Foster Coordinator: Hertfordshire - Hitchin, United Kingdom - Blue Cross For Pets

Blue Cross For Pets

Verified Company

Hitchin, United Kingdom

4 days ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Contract:
Permanent, part time

Salary:
£23,835 - £26,500 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Location:
Hitchin SG4 8EU

Closing date:
Sunday 10 December 2023

Interview date:
week commencing 18 December 2023

We're recruiting a

-
Foster Coordinator for our Rehoming & Fostering team at our rehoming centre in
-
Hertfordshire Our Foster Coordinators recruit and support our amazing volunteer fosterers in the local area who care for the animals in our care, within their homes, whilst our teams find them their forever homes.

We've just launched a new and exciting national Rehoming & Fostering team structure to support our aim of ensuring every pet enjoys a healthy life in a happy home. You'll be joining a team who strive to be the best versions of themselves, so that they can do the best for the pets who need our help.

More about the role

Our beautiful rehoming centre in Kimpton originally opened in the 1940s and has facilities for dogs, cats and small pets. Our newly refurbished facilities include 20 kennels, five puppy pens and 29 cat pens, which includes a mother and kitten unit. We also have indoor rabbit space and rooms for small pets.
Our fostering service is an integral part of the rehoming process, supporting the delivery of our strategy by increasing the service so that Blue Cross can help more pets.
As a Foster Coordinator you will be responsible for recruiting and supporting a diverse team of volunteer fosterers. Working closely with the Adoptions Coordinator, you will keep up to date with the current capacity and skills of the fosterers and homes available.
In addition to this, you will be building relationships with local communities and partners, promoting the benefits of fostering to provide more targeted support.
While following a robust rehoming service is important to us, so is the fostering experience. You will ensure that every interaction with our fosterers with us are excellent, supporting them as they provide the safe and nurturing environment every pet need whilst waiting for their permanent home and in crisis care.
This is a parttime role working 18.75 hours over three days per week on a rota which includes weekends and bank holidays.About you
You will be an excellent communicator, approachable with strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate with people on all levels. You will have managed a team of remote volunteers previously and understand the special nature of this relationship, being able to offer guidance and advice on all areas of the volunteering relationship.
With the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with people at all levels, you will have a passion for ensuring that volunteers have the right opportunities to thrive in their roles.
Building a solid and reliable bank of fosterers is absolutely key to this role so you will have experience in marketing volunteer opportunities, delivering local recruitment campaigns and supporting the fosterers to ensure we maintain good numbers of this valuable resource and that we retain people. To do this you will be selfmotivated, a forward thinker with a collaborative and creative approach to your work, which will ensure to bring your best pragmatic ideas for the care of the pets and management of our fosterers to ensure the best outcome is achieved.
You will know what it is like to work in an emotionally charged environment and have excellent 'bounce back ability' and resilience. In addition, you will be emotionally intelligent, showing empathy and knowing how to support clients and colleagues.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
Demonstrable experience of supervision or management of volunteers.
Experience of having worked in an animal welfare environment.
Good experience of running and marketing recruitment campaigns for volunteer roles.
Experience of working with local communities and promoting volunteer opportunities
Good interviewing and recruitment skills
Experience of working to a high level with mínimal supervision.
Able to prioritise and manage a busy work schedule dealing with complex issues whilst ensuring timely delivery or resolution of issues.
Good experience of actively managing a bank of clients, volunteers or stakeholders.
Previous experience in working in a client focused environment where delivering a high level of customer satisfaction is the norm.
Championing change initiatives, influencing and leading colleagues to embrace the changes.
Excellent written and verbal communication and numerical skills.
Strong organisational, administration and analytical skills, including use of computerised systems.
Current full driving licence
It would be great (but not essential) if you also had:
Working knowledge of the behaviour of animals and the challenges they face in a rescue environment, as well as relevant legislation.
Proven experience of working constructively and collaboratively with colleagues from different