Join our dedicated Reproduction Team and bring your veterinary expertise to a programme built on ethics, compassion and exceptional welfare standards. This is your chance to play a vital role in ensuring every puppy begins life with the very best foundations.
As our Canine Reproduction Specialist, you’ll work hand‑in‑hand with our Veterinary Surgeon to support successful, welfare‑focused breeding outcomes. Your insight and care will help maximise conception rates and litter sizes, while safeguarding the physical and emotional wellbeing of every breeding dog.
You’ll champion best‑practice reproductive care, influence high‑quality decision‑making, and help ensure that long‑term comfort, health and happiness remain at the heart of every breeding choice we make.
Based at our National Breeding Centre near Leamington Spa, you’ll work 35 hours per week between 8am and 6pm, Monday–Friday. You’ll also participate in a 1 in 4 weekend rota, ensuring continuous, outstanding care for our dogs.
If you’re passionate about canine welfare and want your work to have a lasting, positive impact, we’d love to hear from you!
What You’ll Do
- Carry out key reproductive duties, including cytology, progesterone testing and supervising matings, ensuring the highest standards of welfare and outcomes.
- Support clinical care for breeding dogs, applying your knowledge of canine anatomy, physiology and behaviour.
- Maintain accurate records, analyse reproductive data and contribute to continuous improvement across the breeding programme.
- Develop skills in ultrasound and reproductive techniques, including artificial insemination, under veterinary direction (full training provided).
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners, representing the breeding programme professionally.
What You’ll Bring
- Registered Veterinary Nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
- Significant experience working in a veterinary practice.
- At least one year’s experience in a scientific or laboratory setting, with the ability and willingness to learn new techniques.
- Advanced knowledge of canine anatomy and reproduction, gained through academic study and/or practical experience.
- Strong understanding of canine behaviour, temperament and reproductive health.
- Good understanding of laboratory processes and equipment.
- Confident dog‑handling skills.
- Physical dexterity to safely supervise matings.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.
What We Offer
No two people with sight loss are the same — and none of our people are either. That’s why we’re proud to offer a range of person‑centred benefits designed to support each member of staff in the ways that matter most.
Our flexible benefits package includes a generous holiday allowance, a matched contributory pension scheme and access to discounts and cashback, giving you the freedom to choose the options that work best for you. It’s our way of showing how much our people mean to us and helping you feel supported both in and outside of work.
About Us
How to apply
Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.
As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions as part of this application process, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.
If you want to know more about the teams who work at Guide Dogs, you can find it on our Careers Page
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.
Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.
For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Title: Active Recovery Lead
Employer: The Southmead Project
Accountable to: Head of Active Recovery
Place of Work: The Southmead Project, Southmead, Bristol. BS10 6AS
Hours: 4 days per week
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £32,216.00 p/a pro rata
The Southmead Project:
The Southmead Project is an equal opportunities employer providing free counselling and support for survivors of abuse and addiction across Bristol and surrounding areas. We welcome adults aged 18 and above of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, class, ability, language, religion and cultural background. We respect and cherish the differences between people and affirm every person as an individual. Our recruitment is done in line with safer recruitment practices.
We value our team very highly and pride ourselves on being a supportive employer. We provide the following benefits to encourage every staff member to have a supported, well-rounded and enriched working experience:
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Paid supervision for 1.5 hours per month, with an external clinical supervisor
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Line management for 1 hour per month
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Training budget of £500 per year to spend on relevant training of that person’s choice
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Optional private counselling for up to twelve sessions per year with an external counsellor of that person’s choice
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Employer pension contribution of 5%
The Active Recovery Project gives adult survivors of abuse the opportunity to take part in community-based activities. Members of Active Recovery can participate in a variety of group activities with others who share or understand their experience and develop peer relationships, resulting in increasing confidence and reduced isolation. The activities are based on ideas from our members and include water-based activities (such as rowing, canoeing, sailing and kayaking), surfing, trips to community spaces and creative sessions (such as arts and crafts). Activities take place every week. Each activity will last approximately 2.5 hours each. Members can attend the group sessions for up to 18 months.
Job Purpose:
We are looking for a warm and passionate leader to come and join the Active Recovery Service.
As an Active Recovery Lead, their job will be to develop and deliver the Active Recovery Project in Bristol and in Somerset. Using a trauma-informed approach, the Active Recovery Lead will create and provide a safe and supportive space for clients from The Sexual Violence Alliance organisations (The Southmead Project, SARSAS, Womankind and the Bridge Sarc) to participate in a variety of group activities, with others who share or understand their experience and develop peer relationships, resulting in increasing confidence and reduced isolation.
Principal Tasks:
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Run two Active Recovery groups a week, with , with the help of the Practitioner.
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Provide initial trauma-informed assessment phone calls and/or meetings with potential members as part of the registration process for Active Recovery. This includes assessing need, risk and suitability for the service using a trauma-informed approach.
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Create safety plans and tailor activity sessions where appropriate after building relationships with members following the initial phone calls.
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Plan trauma-informed sessions for members, including producing risk assessments for each activity, visiting activity locations and delivering relevant trauma training to activity providers.
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Oversee and lead on setting up, delivering and debriefing about activity sessions with members, volunteers and staff. Ensuring members are clear on each session's ground rules and safeguarding processes, using the Member’s Agreement.
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Provide trauma-informed face-to-face support to members at sessions who may become overwhelmed or require help dealing with flashbacks and dissociation.
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To support volunteers and staff with safeguarding queries and ensure safeguarding procedures are followed. To be the safeguarding lead at activity sessions, escalating any onward safeguarding referrals and queries to the Southmead Project Designated Safeguarding Lead.
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Participate in and support the recruitment and induction training of volunteers.
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Support and line manage a team of volunteers.
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Develop and maintain an Active Recovery community through email, phone calls, texts and in person.
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Develop and drive forward the project’s aim to have the members’ voices at the heart of the project.
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Collaborate with developing outcome processes in line with the Southmead Project and its funders’ requirements.
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Analyse data and feedback collected through outcomes processes to adapt and constantly improve the planning and delivery of the project sessions.
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Contribute content for reports as required.
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Build and maintain positive relationships with partnership organisations for the project.
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Manage the day to day budget for the project sessions, keeping accurate records to report to the Head of Active Recovery and planning how the budget will be spent across sessions, within guidelines provided by the Head of Active Recovery.
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Record data accurately and in a timely manner on Oasis.
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Produce social media and website posts about the project, including producing and editing videos.
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Attend monthly one-to-one line management meetings with the Head of Active Recovery.
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To attend monthly one-to-one clinical supervision with a Supervisor who is approved by the Southmead Project. Supervision is a requirement of this charity as an organisational member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
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To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.
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Follow the Southmead Project policies, procedures and professional code of conduct as outlined in the Staff Handbook.
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All members of staff, paid and unpaid, are required to undergo the enhanced level of Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Person Specification
ESSENTIAL
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Full drivers licence and access to own transport.
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Professional qualification, such as a Diploma or degree in Counselling or in other relevant fields of work, such as; social work, psychology, mental health, education, support work or similar: or extensive experience in any of these fields.
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A sound understanding of the issues affecting members who have experienced trauma and abuse.
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Experience in managing projects.
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Excellent administration and organisational skills, including experience of managing sensitive personal information.
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Experience of and confidence in using multiple computer and case management systems.
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At least 2 years’ experience of delivering groups in the community, preferably activity based.
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At least 1 year’s experience of providing face-to-face support for survivors of abuse.
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The ability to arrange group activities and liaise with other local organisations to help plan them.
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The ability to plan sessions in detail to ensure that they are trauma-informed and having the experience and confidence to ‘hold’ groups when things do not go to plan.
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The ability to work flexibly within a team and support those within it.
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Experience in managing volunteers.
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Knowledge and awareness of how particular activities and social situations could improve people’s self-esteem, self-confidence, build friendships and reduce their isolation.
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A sound understanding of safeguarding and experience of supporting others to act in accordance with safeguarding policies and within the best interests of the Active Recovery member or those at risk.
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Experience in managing a long-term budget.
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Knowledge of survivors’ voice work.
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To be able to attend monthly one-to-one line management meetings and monthly clinical supervision.
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To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.
DESIRABLE:
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Experience of building and maintaining positive partnerships in the community.
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Experience of running a community based project.
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Experience of setting up processes for survivors’ voice work.
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Knowledge of making content for social media, including video recording and editing skills.
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Experience managing recruitment and training.
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Experience in chairing meetings and the ability to plan and review activities with a team.
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Experience designing outcomes processes and collecting outcomes data.
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Experience in writing reports, preferably funding reports in the charity sector.
Please note that there must be at least 12 months between receiving support from the Southmead Project as a client/member and starting this role.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Meaningful therapeutic support accessible for adults impacted by abuse and addiction. A safe space for growth, connection and wellbeing for all.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.