Jobs for the Disability sector

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.

Job description

Purpose:

1. To assist in the planning and delivery of individual educational programmes designed to meet the social, learning and developmental needs of each young person.

2. To work with the First Start Manager as a member of a team.

3. To support young people with disabilities and/or on the autism spectrum to access the local community, services, events, education and training.

4. To support young people on the autism spectrum, with associated learning and or physical disabilities to access their own individualised programmes.

5. Support Worker / Drivers - To drive the service members accessing the First Start Service to and from the service premises and to other destinations as required.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

1. To assist in organising and providing a range of stimulating, challenging and interesting educational activities that are relevant to the needs of the individual, meeting their educational, social and developmental needs.

2. To actively participate in the delivery of a high-quality service that adheres to the Tower Project’s policies and procedures.

3. To ensure the service is delivered in consultation and partnership with Service members, Parents/ Carers, Colleges/ Schools and other relevant parties.

4. To provide and/ or receive support, advice and training as appropriate.

5. Support Worker / Drivers - To ensure the safe transportation of service members to and from their required destination. 

6. Support Worker / Driver – To be responsible for documenting mini- bus mileage, vehicle check log sheets and safe handling of vehicle keys.

7. Support Worker / Driver – To be responsible for reporting any vehicle damages to First Start Service Manager. Specific

Duties:

1. To work directly with young people as required by the First Start Manager.

2. To support First Start service members from a person-centered approach, recognising, valuing and seeking to reinforce individual identity by way of responses and informed choices.

3. To assist in the maintenance of monitoring systems, e.g. registers, need to know forms.

4. To assist in identifying additional individual needs and support.

5. To attend and contribute to team meetings and to assist in the exchange of information and show cooperation when working with other staff and partner organisations.

6. To attend training events according to expressed needs and demands.

7. To be responsible for the Health & Safety, the security and the use of the First Start premises, in conjunction with the Service manager.

8. In conjunction with the First Start Manager, prepare timetables, activity plans, programme reports, monitoring data and other appropriate work according to the needs of the post.

9. To actively promote and develop inclusion and equal opportunities.

10. To liaise with and involve service members, parents/ carers and other partner agencies in the planning and delivery of the service.

11. To ensure that the guidelines & framework of relevant legislation, e.g. The Care Act 2014, Valuing People White Paper, Care Standards Act etc., are always implemented and adhered to.

12. To participate and meet regularly for supervision meetings with the First Start Manager or designated Line Manager.

13. To actively promote and develop inclusion and equal opportunities.

14. Support Worker / Drivers - To drive service members to and from the First Start premises and to other destinations as requested by the Service Manager.

15. Support Worker / Drivers - To be responsible for arranging the pickup and drop off and safe use of the minibus.

16. Support Worker / Drivers - To support First Start service members as required by the Service manager and to be available during the service’s operational hours.

17. Undertake other duties as appropriate to the nature of the Post 3

PERSON SPECIFICATION SUPPORTWORKER

Knowledge:

Knowledge and understanding of the development of young people with Autism, challenging behaviour, learning disabilities and / or physical disabilities. To demonstrate an understanding of the causes of social exclusion.

Education/ Qualifications:

An NVQ 2 in Care or equivalent, or willingness to work towards such a qualification.

Essential:

Experience of working with young people with disabilities and specific learning disabilities and or Autism in a similar setting. Experience of working in an inner city multi-racial/ cultural environment.

Experience of liaising with Parents/ Carers.

Good communication skills with parents/ carers, young people and staff. Ability to work as part of a team.

Ability to work with young people who can sometimes present challenging behaviour.

To support, promote and deliver services within the Tower Project’s Equal Opportunities policy.

An NVQ 2 in Care or equivalent, or willingness to work towards such a qualification.

Desirable:

Ability to assist in organising and delivery of a quality programme of activities. Basic computer skills, or a willingness to undertake training as required.

Special Conditions:

The post holder will be expected to undertake any additional training as required

Job Summary

To provide, manage and co-ordinate support for people that is based on their individual needs, desires and aspirations. To be responsible for the day to day organisation and effective running of services in compliance with the wishes of the individuals the Tower Project supports to live independently, the contractual obligations to the purchasing agencies, and legislative, statutory and organisation requirements.

To provide support to people in a way that is respectful, promotes independence and enables the individuals you support to realise their own potential. Effective delegation of duties to deputy service manager, team leaders, registered nurses, senior support workers and support workers as applicable. To promote good practice at all times, act as an effective and positive role model.

