Dog School Development Officer

Reporting to:	Dog School Manager
Location:	Dog School Locations, throughout the UK.
Revised:	July  2016

Summary

Dogs Trust Dog School is a recent initiative to establish a nationwide delivery of dog training and education for dog owners in their local communities. Dog training classes, preventative behavioural advice, and the promotion of all of the aspects of responsible dog ownership along with the reassurance of it all being Dogs Trust will help ensure that owners have a positive and fulfilling relationship with their dogs. Reporting to the Dog School Manager, the Dog School Development Officer will be responsible for helping to support Dogs Trust Dog Schools to deliver the highest standards of dog training and preventative behavioural advice, whilst helping the Head Coaches to identify ways in which they can maximise their reach to the highest number of dogs and owners within their area. They will assist with the development of new Dog Schools, staff induction and performance management.

Duties

To develop and maintain a thorough understanding of Dogs Trust, our mission, ethos and objectives. To assist Dog School Manager in the recruitment of new dog school teams and existing vacancies available through targeted advertising, screening CVs and interviewing candidates. To assist in the induction of new teams and team members including the presentation of relevant course material during induction days, completing starter paperwork, ordering uniform, co-ordinating training for individuals and settling them into their new locations whether that be Rehoming Centres or City Centre. ·       To maintain an up to date knowledge of Dog School plans, development and performance at all times. To develop auditing tools by which to assess the standards of performance across all the Dog Schools, implement these tools and report on the results to the Dog School Manager. To support the Head Coaches to maximise their marketing opportunities including helping them develop relationships with local businesses and other rescues, identifying areas to target with leafleting, researching local events to attend, identifying local advertising opportunities, ordering marketing materials and making the best use of opportunities within Rehoming Centres including training for centre teams on best methods of referral. To work with staff and their line managers to identify staff training needs.  To liaise with the Dog School Manager, Dog School Coach Trainer, Head of Training and Behaviour and Clinical Animal Behaviourist to devise and deliver appropriate training and development. Contribute to the development of the courses and products offered by Dog School based on feedback received from Dog School employees and customer feedback on the completion of courses.  This will involve the analysis of feedback received to ensure that the classes, workshops and seminars offered are meeting customer expectations as well as delivering Dog School’s aims and objectives of preventing problem behaviours in pet dogs. Assist the Dog School Manager in identifying opportunities for new Dog School locations based on research into the local area and the demand for training classes, availability of trained staff and suitable office space and training venues.  To assist in the induction and appraisal of new Dog School teams. Assist Dog Schools not based in a Rehoming Centre in identifying suitable office space for admin days including carrying our due-diligence such as health and safety requirements and liaising with the legal department regarding contracts. Assist Dog Schools in finding suitable venues within budget to hold classes that are in areas of high populations, where there is a demand for training classes and considering other providers in the area. Provide Dogs Trust digital team with updates to Dogs Trust website information including details on Dog School classes, information, photos, promotion of workshops and seminars and behavioural content so that the website remains up to date. Liaise with the contact centre to ensure that all of the information that is held by them is up to date so that employees of the contact centre are issuing the correct information to customers. Assist Dog Schools in developing their relationships with other departments within Dogs Trust eg. Campaigns, Education and Supporter Relations to ensure that we are able to offer appropriate support when required and develop new initiatives between departments. Ensure that all relevant Health and Safety procedures, as deemed necessary after assessment of risk, are implemented and followed. To report to the Dog School Manager and Head of Training and Behaviour as necessary on all developments and issues within each Dog School location.

              

Person Specification

The Dog School Development Officer will: Have demonstrable experience of managing a team to achieve targets and objectives. Have experience in recruiting and effectively inducting new staff members. Have good IT skills, including Excel and Word and the ability to be able to analyse, summarise and report data. Demonstrate proficiency in managing standards, using auditing tools. Have good communication skills, both verbal and written, and good organisational and interpersonal skills Be able to work independently, organised and able to develop and prioritise his or her own workload. Be a self-motivator with huge amounts of energy, commitment and enthusiasm Have experience of understanding and managing budgets. A knowledge of dog ownership and dog training and behaviour would be beneficial, but not essential. Must possess a full UK manual driving licence and be prepared to travel to various locations across the UK.

Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Reporting to:	Head of Training and Behaviour
Location:	Head Office and Dog School / Rehoming Centre Locations, Nationwide.
Revised:	July  2016

Summary

Behaviour problems are the most common reason for dogs to come into rehoming centres, and Dogs Trust are committed to making sure that problems are identified and training or rehabilitation programmes put in place. Dogs Trust uses reward based, welfare compatible methods of training and behavioural rehabilitation techniques in line with the latest scientific evidence.  In addition to working with dogs in our centre we run Dog School, an exciting new initiative, providing community education about dog behaviour and accessible dog training classes across the UK. Through providing appropriate advice to dog owners, Dog School aims to reduce the numbers of dogs developing problematic behaviour and have a positive long-term impact on dog welfare. Reporting to the Head of Training and Behaviour, the Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB) will have a thorough understanding of canine behaviour and welfare, demonstrable proficiency in conducting behaviour consultations for a range of problem behaviours, and ideally prior experience in teaching or mentoring clinical skills. He or she will be expected to maintain an up to date knowledge of developments in dog behaviour, and be able to evaluate critically new approaches, therapies or treatments in the area. The CAB will be expected to develop written and on-line support materials on behavioural issues for Rehoming Centres and Dog Schools across the UK, and be able to discuss treatment strategies with other Dogs Trust staff as well as external professionals such as veterinary surgeons.  He or she is expected to assist the Head of Training and Behaviour in devising and delivering training to Rehoming Centre and Dog School staff, and to provide mentoring of staff in clinical behaviour towards professional accreditation. The post holder will also be expected to visit Rehoming Centres and Dog Schools across the UK to ensure excellent standards of provision in behavioural advice, and provide staff with help and advice on behaviour modification for individual dogs as necessary and as requested.

Duties

·     Keep up to date with the latest thinking on canine behaviour and training, including knowledge of the influence of physiological changes on behaviour, the principles of learning, and the relationship between behavioural signs and welfare. ·     Be able to read and interpret new information in a critical manner and to help convey these in lay terms to ensure that therapies and practices applied in Dog School and Rehoming Centres are evidence based and have a positive impact on dog welfare. ·     Provide independent assessments, as required, of dogs with behaviour problems that require more specialist input, including human directed aggression. ·     Support and advise Dog School and Rehoming Centre staff on matters relating to dog behaviour and training. ·     Provide mentoring for the professional development of staff towards national standards of accreditation in clinical behaviour. ·     Provide staff training in dog behaviour through workshops, clinical case reviews and conferences. ·     Be thoroughly familiar with Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs), Administrative Guidelines and Instructions (AGIs) and the policies of Dogs Trust. ·     Promote the work of Dogs Trust through the media, the public, local vets etc, whilst always protecting the image of Dogs Trust. ·     Ensure that all Health and Safety procedures, as deemed necessary after assessment of risk are implemented and followed. ·     Carry out other duties as directed by the Head of Training and Behaviour

              

Person Specification

The Clinical Animal Behaviourist will: Have a thorough, in depth knowledge of dog behaviour, training and welfare.  An animal behaviour or welfare qualification at degree level or above is essential. Have experience in handling dogs with a range of problem behaviours, and be familiar with a range of different techniques for training and rehabilitation Be passionate about enhancing the welfare of dogs and their owners through the use of appropriate management, behaviour modification and rehabilitation programmes.  Have demonstrable proficiency in conducting behaviour consultations for a range of problem behaviours. Have excellent written skills, with the ability to write, interpret and analyse comprehensive behavioural reports and record basic (descriptive) statistics where required. Be a good listener, empathic and able to mentor and develop Dogs Trust staff in clinical skills. Have good verbal communication skills, and be able to discuss the management of dogs confidently with a range of stakeholders, including veterinary surgeons, other specialist practitioners, Dog School staff, TBAs and senior TBAs. ·       Be able to work independently, be organised and able to develop and prioritise his or her own workload. ·       Be willing to travel within the UK as a regular part of the job along with overnight stays. Be aware of the limitations of their expertise, and ensure cases that require additional specialist or veterinary advice are highlighted to relevant professionals. Be experienced at dealing with the general public, prepared to run workshops, demonstrate rehabilitation techniques and comfortable delivering presentations to large audiences. Ideally have prior experience in teaching or mentoring clinical skills ·       Be computer literate with knowledge of MSWord, Excel and able to use Internet. ·       Be able to record information accurately and use data to generate basic reports ·       Ideally be accredited as a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist with ASAB, or have qualifications and clinical experience of an equivalent standard. Must possess a full manual UK driving licence