Level 3 Animal Care Manager Apprenticeship – Standard

The broad purpose of the occupation is to plan the husbandry needs of animals in their care. Animal care and welfare managers oversee the husbandry and care of domestic and/or wild animals. They will problem solve and deal with issues arising relating to the animal’s welfare. They ensure that the welfare needs of individual animals are met and that colleagues are appropriately engaged. They will adapt and prepare for the needs of the individual animal, taking accounts of things such as their life stage, condition or behaviour. The animal care and welfare manager will provide a customer service and deal with any client complaints. They will gather information from the customer to support the care and provide advice when appropriate. 

Typically, an animal care and welfare manager will provide the animals with sustainable enriching environments and keep the animals in optimum physical and mental health. They plan and implement suitable groups to prevent conflict and ensure stress free environments, recognising where social contact is not appropriate. An animal care and welfare manager will conduct welfare assessments and prepare plans to meet the bespoke needs of the animal. 

They ensure accommodation and husbandry requirements are met. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of stakeholders using a variety of communication styles. These may typically include customers, clients, veterinary professionals, service and product suppliers and manufacturers. They may liaise with other animal care professionals and industry bodies too. They will share technical knowledge with peers and will support newly appointed carers or volunteers. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for providing care to animals in accordance with appropriate legislation, regulations and organisational policies.

 They oversee the day to day running of the business, working autonomously, planning and carrying out their daily working schedule. They support or supervise others on their team. They will report and maintain necessary records in relation to the animals their welfare, and the maintenance of relevant equipment. They are also required to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations 2018. Often working with a variety of species or breeds, they are responsible for detailing nutritional and accommodation requirements which are implemented by colleagues

Length of Programme

18 months prior to End-point Assessment Gateway

Please see the Institute for Apprenticeship website for further information

• Experience volunteering or working within the animal care sector
• Good work ethic
• Be in employment and be committed to your career
• Desirably three GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including English and Maths
• (Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.)

The apprentice will follow a training programme to complete the apprenticeship requirements and meet the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for them to be fully competent:

• The apprentice works and trains with the employer and/or training provider
• The apprentice will create and maintain a mandatory portfolio in order to provide supporting evidence that will be needed to supplement the knowledge, skills and behaviours observed by the Independent Assessor at the End-point Assessment. The portfolio will be used as evidence for the professional discussion.
• A record of off-the-job training – this is training that must occur for a minimum of 20% of the time the apprentice is paid to work and is training delivered outside of their normal working duties – to develop a wider understanding of the industry.

Criteria

Please see the Institute for Apprenticeship website for further information

Learning will take place in a variety of ways, which could include workplace training, formal courses, work shadowing, industrial visits, research, self-study, attendance at College for classroom/workshop activities and time spent completing assignments set by the assessor.

The apprentice will undertake their end-point assessment when the employer, training provider and apprentice all consider that they are ready to do so.  This stage of the apprenticeship is known as the gateway and will not be reached until the apprentice has completed at least 18 months on the programme. 

The end-point assessment will be carried out by an independent assessor.

The apprenticeship will be delivered in the workplace and on-site at Broomfield Hall

You need PPE for the workplace and writing materials.

End-point Assessment Gradings

This qualification is graded Fail, Pass, mERIT or Distinction

Functional Skills Level 2

Before taking the end-point assessment, apprentices must

• Have Level 2 English and Maths (equivalent to GCSE grades A* to C)

Further Study

You can progress to a full-time Level 3 or degree programme in Animal Care programme or a further apprenticeship programme.

You can progress into employment

For more information contact Derby College on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk