Groom

2024 is a big year for us as we turn 200 years young! We are proud of our long standing history in campaigning for a better world for animal welfare. We were the first to introduce a law to protect animals and have been working hard ever since to ensure that all animals can live free from pain and suffering. Through our campaigns we raise standards of care, and awareness of issues, affecting animals today. Our vision is to one day live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion. And that is what we work towards every day. We are currently recruiting for a Groom to join our team at Felledge Equine Centre, one of only three RSPCA specialist equine centres in the UK. Working hours: 35 hours / Mon - Friday, including every other weekend based on the roster Please note you may need a car to reach the centre as the there is no public transport links nearby At Felledge Equine Centre we work to prepare previously mistreated and neglected equines for adoption. The work can be challenging but immensely rewarding, following the journey of our rescued equines from intake all the way to rehoming. Previous rescue/rehab experience is not essential for this role - what's most important is your confidence around a wide range of horses and ponies, and your passion for their welfare! We role model our values through our people culture and keep connected through regular/daily check-in's and team meetings, your colleagues are always on hand to support or chat. It's important to us that you feel part of our team from the get go! Are you ready to be part of our journey and make a difference? Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits to recognise your contributions at RSPCA. 35 hour week Great Annual Leave benefits - 25 days annual leave on joining increasing each year to a maximum of 31 days (pro rata for part-time) Additional Society day around Christmas. Flexibility in hours - with the introduction of Core Hours staff can work their 35 hours flexibly across Monday to Friday. Core hours are 10.00am - 15.00 (please note this isn't available for our frontline animal care roles) Generous pension scheme Career development through our in-house Learning & Development training Charity worker discounts: Access to hundreds of discounts across many retailers, travel, insurance & cinema tickets. Dog friendly offices at our London & South East Hub! What a day might look like for you Here at RSPCA we know it's a cliche but no two days are the same, as a Groom we've added a short summary of what a typical day might look like, for a full insight please refer to the attached job description. Health checking and assessing horses Lunging & long reining General yard duties whilst maintaining high standards Record keeping / completing horse welfare related paperwork Meeting potential adopters to find suitable forever homes for our rescued equines What makes a great Groom We think this is a great role and to add value we are seeking a match of these skills, but don't worry if you don't tick every box, we'd still love to hear from you. In depth knowledge and experience of equine care and husbandry Confidence around a wide range of horses and ponies, including equines with behavioural problems Competent riding ability Good literacy skills to complete equine welfare related paperwork Excellent team player skills and, above all else, a passion for making a difference to the lives of rescued ponies and horses! So if you have a positive can-do approach to daily tasks and thrive in an inclusive, people-orientated environment then we'd love to hear from you!