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

COVID-19 considerations:
Government Covid-19 guidelines are followed in the office space

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 23/06/2023