Animal Welfare Officer

The Animal Welfare Team(AWT) are currently seeking to recruit an experienced and highly motivated Animal Welfare Officer (AWO). The team is based in the Council's Stakeford Depot, Choppington, NE62 5TR and forms part of the broader Environmental Enforcement Team (EET), which sits within Neighbourhood Services, delivering services such as waste and recycling and parks and green spaces. With 5 staff, the AWT's area of responsibility includes stray dog collection, enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2016 and other relevant legislation, enforcement of dog fouling and animal related Public Space Protection Order restrictions, complaint investigation, as well as promotion and education of responsible companion animal ownership, including the Green Dog Walker Scheme. Reporting to the Senior Animal Welfare Officer, the successful applicant will be able to work independently but also liaise closely with key stakeholders including local vets, animal shelters/charities, key internal services including Safeguarding and the Council's legal team, as well members of the broader EET. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in dog and companion animal handling, knowledge of relevant legislation as well as enforcement, interviewing and case management skills. This is fast paced environment, with a focus on outcomes for residents, with a highly varied workload, reflecting the mixed urban and rural character of the County. REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB

• Good standard of literacy, numeracy and basic IT skills.
• Experience of dog handling.
• Knowledge and experience of enforcement procedures including patrolling, interviewing and case management
• Excellent communication and customer handling skills.
• Full driving licence.
  
  Northumberland County Council's (NCC) vision is 'Land of Great Opportunities', for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.
  
  We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:
• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) - up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)
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