Voluntary membership organisation for dog and cat rescue and rehoming charities.
Category: Welfare & Rescue
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Head of Professional Engagement and Welfare Policies
Head of Professional Engagement and Welfare Policies
Application Deadline: 27 April 2026
Department: Veterinary and Welfare
Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time
Location: London
Compensation: £71,750 per year + benefits
Description
Are you passionate about the development of organisational policies and standards that ensure exceptional dog welfare?We are looking for a Head of Professional Engagement and Welfare Policies to act as a senior lead for understanding the organisational context for veterinary, behavioural and operational standards and risks. You will be responsible for developing organisational policies and standards of practice to enable appropriate dog welfare across the organisation.You will oversee the development and delivery of engagement activities with professional stakeholders and work with the Veterinary and Welfare Director to build and maintain positive relationships and collaborations with professional groups to achieve organisational objectives.
What does this role do?
In this role, you’ll:- lead, develop and coach a team responsible for managing relationships with key professional stakeholder groups, and for defining dog welfare associated procedures and policies for colleagues across the organisation.
- be responsible for monitoring the risk of external changes in the veterinary or behaviour world and evaluate their potential impact on the organisation.
- ensure the collection of relevant data to monitor the application of standards and control of risks, working with operational and research teams as needed to review or analyse data.
- oversee regular quality assurance on the implementation of standard operating procedures, ways of working, and other policies for the operations directorate.
- conduct regular horizon scanning to understand new areas of clinical knowledge or research likely to impact the organisation in the future.
- represent Dogs Trust externally, engaging with the vet and behaviour community to understand factors likely to impact on policies and procedures, including other charities or professional bodies.
- represent the organisation at sector groups or meetings to ensure organisational influence with stakeholders and the optimisation of dog welfare in external contexts.
- overseeing application of dog welfare standards into major organisational media projects.
Could this be you?
To be successful in this role, you’ll be qualified as a veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse or qualified as or working towards CAB standard as a behaviourist. You’ll have significant experience in a clinical environment with an understanding of setting and maintaining standards and procedures. You’ll have a strong understanding in dog welfare legislation and in-depth knowledge of principles of behaviour and application to a rehoming context. You’ll feel confident working effectively across different specialist teams, evaluating and integrating different inputs to formulate clear outcomes.In addition, you’ll be an excellent written and verbal communicator, with the ability to explain policies and procedures in lay terms, and have difficult conversations related to the subject, internally and externally. You will be a strong people manager, including leading, developing and coaching senior colleagues and enjoy engaging with professional bodies and stakeholders across the veterinary and behaviour sectors.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for the 5th and 6th May 2026 online via teams.
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Standby Horse Support Administrator
Standby Horse Support Administrator
Application Deadline: 26 April 2026
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Employment Type: Zero Hours
Location: Rolleston on Dove
Compensation: £14.24 / hour
Description
Contract: Zero hoursSalary: £12.71 plus £1.53 per hour holiday payLocation: Rolleston rehoming centre, DE13 9AUClosing date: Sunday 26th April 2026Interview date: Tuesday 5th May 2026
Are you a highly organised professional with a passion for animal welfare? We are looking for a dedicated Standby Horse Support Administrator to join our Horse Rehoming & Fostering Services team at Rolleston Rehoming Centre.More about the role
As our Standby Horse Support Administrator, no two days will look exactly the same. You will ensure the smooth day-to-day running of our operations by maintaining accurate records, and providing comprehensive support to the management team.This role involves a variety of administrative duties, including accurate data entry and maintaining digital records. You will be responsible for sending and receiving emails, managing email chains, and handling attachments in a professional manner.Key responsibilities include scanning documents and uploading them to our computer systems, ensuring all records are kept up to date and easily accessible. You will also be required to use Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, along with other systems as needed.In addition, you will support our events by contacting local businesses to request donations and assisting with event planning and organisation. Strong communication skills and attention to detail are essential for this role.The ideal candidate will be proactive, confident when communicating with external contacts, and comfortable working with a range of administrative tools and systems.You will help keep everything running seamlessly by managing our stock, ordering supplies, and raising purchase orders.Beyond your daily tasks, you will step in to provide sickness and holiday cover for other rehoming administrators.You will be on a zero hour’s contract and therefore you will not have regular hours of work but will be on standby to work shifts as and when required.About you
