ANIMAL CARE & HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANT

JOB DETAILS

Location: Llong, Mold, Flintshire (rural home with dogs and horses)

Hours: 4 hours a day, 4 afternoons a week, plus live-in house-sitting about 4 to 5 times a year

Pay: £14 per hour; separate rate for house-sitting (to be agreed)

Holiday: 28 days paid holiday a year including bank holidays, pro rata (22.4 days on 4 days a week)

Contract: Employed, with a written contract of employment

Reports to: Kirsten Bond

ROLE SUMMARY

An animal-led role caring for our show dogs and horses, with household, cooking and garden work. You will get to know each animal well, including their diet, routines and medication. Much of the work is done alone, at our home and with our animals, so you must be completely trustworthy. When we are away, you will live in and take full charge of the animals and the house. A friendly, well-socialised dog of your own may come to work by arrangement.

MAIN DUTIES

Dogs:

- Collect the dogs morning or afternoon to be arranged and drive them to safe local walks, away from sheep and livestock. Some wekeend work necessary but not every weekend

- Learn each dog's needs, temperament and diet

- Feed and give medication as directed

- Keep the kennels clean and wash the dogs' bedding

- Take dogs to vet appointments and arrange their care as needed

- Help with puppies when we have a litter

- Some admin around dog shows, such as entries and travel arrangements (maybe some opportunity to show if interested)

Horses:

- Feed, turn out and bring in the horses

- Muck out stables daily

- Give the correct feed and any medication

- Wash and groom the horses

- Fill and hang hay nets

- Walk the fields to check fencing, and carry out fence repairs where possible

Household:

- Cook family meals and keep the kitchen clean

- Laundry and ironing

- Change and wash bedding

- Hoovering, mopping and dusting

- Clean bathrooms

- Empty bins and manage recycling

- General tidying around the house

- Order food and animal supplies, and do household shopping

- Drive our van for errands, feed runs and animal transport

Garden and maintenance:

- Light gardening, including weeding

- Light maintenance around the house

HOUSE-SITTING COVER

When we are on holiday (about four or five times a year), you will stay at the house for the whole time we are away. You will carry out all the animal care above and keep the house secure and tidy. House-sitting is paid at a separate rate, agreed before each period of cover.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

- Full UK driving licence, able to drive our van, and own car

- Clear DBS check, which we will apply for before appointment. Any conviction for violence or offences against animals will prevent appointment

- Physically fit, able to do outdoor yard, field and fencing work in all weathers

- Proven experience of being fully responsible for your own dogs and horses

- Aged 21 or over, as required by our van insurance

- Confident and experienced handling dogs and horses

- Reliable, trustworthy and happy to work alone

- Able to follow feeding and medication instructions accurately

- Available to live in during holiday cover

Desirable:

- Yard or stable experience

- Experience with puppies or breeding kennels

- Interest in dog shows, with basic admin and computer skills

- Animal first aid knowledge

STARTING THE JOB

- Paid trial week at £14 per hour before a job offer is made

- 3-month probation period once employed

- Two references, ideally one from someone who has seen you care for animals

- Proof of your right to work in the UK

- A clear DBS check, applied for by us before you start. You must declare any unspent criminal convictions when you apply