To support individuals in accessing the community, in their own homes or in any setting their needs and choices may require. Service managers may work alone with the people they support or as part of a team. Service managers may provide support to individuals with a variety of different specialist needs and conditions which may include learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, nursing needs, mental health conditions, neurological impairments, psychiatric and clinical needs, complex behaviours and other needs.

Service managers may provide support in any location appropriate to meet the needs of the service. Supported Living Service Manager Job Description and Person Specification September 2021

Main Duties

1. Assessing, planning and implementing, in partnership with the individuals you support, programmes of support and/or care that meet their general needs and maximise their independence, presence and participation within the community and to ensure the quality of service delivery.

2. Working with individuals (current and prospective people the Tower Project may support), families, advocates and other professional colleagues as required in order to facilitate good communication and decision making so that the service provided is coordinated and applicable.

3. Working closely with Operations Managers and Referral and Assessment Managers, in addition to external professionals, to assess new individuals and deliver and assist in presentations etc for service development and expansion.

4. Working with individuals (current and prospective), families, advocates and other professional colleagues as required in order to support individuals to maintain their personal finances, benefit entitlements, and tenancy agreements and to therefore gain financial security and long term housing.

5. Ensuring the continued financial viability of each service, closely monitoring budgets, contracts, care hours, auditing as necessary, and addressing any shortfalls at the earliest opportunity.

6. Being responsible for the recruitment, supervision, training and day to day management of staff so that the service can consistently provide the proper staffing levels, attitudes, and skills to support the individuals.

7. Ensuring the allocation of staff duties is clearly and adequately defined and communicated to all staff through the appropriate channels, to ensure that all staff members understand their own and others’ roles and responsibilities.

8. Ensuring that each service remains within its allocated budget; monitoring expenditure on an ongoing basis and taking corrective action as appropriate.

9. Ensuring that all paperwork and returns required by the organisation and support purchasers are completed accurately and on time so that the service can meet its procedural and contractual obligations in terms of data collection and monitoring.

10. Attending provider forums, conferences and seminars as required by the Tower Project, and maintaining an up to date, in depth knowledge of the development of the sector. Supported Living Service Manager Job Description and Person Specification September 2021

11. Identifying and reporting risks, and if required taking necessary precautions to ensure health and safety for the individuals the Tower Project supports and visitors as specified within service contracts from housing partners and/or purchasing agencies.

12. Maintaining and developing specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practice by attending mandatory training and relevant professional development in order to continuously improve knowledge and skills.

13. Building and maintaining an excellent service reputation in the area, with purchasers and local authorities, and the community, ensuring high quality support provision and community presence at all times.

14. Co-ordinating and monitoring all mandatory training requirements, nominating and liaising with appropriate bodies as applicable in order to ensure that training is up to date and all staff members receive the appropriate training.

15. Complying with the Tower Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy so as to ensure that no person is disadvantaged on the grounds of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race (which may include, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership.

16. Being responsible for ensuring that all staff are familiar with and are actively implementing company policies and procedures, including fire procedures.

17. Providing the Operations Manager/Director with reports on aspects of the services as directed, including undertaking regular audits of each service in your portfolio.

18. Carrying out duties in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent Health and Safety legislation.

19. Managing rotas to ensure that all services have appropriate staff cover at all times, and that statutory and contractual obligations are met, if necessary working shifts on a staffing rota including weekdays, weekends, split shifts, wake nights, sleep-in, wake night duty and bank holidays as required, and working at multiple sites as necessary.

20. Planning, managing and covering special events such as service user holidays, liaising with family, advocate, social services etc as necessary.

21. Undertaking on call duties as required and managing on call rota for Team Leaders / Deputy Service Managers / Registered Nurses when you are not on call.

22. You may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to your post and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you at your initial place of work or at any other of the company's establishments.

Full Time ( 40 hrs per week)

Inclusive of 3 Sleep - Ins

Please Note:

You may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to your post and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you at any other sites or premises, locations in the community and in the homes of people we support as the Tower Project may reasonably require on an occasional or frequent basis to meet the needs of service provision as required by The Tower Project.

This is a description of the job as it is at present. The Tower Project may periodically review your job description and update it to ensure that it relates to the job as then being performed. It is the company's aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible the company reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description, following consultation.