Wildlife Assistant (East Winch, Norfolk.)

At the RSPCA we’ve been at the forefront of animal welfare since 1824, where we were founded in a London coffee shop and we’re proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. With our new strategy ‘Together for Animal Welfare’ we want to improve the lives of more animals in England, Wales, and internationally than ever before.

Our wildlife assistants play a vital role in looking after a variety of animals in our care until they can be rehabilitated back into their natural home. They assist with preparing and carrying out feeds, preparing animal accommodation and assist with centre laundry. They also spend time ensuring areas and kitchen are kept tidy and clean and any concerns are raised to the staff member on duty.

You’ll be working as part of a team and have some experience and knowledge of the behaviours of wild animals, however we’ll provide you with full training. You’ll also need to have some level of physical strength to be able to pick up animals and some manual labour, again full training will be provided.

You’ll make friends and meet new people, caring for wild animals whilst they wait to be integrated back into their wild home. You may have lots of experience with many different types of animals, or maybe you have experience with a particular animal and want expand your knowledge. This could be the perfect role for you.

Important note: Owing to the zoonotic disease risks associated with caring for RSPCA animals in this role you will need a professionally fitted face mask. This is almost impossible with facial hair because masks rely on a good seal against the face so when you breathe air in, it only goes through the filter. If there are any gaps around the mask, dirty air will pass through these gaps into your lungs. Facial hair such as beards and stubble make it impossible to get a good seal. If you have facial hair we may be able to offer an alternative role but unfortunately this role will not be suitable for you. The face fit test will be carried out annually for anyone in this role.

We celebrate and respect the diversity of our RSPCA team and embrace the individual qualities, skills and experiences that everyone brings.

To keep you safe and support your wellbeing, we’ll ask you to complete all the necessary training for your role and keep this up to date. We have a suite of wellbeing resources available and can make reasonable role adjustments to support you in your volunteering.

If you are interested in volunteering in this role, please click the apply button to complete our online application form.