Working With Us
This section gives you an overview of the different jobs we do at Battersea. This is not a list of current vacancies. Please click here for details of our current vacancies.
- First things first...
- Kennel staff - All Sites
- Rehomers - All Sites
- Veterinary staff - London Based
- Behaviour - London Based
- Ambulance drivers - London Based
- Home visitors
- Lost dogs and cats - London Based
- Customer services staff - All Sites
- Maintenance - All Sites
- Administrative staff - London Based
- Work Experience
- Other animal welfare organisations
- Current vacancies
First things first...
As we care for dogs and cats 365 days a year, most jobs involve working at weekends, which includes public and bank holidays.
Although we require specific experience for some roles, we provide full on-the-job training. Staff who wish to undertake NVQ qualifications will be supported by the Home.
Kennel staff - All Sites
The job of a kennel hand at Battersea is one of the most important roles within the Home and the hours are long and the work is hard. There are daily routines in kennels that must be followed to ensure the best care of the dogs and cats during their stay at the Home:
- The kennels are cleaned completely twice a day. This includes removing any mess and completely disinfecting all areas of the kennels. The bedding is replaced with clean blankets each day.
- Twice a day, the dogs and cats are fed; special diets must be maintained and the correct daily allowance administered. Dogs and cats are provided with a constant supply of fresh water.
- Kennel hands need to know each of the dogs in their care. If a dog is unwell or not adjusting suitably to kennel life, the kennel hand needs to be able to recognise this so the animal can be helped. Members of the public constantly pass through the kennels looking for a new pet so kennel staff must be able to politely answer the many questions that are asked.
- Experienced kennel staff will also assess the behaviour of dogs and cats to determine their suitability for rehoming.
- Kennel staff can represent Battersea Dogs & Cats Home at various public events and shows throughout the year, helping to raise the profile of the Home.
- A genuine interest in the welfare of the animals in your care.
- Ability to work as a member of a close-knit team.
- Strong customer service skills and the ability to positively promote the aims and work of the Home.
- Enthusiasm and hard work.
- Good health and physical fitness.
Qualifications: no specific requirements; full on-the-job training provided.
Rehomers - All Sites
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home rehomes up to 5,000 dogs and 3,000 cats each year. Our first priority is to ensure that when a new home is found for a dog or cat, it is for life. The rehomer's job is, therefore, highly specialised because it is important the right matches are made. Rehomers will spend the early part of the day assisting in kennels with the morning cleaning and feeding. When the Home opens to the public they will:
- Interview members of the public to determine the type of pet that will suit them and their lifestyle.
- Match a pet with a potential owner. That means a rehomer must be good at quickly assessing a person or family so the most suitable pet can be found. To assist them, rehomers use the Home's unique computer matching system.
- Advise new owners on dog behavioural issues and about settling the new pet into their home. Experienced rehomers also give advice to new owners who are experiencing problems with their new pets.
- Rehomers are involved in assessing the behaviour of dogs and cats and assist in giving behavioural advice through the Home's Behaviour Hotline.
- Maturity and the ability to cope under pressure and make swift decisions.
- Prior experience of customer service.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Good level of physical fitness and computer literacy.
Hours: 8am - 5pm, including some weekends.
Qualifications: two years' kennel experience, preferably in a rescue environment.
NVQ Level II qualification or any dog behavioural qualification would be an advantage.
Veterinary staff - London Based
Around 10,000 dogs and 3,000 cats pass through Battersea's centres each year. Every one of our arrivals undergoes a full veterinary check as soon as they get here. While most of the dogs and cats arrive in reasonable health, some often need special veterinary care. This could range from vital life-saving surgery to administering medication for minor infection.
Every dog and cat in our care has a complete veterinary check before they leave us to go to their new home. We also run a free three-month outpatient service for ex-Battersea residents, for conditions relating to their stay at the Home.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has an extensive veterinary department spread across the Home in Battersea and our two country centres - at Old Windsor and Brands Hatch. The department includes state-of-the-art operating theatres, a fully equipped intensive care ward and two consulting rooms. The team of four full-time veterinary surgeons, ten qualified and ten student veterinary nurses keep this busy department running seven days a week.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is a recognised nurse training centre. Training places are limited, but vacancies for both qualified and trainee staff will be advertised as they arise. Veterinary nurses are responsible for the everyday health of the dogs and cats in the Home. They have a variety of responsibilities, some of which they carry out on a daily basis. These include:
- Assisting with surgery.
- Administering treatments and carrying out health checks.
- Vaccinating and microchipping dogs and cats and advising members of the public on the health of their new pet.
- Interacting on a daily basis with kennel staff and rehoming staff in monitoring the welfare of particular animals in the Home.
- Previous experience of working in kennels or with a veterinary surgeon is useful but not essential. This could have been gained in a kennel environment or a veterinary surgery.
- A love of animals is essential, as is enthusiasm for the work we do here at Battersea.
- An ability to work well as part of a team with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Being fit and healthy as the role can be quite physically demanding.
Hours:8am - 5pm, including some weekends.
Salary:�13 - �18,000.
Qualifications: To be accepted as a student veterinary nurse, a minimum of five O levels or GCSEs is required, including English, Maths and one science subject.
Behaviour - London Based
The Home has a behaviour department where experienced dog behaviourists work one-to-one with dogs who are exhibiting behaviour problems.
Staff select dogs that will respond to training to overcome their behaviour difficulties, to enable them to be successfully rehomed. 
In the basic care and welfare of the dogs in their care, rehab staff carry out the same duties as kennel hands. They work with fewer dogs which means they can:
- Assess each dog to learn about his personality and his particular behaviour problem.
