This is a unique opportunity for you to fulfil your passion of caring for wildlife and join our team.

This position would suit a part or newly qualified veterinary nurse with a passion for wildlife and hard work.

JOB TITLE:  Veterinary Nurse

This is a unique opportunity for you to fulfil your passion of caring for wildlife.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• To support the day to day operation of the wildlife rescue, providing care for the wildlife in the rescue and maintaining administrative procedures.
• To help develop good professional relations with the local community
• To support the objectives of the rescue and to uphold and ensure empathy with the key purpose of the rescue by promoting our good name through the promotion of its work.

MAIN DUTIES

Wildlife Care

• Handle and restrain wildlife
• Provide nursing care to our ICU patients, including patient monitoring and health checking and feeding
• Administration of treatments and medications as directed, including injections, tablets and fluids
• Perform diagnostic tests
• Prepare wildlife for surgery and perform some minor procedures, monitor anaesthesia assist veterinary surgeons with operations
• Maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the practice
• Communicate with members of the public, emergency services and NGOs bringing wildlife to the rescue
• Work to the  Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses.
• Prepare and provide food and water for all wildlife in the establishment.
• Attend to the needs of individual patients
• Clean, disinfect and maintain to the required standard of cleanliness, wildlife accommodation, isolation and enclosure areas; food preparation, laundry, storage, treatment, reception, offices, stores, staff facilities including kitchens, toilets and outside areas.
• Carry out checks on wildlife and report any abnormalities
• Assist with the inspection and/or treatment of animals by a veterinary surgeon
• Assist (after relevant training) with the implanting of microchips and completion of microchip records.
• Maintain records, registers and statistics as required
• Support the Soft Release Program
• Clinically assess casualties on admission, format care plans and complete relevant paper work as well as ensuring that a handover is available for the staff member working the next shift.
• Following devised care plans which will involve amongst other tasks administering prescribed medications, wound care and support feeding.
• Undertake cleaning and feeding routines in association with Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue’s standard practice.
• Handle wildlife when required  i.e. hedgehogs, birds, foxes, badgers, deers
• Clean and disinfect food bowls.
• Clean and disinfect cages and pens.
• Discard soiled bedding in the appropriate manner.
• Clean and wash reusable bedding materials. We have an onsite washing machine which you will be required to operate.
• Due to the nature of work, along with the cage and pen locations, there is a high element of kneeling, bending and stretching when cleaning cages.
• Take faecal samples when needed.
• Monitor wildlife eating and weight, recording accurately on each individual casualty sheet.
• At the end of each shift thoroughly wipe and clean surfaces and sinks, sweep and mop thoroughly for standard cleanliness.
• Refill relevant sterilisations bottles
• Ensure feed boxes are topped up
• Ensure all supplies are topped up
• If you have a concern about any of the wildlife, you must report them to the rescue manager immediately.
• All rooms should be left in the same state as you would expect to find them in.
• Noise levels must be kept to a minimum so as not to disturb or traumatise the wildlife in care.
• Maintain strict hygiene levels at all times around the rescue.
• You will be offered opportunities to participate in training which we hope you will engage with and benefit from.
• Adhere to procedures relating to the proper use and care of equipment and materials for which the role has responsibility.
• Adhere strictly to the charity Covid 19 guidelines.
• Promote the core values and aims of HAWR

CUSTOMER CARE 

• To attend to the needs of general public in a professional manner, and to liaise with colleagues and volunteers as appropriate
• Attend to the needs of clients/customers and other visitors to the rescue which includes corporate supporters.
• Deal with telephone enquiries when necessary.

ADMINISTRATION

• Be competent on computer
• Prepare excel spreadsheets
• Collate data
• Check-in wildlife on arrival and fill in patient triage consultation spreadsheet
• Research using google and other search engines
• Be able to respond to email enquiries
• Be confident answering incoming wildlife calls
• Cover reception and check in as needed
• Be able to work in a team
• Assist with ordering, stock rotation, presentation, sales and stock.
• Ensure the safe receipt of money and donated goods.
• Complete documentation relating to the acceptance and release of animals.
• Use a computer to assist in the keeping of records when applicable.
• Deal with the general public, wildlife and educational organisations either in person or via the telephone/email in a professional manner.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Every day will bring different challenges
• The job is physically demanding. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day and will be involved in lifting and restraining wildlife.
• Practice hygiene tasks, including daily wildlife care, disinfecting and cleaning cages and sterilising surgical equipment, are an important and integral part of the role.
• As you’re required to be hands-on with a range of animals, bites and scratches are a potential risk.

HEALTH AND SAFETY 

• Assist in the monitoring and maintenance of all health and safety and fire prevention practices as laid down in the health and safety and fire manuals and policies and observe these in all aspects of your own work.
• Ensure individual wildlife, buildings and rescue areas are secure, checking before work commences and when work finishes.
• Report any faulty equipment, lighting, heating, ventilation equipment etc to the Rescue Manager.
• Maintain standards in line with the requirements of the role and the charity’s Health and Safety policies and procedures.

GENERAL 

• Support and work effectively with colleagues and volunteers within the wildlife rescue and, where applicable, in other departments
• Ensure equipment and the rescue premises are maintained in an organised and hygienic manner.
• Support and work effectively with voluntary helpers at the rescue.
• To participate in fundraising or publicity events as the rescue may require.
• Attend training courses and meetings as instructed by the rescue manager
• Undertake any other duties as instructed by the rescue manager which fall logically within the remit of the post.

Note: this job description is a statement of the job as agreed at March 2023 and should not be seen as precluding future changes that may be deemed necessary by the trustees.