Assistance Dog Trainer

About Us

The Autism Assistance Dogs Charity is a nationally accredited programme providing Assistance Dogs trained specifically to support autistic people and their families.

We are proud to be led by a multidisciplinary team, including autistic professionals, and are committed to providing inclusive, respectful and autism-informed support.

What you will do

• You will train carefully procured dogs to support autistic and neurodivergent handlers.
• You will be assisting families with basic training and behavioural work.
• You will train dogs to perform advanced tasks, this includes: training around public access on public transport, school ground, colleges and medical facilities, training around remaining undistracted by food and other stimuli, and other skills relevant to their autistic handlers.
• We will train you on teaching dogs advanced skills pertaining to autism, such as meltdown and shutdown interventions.
• We will support you with a positive working atmosphere, and we will give you all the skills and training you will need to succeed.
• You will work with amazing trainers and get to learn from them.
• You will get to work with amazing families in need of help. This includes basic and advanced skills training, helping handlers to develop confidence, and post-delivery support, which might include remedial training at the farm or visits to the family home.
• We will strongly favour candidates who are willing to undertake deliveries of our assistance dogs to their new family, using either their own car or the charity’s cars.
• You will undertake deliveries in the South of the UK, or London, with your driving time to and from delivery paid by the Charity.
• You will also have to travel to Cheshire and/or Lincoln to liaise with the trainers based in our HQ, work with our dogs and pick up dogs for delivery.
• You should be confident driving approximately 2 hours to perform deliveries and be a confident driver.
• You will record with videos and written notes your training sessions of dogs, and you will keep well-organised files on each dog and each placement program with plenty of videos of the training undertaken and the skills achieved.

What are we looking for

Essential

• Minimum 3 years of direct, hands-on dog training experience.
• Willingness to work with autistic individuals and their families, and support them in their assistance dog journey.
• Demonstrable commitment to the values of inclusion and equal treatment of all.
• Willingness to learn about neurodiversity and autism, including actively engaging in training on neurodiversity, autism, and the Law—especially laws pertaining to dog ownership and public access. This includes the Equality Act 2010 (regarding access rights for assistance dogs), the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (duty of care), the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (control in public), and the Dogs Act 1871.
• A can-do attitude, and a kind,positive style of communication with others.
• A collaborative mindset - able to exchange dog training ideas in a constructive and open-minded manner, resolve disagreements respectfully with kindness and a spirit of compromise.
• Excellent standards of animal welfare.
• A clean criminal record (Enhanced DBS check will be required).
• Ability to keep detailed written and video records of training progress, and organise and upload to the charity’s database.
• Basic computer skills, knowledge of Gmail and Google Drive, and the ability to record, store and organise videos in an efficient manner.
• A clean driving licence, and be a careful, responsible driver. We encourage applicants who have their own car to apply.
• Living close or willing to drive to our Headquarters in Congleton, Cheshire.

Desirable

• Experience training assistance skills
• Experience working with neurodiverse individuals and their families
• Willingness to attend public events and participate in social media incentives to promote the charity’s work

What you will get

• An excellent, competitive salary
• A supportive working environment, a great team and colleagues that will help you succeed.
• Amazing opportunities to learn new skills, work with great trainers and develop your career.
• Support in undertaking new skills and courses, and several training opportunities.
• The chance to make a difference working with the Charity sector.
• The chance to work with amazing dogs in an environment of excellent welfare standards.
• Expenses during deliveries, travel and time spent travelling for deliveries are covered by the Charity.
• The option to join our retirement scheme.

Please note, we are unable to give feedback to candidates who do not pass the first application stage.

Pay: Up to £27,000.00 per year

Experience:

• direct, hands-on dog training: 3 years (required)

Work Location: In person