- Spend one-to-one sessions with particular dogs to train them to overcome their behaviour problems.
- Advise owners, in person or over the phone, who have dogs with behaviour difficulties.
- Advise potential owners of issues relating to ex-rehabilitation dogs.
Hours: 8am - 5pm, including some weekends.
Qualifications: two years' kennel experience, preferably in a rescue environment.
NVQ Level II qualification or any dog behavioural qualification would be an advantage.
Ambulance drivers - London Based
The Home employs a team of ambulance drivers who collect stray dogs from police stations all over the London metropolitan area on a daily basis, setting out at between 6am and 7am each morning. They are also responsible for the safe transfer of animals between our centres. Drivers work on their own, driving through heavy traffic.
Personal skills:
- Minimum of two years' driving experience.
- Dog handling experience is essential, including dealing with aggressive and dangerous dogs.
- Maturity and responsibility.
Qualifications: Full, clean UK driving licence.
Home visitors
Battersea employs a team of part-time home visitors who work on their own. Most home visitors are either retired or also have their own full-time job. Tasks include carrying out home visits, both to potential and new owners, to ensure the dog or cat has settled in without any serious problems. Home Visitors provide appropriate advice, in line with Battersea's policies.
Personal skills:
- Experience of dogs, especially rescue dogs.
- Ability to deal with the public.
- Own car required.
Qualifications: Full, clean UK driving licence.
Lost dogs and cats - London Based
The Lost Dogs and Cats Line team take calls from members of the public who have lost, or found, dogs and cats. Their work includes:
- Entering a lost or found report onto the database.
- Running reports and matching owners with their lost pets and arranging reunions.
- Liaising with dog wardens and the police.
- Previous administrative experience, including an ability to deal with the public.
- Experience of using database systems and compiling statistics.
- Must have an excellent telephone manner and the ability to work as part of a team and under pressure.
Hours: Shifts based on 8am - 8pm opening hours, including some weekends.
Qualifications: No particular qualifications needed.
Customer services staff - All Sites
Customer services staff are the first people to meet and greet members of the public and can be involved in:
- Answering a busy switchboard system that receives up to 1,000 calls a day from the public.
- Working in the shop welcoming members of the public and visitors to the Home, selling Battersea goods and cashing up at the end of each day.
- Working in the main reception area dealing with enquiries from the general public, inputting data onto a computer, cashing up at the end of each day and compiling statistics and figures.
- Previous administrative experience is preferred, including an ability to deal with the public.
- Good IT skills.
- Excellent telephone manner and the ability to work as part of a team and under pressure.
Hours: 9am - 5pm (including some weekends)
Qualifications: No particular qualifications needed.
Maintenance - All Sites
The maintenance team ensures that the general maintenance required is carried out to a high and safe standard. They are an essential part of the daily upkeep and running of our centres. Regular tasks include:
- Carrying out general maintenance work.
- Ordering and collecting spare parts for repairs.
- Liaising closely with the Kennel Manager with regard to kennel maintenance.
- Ensuring drains are kept in good working order and cleared when necessary.
- Ensuring that all maintenance equipment is kept in good, safe working order.
Personal skills:
- Sound knowledge and experience of general maintenance.
- Preferably multi-skilled although no formal qualifications are required.
- Must have an ability to carry out basic electrical work, plumbing, plastering and woodwork.
Hours: 8am - 5pm, with occasional weekends.
Salary: �TBA.
Qualifications: No particular qualifications needed.
Administrative staff - London Based
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has a number of administrative staff based at the head office. We have small departments in the following areas:
- Communications
- IT
- Personnel
- Accounts
- Fundraising
- Events
- Legacies
Hours: 9am - 5pm (including some weekends for events and fundraising staff).
Qualifications: Depends on post although appropriate training provided.
Work Experience
The home offers work experience to students who are studying an animal related course at a recognised college or university eg NVQ (Level 2 and above) or degree course.
Work experience is not offered to G.C.S.E students.
The work experience scheme runs throughout the year. All placements must be arranged through their educational establishment and are subject to a pre-placement interview, a medical questionnaire and a risk assessment.
Work experience students spend their time working with kennel hands, who are responsible for the day to day welfare of the cats and dogs at the home. Duties include clearing, feeding, socialising and the general health and welfare of the dogs and cats.
The work experience programme is designed to offer a meaningful experience of the reality of working with rescue cats and dogs; it is not an opportunity to cuddle kittens and puppies! The timetable can be quite demanding and students must be physically fit and able to undertake instruction.
We are currently taking bookings for 2007.
All placements are booked on a 'first come first served basis' with no more than two students on site at any time.
If you wish to reserve a placement or obtain further information please write to:
Personnel Department
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
4 Battersea Park Road
London SW8 4AA.
Alternatively please email us at [email protected] and the information will be emailed to you. Alternatively please complete an application form via our website, www.dogshome.org.
Applications must be made in writing and state your preferred dates, the course you are studying and the details of your college or university. Please note that we require this information at least eight weeks before your preferred placement date.
We cannot take overseas students or offer accommodation.
Other animal welfare organisations
The following - where relevant, in conjunction with accrediting organisations - offer employment and training in some areas of operation for inexperienced applicants. However, previous experience of working with animals, even in a voluntary capacity, is always desirable.
The Blue Cross
Dogs Trust
PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals)
RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Wood Green Animal Shelters
Animal Jobs Direct
Current vacancies
Recruitment for all three sites (Battersea, Old Windsor and Brands Hatch) is co-ordinated by the Personnel department, based in London.
Please take a look at our current vacancies.
Due to the large number of requests for information we receive and the resulting high cost of administration and postage, we regret we cannot always acknowledge enquiries which do not relate to specific vacancies.
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