Animal Rescue Officer

Overview

Job preview
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. If you are motivated by animal welfare and want to make a meaningful difference, a career as an ARO could be perfect for you.

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 your 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.

• Respond to reports of cruelty, neglect or injury and take appropriate action to protect animals.
• Educate, advise, and intervene as necessary to prevent animal suffering.
• Engage with members of the public in emotionally charged situations, gather information under pressure, and use calm, confident influencing skills to de-escalate heightened emotions while remaining professional and empathetic.
• Make accountable decisions often with real consequences for animal welfare and public safety, sometimes without immediate supervision.
• Work independently and travel long distances, including frequent motorway driving and visits to remote rural locations, while staying connected to a supportive team.
• Receive comprehensive training and use provided equipment and guidance to work safely and confidently.

• Aged 17 or over at application and 18 by the course start date.
• Resilience, good judgement, and strong communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive conversations.
• Ability to work independently, with the support of a wider team.
• Willingness to work varied shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends.
• Availability to start on 18th 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.

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds. You do not need previous animal welfare experience to apply; many of the skills needed for this role can be gained through other careers, caring roles, volunteering, or community-facing work.

Important Dates:
Mandatory online awareness sessions w/c 9 February. Online assessments: slots between 23 February and 6 March. Online interviews: slots between 16 March and 27 March.

Locations:
To be considered, you must live within one of the postcodes specified in the document titled "Thames Valley - Postcodes" attached to this advert. We are not currently considering applications from candidates who wish to relocate.

Working Hours:

AROs work a range of shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends; rotas are planned in advance with wellbeing in mind.

Training and Support:
You’ll receive comprehensive training through the 26-week programme and ongoing support after placement. We are committed to helping you succeed and grow in the role.

We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our mission. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those from minority ethnic communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those from non-traditional career paths.

If you need any support with your application or interview, please contact:  or

Final note from us: good luck with your application - we look forward to hearing from you.