You are an excellent communicator who approaches work with a positive, professional, and flexible attitude. Reliable and conscientious, you are truly committed to contributing to the success of the Horse Rehoming & Fostering team. You naturally present a welcoming, professional image to everyone you interact with, whether that is internally with colleagues or externally with our supporters and clients.We are looking for someone who brings a highly structured approach to their work alongside exceptional attention to detail. You have the initiative to jump in, solve problems, and proactively action a variety of issues as they arise. Because your workload will be busy and varied, your adaptability and ability to independently prioritise your tasks will be absolutely essential. Ultimately, you are someone who works in a way that truly reflects the core values and culture of Blue Cross.For a more detailed look at the role and its requirements, please see the attached job description.Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience- Significant previous experience of office working with demanding schedules and deadlines
- Setting up and maintaining office systems and procedures
- Computer literate with an excellent practical knowledge of Word and Excel
- Experience of working with a range of individuals at all levels of the organisation
- The ability to maintain the utmost discretion and high levels of confidentiality whilst working on pieces of work that contain sensitive information
- The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross Values
Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience- Experience and knowledge of legal compliance and dealing with professional bodies and contractors
- Working knowledge of health and safety legislation
How to applyClick the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 26th April 2026.We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.Our generous benefits package includes:- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the ‘why work for us’ page on our website. -
Standby Adoption Preparation Handler
Standby Adoption Preparation Handler
Application Deadline: 26 April 2026
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Employment Type: Zero Hours
Location: Rolleston on Dove
Compensation: £14.24 / hour
Description
Contract: Zero hoursSalary: £12.71 plus £1.53 per hour holiday payLocation: Rolleston rehoming centre, DE13 9AUClosing date: Sunday 26th April 2026Interview date: W/C 4th May 2026
Join our team at Blue Cross Rolleston rehoming centre as a Standby Horse Adoptions Preparation Handler! We’re looking for a passionate and experienced individual to care for and train our horses, helping prepare them for rehoming. If you’re dedicated to animal welfare and have solid equine experience, we’d love to hear from you!More about the role
As a skilled horse handler and trainer, you will manage and care for horses in our rehoming and temporary crisis care services, ensuring they meet welfare standards and are quickly prepared for new homes.Each day, you’ll handle and train a variety of horses and ponies, collaborating with the Rehabilitation, Trainer and Behaviour Advisor (RTBA) and the Adoptions Preparation Lead. This includes starting and training unhandled horses and ponies.You’ll work as part of a team to optimise training and provide excellent customer service, promoting Blue Cross horses and ponies to maximize rehoming opportunities. You’ll also collaborate with centre-based volunteers and the Foster Yard Coordinator regarding potential foster horses.As the public face of Blue Cross, you’ll prioritise customer service in every interaction. Your role is key in helping us achieve our mission and support more pets and horses.You will be on a zero hour’s contract and therefore you will not have regular hours of work but will be on standby to work shifts as and when required.For a more detailed look at the role and its requirements, please see the attached job description.About you
You are intuitive with horses, empathetic, and welfare-focused, with experience in a similar environment. Skilled at assessing horse needs, recognising behavioral signs, and knowledgeable about medications, you understand the importance of quickly finding new homes for horses.Self-motivated and forward-thinking, you bring creative, collaborative, and pragmatic solutions for horse care. You quickly assimilate and accurately record information while effectively communicating with clients and stakeholders.In an emotionally charged environment, your resilience and emotional intelligence shine, showing empathy and support for clients and colleagues alike.Knowledge, skills, and experience- Demonstrable experience of having previously worked or volunteered with horses or in a horse welfare environment.
- BHS stage 3, NVQ3 or equivalent professional experience
- A working knowledge of caring for a variety of field kept and stabled horses/ponies.
- Experience of handling and training a variety of different types of horses and ponies.
- Experience of starting and producing a variety of young horses.
- Knowledge of basic horse veterinary procedures, common horse ailments and injuries.
- Current full driving licence.
- The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values
Although not essential, it would be great if you also had:- Qualification or similar experience in horse behaviour or animal training.
- Understanding of safeguarding issues.
- Practical application behavioural science and learning theory when training horses.
- Preparing horses and ponies for rehoming.
