Animal Rescue Officer

Overview

As an Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) with the RSPCA, you'll respond to reports of cruelty, neglect, or injury and play a vital role in preventing animal suffering through education, advice, and, where necessary, intervention. This work can be physically and emotionally demanding, but it is also deeply meaningful and highly rewarding. You'll see the direct impact of your decisions and actions on animals' lives and the people connected to them.

We recognise the emotional demands of animal rescue work, and as part of our commitment to wellbeing, you'll have access to mental health resources, inclusive policies, and ongoing development opportunities to support both your personal resilience and long-term career progression.

Much of the role involves working independently and travelling long distances, including frequent motorway driving and visits to remote rural locations. While you'll often be out on your own, you'll remain closely connected to a supportive and experienced team. We provide comprehensive training, equipment, and guidance to help you work safely and confidently.

You will regularly engage with members of the public in emotionally charged situations. People may be distressed, angry, anxious, or defensive, and effective communication is essential. You'll need to ask the right questions quickly, gather accurate information under pressure, and use calm, confident influencing skills to de-escalate heightened emotions while remaining professional and empathetic. These skills are critical in enabling you to make accountable decisions without immediate supervision, often with real consequences for animal welfare and public safety.

There are not many careers that allow you to pursue your passion while making a real difference in the world. As an ARO, you'll help improve animals' lives every day.

• Respond to reports of cruelty, neglect, or injury and take appropriate action.
• Educate, advise, and intervene as required to prevent animal suffering.
• Work independently and travel long distances, including motorway driving and visits to remote locations.
• Engage with the public in emotionally charged situations, ask questions quickly, gather information under pressure, and de-escalate situations while remaining professional.
• Make accountable decisions with real consequences for animal welfare and public safety, often with minimal supervision.

• Aged 17 or over at application and 18 by the course start date.
• Resilience, good judgement, and strong communication skills; ability to handle sensitive conversations.
• Ability to work independently, with support from a wider team.
• Willingness to work varied shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends.
• Availability to start on 18 May 2026 and commit to a continuous, intensive 26-week training programme (annual leave cannot be taken during this period).
• Flexibility to travel for training at locations across the country, with occasional overnight stays.
• Full manual driving licence with recent experience and confidence driving long distances (up to 150 miles per day).
• Comfortable with lone working.
• Confident swimmer: able to swim 50 metres fully clothed within 2.5 minutes by the point of assessment during training.
• Disability Confident employer: we encourage applications from people with disabilities and information is provided about our Disability Confident approach.
• Location:
  
  candidates must live within the postcodes specified in the attached document titled  South Manchester - Postcodes .

Securing animal welfare isn't a 9 to 5 role. AROs work a range of shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends, and may occasionally need to stay later to complete tasks. Rotas are planned in advance wherever possible, with wellbeing and sustainability in mind.

Training and support:
You'll receive comprehensive training throughout the 26-week programme and continued support once in post. We are committed to helping you succeed and grow in the role.

• Mandatory online awareness sessions: week of 9 February.
• Online assessments: slots between 23 February and 6 March.
• Online interviews: slots between 16 March and 27 March.
• Relocation: currently not being considered.

Are you passionate about people and animal welfare and want to build a career with purpose? We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds; previous animal welfare experience is not required as skills can be gained through other careers, caring roles, volunteering, or community-facing work.

We may close the advert early if we receive sufficient applications before the closing date. Early applications are encouraged.