The posting
Salary: £15.34 per hour Hours: Part time role covering weekends and holidays: 4 hours across each weekend (2 hours each day) + 18 hours each week over the holidays including weekends. There may be a requirement to work further hours where needed and is dependent on the needs and welfare of the animals. Weeks: 52 Weeks per year We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a high volume of suitable applications is received.
Job Purpose: We are seeking a reliable and enthusiastic Part-Time Animal Care Technician to support the care and welfare of animals within the college animal care unit during weekends and holiday periods when students are not on site.
The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring all animals remain healthy, safe, enriched, and well cared for, while maintaining high standards of hygiene and husbandry throughout the animal care facilities.
To learn more about the area of the Charity you would be working in please watch this short video - Queen Alexandra College
Key Responsibilities & Safeguarding
• Prepare animal feeds and carry out daily feeding routines in line with animal care plans. • Clean and maintain animal enclosures, housing, equipment, and associated areas to a high standard. • Carry out routine animal health checks and observations, reporting any concerns promptly to the relevant staff member. • Provide enrichment activities and positive animal interactions to promote animal welfare and wellbeing. • Undertake regular animal handling to maintain animal confidence, socialisation, and habituation during periods when students are absent. • Monitor and record environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity checks for reptile enclosures. • Maintain accurate records relating to animal care, feeding, environmental monitoring, and health observations. • Report any maintenance, welfare, behavioural, or health concerns appropriately. • Ensure animal kitchens, preparation areas, and general animal care facilities are kept clean, organised, and hygienic. • Follow all relevant health and safety, biosecurity, and animal welfare procedures at all times.
Other Duties QAC employees may be expected to undertake designated emergency response duties as part of their role. This includes: • Receiving appropriate training, instruction and information to carry out emergency procedures safely and effectively. • Responding to emergency situations in line with organisational policies and procedures. • Supporting the organisation’s compliance with relevant Health and Safety legislation.
Please take time to review the job description attached. Please upload a CV/Resume* with details of your full employment history (since leaving school, including education, employment and voluntary work) including reasons for any gaps in employment. This should also include a statement of the personal qualities and experience you believe are relevant to your suitability for the post and how this meets the job description and person specification requirements. Your CV/Resume* will be re-produced in a standard format by the system (without personal identifiers) to assist us in our anonymised shortlisting process.
Safeguarding Commitments
As part of our commitment to safeguarding, and in line with updated guidance published in September 2026, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part of your application we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further information.
Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College's Safeguarding Policies are available here.
We are deeply committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All required pre-employment checks will be undertaken, and offers of employment are subject to satisfactory outcomes. These include an enhanced DBS check with Children & Adult’s Barred List information, identity checks, o nline checks, and verification of professional qualifications and references. Further details are available in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
- Animal Care qualification (level 3)
- Flexible and willing to work when required for the welfare of the animals
- Have experience working with a range of animals in a practical animal care setting.
- Be confident handling animals safely and calmly.
- Have a good understanding of animal welfare and husbandry practices.
- Be reliable, responsible, and able to work independently.
- Be organised and able to maintain accurate records.
- Have good observational skills and the ability to identify and report concerns.
For further information on person specification please read the job description attached
Benefits
Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of students with special educational needs? Do you thrive in an inclusive and supportive academic environment? If so, we want YOU to join our team. QAC has dealt with a period of swift growth and academic improvement and this is your opportunity to become part of a vibrant College that is moving forward and making a real difference to the lives and futures of our students.
Queen Alexandra Charity offers you the chance to have a positive impact as you join a committed group of colleagues in ensuring that all students achieve their aims and aspirations. We are dedicated to providing exceptional education and support to students with diverse learning needs and life experiences. Our specialist setting fosters an inclusive community where every student is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
QAC offers a vibrant, varied and enriching educational experience for both residential and day students. Our curriculum aims to maximise adult life, independence and work opportunities for all students. Class sizes are designed to meet specific needs and support levels are high.
Joining our supportive team, you will have the opportunity to:
- Work closely with students with SEN to achieve their goals
- Make a difference to the educational experience of young people
- Be a voice for students and staff in specialist education
- Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting academic growth, self-development and self-confidence
- Develop your own skills, aspirations and progress your career.
Our benefits include; Schedule 1 Benefits (reviewed annually and/or as appropriate)
- Access to on site car parking
- Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)
- Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF)
- Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff
- QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing
- BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services
- Annual Flu vaccination/voucher
- Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers
- Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/dell-advantage
- Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)
- Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities
- Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)
- Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)
- Reward and Recognition Policy – Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service
- Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria)
- Occupational sick pay (based on length of service)
- On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation)
- Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)
- Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.
This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.