How to applyClick the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 26th April 2026.We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.Our generous benefits package includes:- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the ‘why work for us’ page on our website. -
Veterinary Nurse (days) – Victoria Animal Hospital
Veterinary Nurse (days) – Victoria Animal Hospital
Application Deadline: 17 May 2026
Department: Veterinary Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Victoria animal hospital
Reporting To: Nurse Manager
Compensation: £29,000 – £32,000 / year
Description
Contract: Permanent, full time and part time hours availableSalary: £29,000 – £32,000 FTE plus £3,954 London weighting allowanceLocation: Victoria animal hospital, LondonClosing date: Sunday 17th May 2026Interview dates: Interviews will be arranged as applications are receivedAre you a passionate and dedicated veterinary nurse looking for an exciting opportunity? Join our dynamic team and make a difference in the lives of animals and their families!Key Responsibilities
Blue Cross animal hospitals and pet care clinics provide veterinary treatment to sick and injured pets when their owners can’t afford private veterinary fees. Our vet care is available to pets whose owners receive certain means-tested benefits and live within the catchment area of one of our animal hospitals or pet care clinics.Our Veterinary Nurses deliver excellent veterinary care for a wide range of small animals, providing both routine healthcare and a large number of emergencies, providing our team with excellent opportunities to develop their skills.Blue Cross has developed an award-winning set of clinical guidelines to assist our vets in pragmatic, evidence-based decision making, where patient welfare is a priority. High standards are important to us but so is the ability to discuss openly where lessons have been learnt, within a safe, non-judgmental environment.We recognise that we work within a profession where compassion fatigue is a risk to us all. We have wellbeing champions and Mental Health First Aiders at all hospitals, coordinating a range of initiatives and promoting a culture of openness and support within the team.We have both full and part time hours available, working a minimum of 3 days per week. Our nurses cover a range of shifts, including early mornings, evenings, and bank holidays on a rotational basis. For weekends it is usually 1 in every 6 and for bank holidays, it will be occasional and no more than 2 days a year. Due to the nature of the work of Blue Cross, and this post, it may be necessary to exceed these hours when the workload demands.Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
As a Veterinary Nurse, you will be confident and capable in delivering excellent nursing care for a range of small animals, providing both emergency and routine healthcare. Our Veterinary Nurses work alongside Veterinary Surgeons to promote animal health and welfare through responsible ownership and play a key role in the education of pet owners.The ability to work as part of a team and effective communication skills are really important, often you will be the first point of our clients, forming strong bonds with them to ensure improved animal health and welfare.
Knowledge, skills, and experience:- Fully qualified Veterinary Nurse
- Registered with RCVS
- Confident in all aspects of veterinary nursing
- Demonstratable customer service skills
How to applyClick the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.Job Benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.Our generous benefits package includes:- Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Health cash plan
- Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
- Life assurance
- 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Recognition scheme
- Annual volunteer days
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the ‘why work for us’ page on our website. -
Rehoming Manager (Live-in)
Rehoming Manager (Live-in)
Application Deadline: 29 April 2026
Department: Rehoming
Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time
Location: Evesham
Compensation: £34,252 per year + benefits
Description
Are you an inspiring and enthusiastic leader who is passionate about rehoming dogs?
We’re looking for a Rehoming Manager to embed a culture of high performance, creativity and excellent customer service at our Rehoming centre in Evesham. Working closely with the rest of the management team, you’ll manage and support the development of our rehoming team, who work tirelessly to find forever homes for the dogs in our care.
This is a live-in role and on-site accommodation will be provided. There may be times when
you are required to stay on site in the evening and overnight to be on call in the event of an
emergency.What does this job do?
As Rehoming Manager, you will:- promote a culture of rehoming across the whole centre team, maximising the effectiveness of interactions and their conversion to adoptions,
- lead, manage and develop the rehoming team, instilling a performance based approach, focused on meeting both objective based and customer service targets,
- collaborate with other managers to optimise kennel occupation and to ensure appropriate assessment and triage of dogs is completed,
- drive a culture of continuous improvement across all public facing activities, focusing on the development and wellbeing of colleagues and a consistently positive experience for volunteers.
Could this be you?
To be successful in this role, you’ll need experience of leading a small, diverse team, with particular focus on driving high performance, delivering excellent customer service and meeting targets. You’ll also need some operational management experience, with the ability to make decisions swiftly and effectively, with a solution focused approach. Excellent communication skills are essential, including the ability to have challenging conversations empathetically. Above all, you’ll have a passion for rehoming dogs and the work Dogs Trust does.What does this team do?
The Rehoming department is responsible for helping as many dogs as possible find their forever homes, whether they are cared for in our network of Rehoming Centres, in a foster home or by their current owner using the Home Stay scheme. We strive to achieve excellence in our rehoming processes and to ensure the highest standards of veterinary and behaviour care through our highly skilled teams.Interviews are provisionally scheduled for 12th May at Evesham Rehoming Centre.
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Registered Veterinary Nurse (no weekends) – Hammersmith
Registered Veterinary Nurse (no weekends) – Hammersmith
Application Deadline: 3 May 2026
Department: Veterinary Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Hammersmith animal hospital
Reporting To: Nurse Manager
Compensation: £29,000 – £32,000 / year
Description
Contract: Fixed Term Contract (12 months), full time (42 hours Monday-Friday)Salary: £29,000 – £32,000 per annum (plus £3,954 London weighting allowance)Location: Hammersmith animal hospital, W6 0RQClosing date: Sunday 3rd May 2026Interview dates: Interviews will be arranged as applications are received
We’re looking for a friendly, caring Registered Veterinary Nurse to join our close knit team at our Hammersmith Animal Hospital. You’ll be working with a group of dedicated and talented veterinary professionals who genuinely support one another, delivering excellent care to a wide variety of small animals. From routine nursing to emergency work, no two days are the same and there are plenty of opportunities to build confidence, develop new skills and grow in your role.More about the role
Blue Cross animal hospitals and pet care clinics provide veterinary treatment to sick and injured pets when their owners can’t afford private veterinary fees. Our vet care is available to pets whose owners receive certain means-tested benefits and live within the catchment area of one of our animal hospitals or pet care clinics.
