Animal Care & Welfare Assistant Level 2

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Animal Care and Welfare Assistants look after the routine day to day husbandry and care of domestic and/or wild animals under guidance in a variety of different settings. The work is carried out individually or as part of a team in places such as kennels and catteries, laboratories, animal welfare centres, farm parks, rehabilitation centres, retail outlets and in the transportation of animals.

The role of an apprentice includes:

  • Promoting the health and well-being of animals in your care.
  • Delivering basic treatment to animals within the workplace.
  • Maintaining the animals’ accommodation and preparing their feed.
  • Learning to safely control and restrain the animals you are working with.

Individuals will need to achieve the core skills and knowledge, behaviours and one option from the following list: Animal Interaction and Handling, Rehoming; Movement and Transportation; Operational/Reception Duties; Breeding; Zoos, Aquaria and Exotics; Working Dog Handler; Wildlife Rehabilitation, Veterinary Care Support.

A work-based apprenticeship will:

  • Help you work at the commercial speed animal care employers expect.
  • Increase your confidence in working with animals, in a team and in the workplace.
  • Give you the skills and knowledge to become a competent member of staff.
  • Give you a reference for your CV.
  • Provide you with essential employability skills to give you the best start in your working life.
  • Put you alongside highly experienced and qualified staff who will train you to develop your skills working with animals.

10% Discount on dog grooming products

We are pleased to be able to offer a special discount for students studying with us, just click the box below to see how you can save money on lots of grooming products.

  • Entry Requirements

    To apply for this apprenticeship you will need to be of school leaver age and you will need to have been an EU resident for a minimum of 3 years.

    To be eligible to apply for this apprenticeship can no longer be in any full-time education; school, college, university or on another apprenticeship or have completed a Level 2 in Animal Care or have completed a Level 4 qualification or higher (Foundation Degree or Degree) in any subject.

    If you are still in full-time education; school, college, university, on another apprenticeship, or just unsure of your suitability just contact our friendly team to discuss.

  • Maths and English

    Maths and English will be included in the delivery of the programme; unless you have achieved Grade A-C or 4-9 at GCSE level, or a Level 2 Functional Skills qualification.

    For the Level 2 Equine Groom Apprenticeship, level 1 English and maths will be needed to achieve this and all apprentices will take the test for level 2 English and maths prior to completion of their Apprenticeship.

    Teaching and support for maths and English will be given in the workplace and contextualised to the working environment.

  • Teaching, learning and assessment

    Apprentices will be regularly assessed in the workplace by their Trainer-Coach with testimonies from the relevant Employer/Trainer.

    Throughout the apprenticeship journey, every learner will learn the core apprenticeship components, taking part in monthly sessions with their Trainer-Coach, accessing different learning systems and spending time learning new skills, knowledge and behaviours whilst at work.  The Equine Groom apprenticeship is then assessed by a final end point assessment (EPA).

    Every four months the apprentice will sit practice tests and assessments in preparation for their EPA.  Once they are ready they will sit a knowledge test, be observed at work and take part in a professional discussion. These are all designed to prove competence in the workplace and each of our learners is fully supported in their preparation for this.

  • What are the next steps in your career?

    If you want to move across into different areas of animal welfare our Recruitment team can help you apply for apprenticeship vacancies we already have. In your career with animals, there’ll be scope to move up the ladder, across sectors and it can even take you abroad.

    Take a look at our Animal Care Career Path!

  • Save 10% on dog grooming products

    Working with two partners we are pleased to be able to offer our students a 10% discount on grooming products, just follow the details below.

    Groomers

    To sign up as a student and get a discount code, all you need to do is fill in the student form – which can be found here

    When you are asked ‘how you get your training’ please select Haddon Training, if for any reason this is not immediately visible please click other and then type Haddon Training in the box provided.  Once this application is complete you will be provided with a unique code to get 10% off on any orders placed via phone or on their website.

    Christies Direct

    To get your 10% discount please complete the form found here, when your account is set up with Christies you will be able to place an order on the phone and the discount will be applied straight away.

    If ordering on the website please ensure that you enter the unique code which will be emailed to you when setting up your account. This will be in the first email.

    Please note the 10% discount for Christies is only valid for 6 months after you sign up.

     

     

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The Animal Care and Welfare pathway will give you the skills and knowledge you need to work in an animal-based environment. It’ll enable you to provide the animals in your care with the very highest standards of welfare.

Although the course will be based largely on your own placement, the skills that you learn and develop will be transferrable to other locations.

 

Animal Care staff bottle feeding lambs

This pathway will give you hands-on experience with the exotic species you might find in a Zoo, Wildlife Park, Wild Life Rescue, Falconry Centre or similar.

You’ll be able to choose relevant units of study for the animals you’re working with, such as: training, conservation, treatments, transportation, breeding, diets, enclosure design, and working with volunteers.

This pathway will teach you the styling needs for a variety of dog breeds, how to read their range of behaviours, as well as helping you recognise basic health issues.

You’ll be trained to work with both cats and dogs and to use a range of equipment for bathing, drying and grooming to a professional standard.

This pathway will enable you to work with a wide range of animals, from small mammals and birds, to fish and reptiles (depending on the retailer).

You’ll learn the health and welfare needs of a range of species, how to assist members of the public, as well as gaining an understating of the different pet care products on the shelves.

The Animal Training pathway will give you a better understanding of animal welfare and the legislation behind it as well as practical experience when developing and implementing training programmes.

This will provide you with the skills and knowledge to apply for a variety of animal training roles, such as: Animal Behaviourist, Service Dog Trainer, or even a role in the military.

  • Pathways

    The Animal Care and Welfare pathway will give you the skills and knowledge you need to work in an animal-based environment. It’ll enable you to provide the animals in your care with the very highest standards of welfare.

    Although the course will be based largely on your own placement, the skills that you learn and develop will be transferrable to other locations.

     

    Animal Care staff bottle feeding lambs

  • Zoos/Wildlife

    This pathway will give you hands-on experience with the exotic species you might find in a Zoo, Wildlife Park, Wild Life Rescue, Falconry Centre or similar.

    You’ll be able to choose relevant units of study for the animals you’re working with, such as: training, conservation, treatments, transportation, breeding, diets, enclosure design, and working with volunteers.

  • Dog Grooming

    This pathway will teach you the styling needs for a variety of dog breeds, how to read their range of behaviours, as well as helping you recognise basic health issues.

    You’ll be trained to work with both cats and dogs and to use a range of equipment for bathing, drying and grooming to a professional standard.

  • Pet Retail

    This pathway will enable you to work with a wide range of animals, from small mammals and birds, to fish and reptiles (depending on the retailer).

    You’ll learn the health and welfare needs of a range of species, how to assist members of the public, as well as gaining an understating of the different pet care products on the shelves.

  • Animal Training

    The Animal Training pathway will give you a better understanding of animal welfare and the legislation behind it as well as practical experience when developing and implementing training programmes.

    This will provide you with the skills and knowledge to apply for a variety of animal training roles, such as: Animal Behaviourist, Service Dog Trainer, or even a role in the military.

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