Our Hammersmith hospital is a compact, quirky site with lots of character which first opened in 1922; we’re very proud of its history. Despite its size, it’s well equipped with digital and dental x-ray, ultrasound and a mini-lab for in-house testing and microscopy, which we actively encourage nurses to get involved to develop these skills. We have separate dog and cat wards, a dedicated room for euthanasia to ensure privacy and dignity and a designated reception team so clinical staff can stay focused on patient care.
You’ll be joining a small, welcoming team where communication really matters. We start each day with short, informal mini-meetings to share updates and we hold monthly whole-team meetings where everyone’s voice is encouraged. We use award-winning clinical guidelines to support practical, evidence-based decision-making, always putting patient welfare first and we value open conversations and shared learning in a safe, non-judgemental environment.We also understand the emotional demands of veterinary work and the importance of looking after each other. Wellbeing champions and Mental Health First Aiders are based at all our hospitals, helping to create a culture where people feel supported, listened to and able to be themselves.Working hoursThis is a full-time, fixed term contract role for 12 months, offering a good work–life balance, with weekday hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm. You’ll work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with a one-hour lunch break. We’re also happy to consider part-time applicants looking to work four days per week, with days discussed at interview.About you
As a Veterinary Nurse, you will be confident and capable in delivering excellent nursing care for a range of small animals, providing both emergency and routine healthcare. Our Veterinary Nurses work alongside Veterinary Surgeons to promote animal health and welfare through responsible ownership and play a key role in the education of pet owners.The ability to work as part of a team and effective communication skills are really important, often you will be the first point of our clients, forming strong bonds with them to ensure improved animal health and welfare.We’d love to hear from applicants who bring a passion for supporting and developing student veterinary nurses, ideally with some experience of coaching, mentoring or assessing in practice. A good understanding of RCVS training standards and an interest in education, wellbeing and inclusive learning would be a real advantage.
Knowledge, skills, and experience:- Fully qualified Veterinary Nurse
- Registered with RCVS
- Confident in all aspects of veterinary nursing
- Demonstrable customer service skills
Although not essential, it would be great if you also had:- Provision of nursing clinics
- Laboratory skills
- Use of computerised records
How to applyClick the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.Our generous benefits package includes:- Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Health cash plan
- Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
- Life assurance
- 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Recognition scheme
- Annual volunteer days
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the ‘why work for us’ page on our website. -
Welfare Manager
Welfare Manager
Application Deadline: 27 April 2026
Department: Rehoming
Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time
Location: Darlington
Compensation: £34,252 per year + benefits
Description
Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the lives of dogs and the people who care for them?
We’re looking for a Welfare Manager to take charge of the welfare journey for every dog in our centre. In this pivotal role, you will drive timely, compassionate decisions through expert behavioural and veterinary rehabilitation, ensuring each dog progresses toward their forever home.What does this role do?
As Welfare Manager, you’ll:- lead, coach and develop a small team to deliver high-quality veterinary care and behaviour modification for dogs in our care,
- act as a balanced advocate for both behavioural and veterinary needs to achieve the best outcomes for each dog,
- oversee staff and volunteer training in behaviour and dog handling, ensuring all colleagues work within SOPs, legal, and health and safety guidelines,
- develop and implement tailored behaviour modification plans for dogs with complex needs and monitor progress towards successful rehoming,
- support professional development of Behaviour Officers, Dog Welfare Assistants, and Supervisors through mentoring, assessments, and workshops,
- collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure consistent, informed behavioural support before, during, and after rehoming.
Could this be you?
As an accredited clinical dog behaviourist (CCAB, CAB) with extensive experience in canine behaviour and welfare; including behaviour modification, clinical assessment, and risk management, you will have proven expertise in safely handling and rehabilitating dogs across a range of breeds and behavioural profiles. With a strong track record of leading, developing, and managing high-performing teams, you will also be a skilled communicator, who is able to influence and engage a variety of audiences. Above all, you’ll be passionate about rehoming, and have a commitment to the aims and objectives of Dogs Trust.What does this team do?
Our rehoming centres house thousands of dogs each year until they can find a loving new home and the success of our centres wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers; there is a real family-community within each of our centres. Come rain or shine, our team are out in all weathers to make sure the dogs have the best possible life. Dealing with thousands of visitors each month, our rehoming centres are the face of Dogs Trust, and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service.Interviews are provisionally scheduled for 12th May 2026 at Darlington Rehoming Centre.
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Rehoming and Administrative Assistant
Voluntary membership organisation for dog and cat rescue and rehoming charities.
