Assistant Rehoming and Cat Coordinator

Role Title: Assistant Rehoming and Cat Coordinator - Buckinghamshire South Branch, Community based.

Are you passionate about animal welfare? We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help rehome animals in our care, with a special focus on cats and kittens. This is an incredibly rewarding role where you will directly impact the lives of animals by finding them loving, safe homes.

Overview of the Opportunity:

As a Rehoming and Cat Coordinator, you will play a vital role in the rehoming process for animals, ensuring they are placed in suitable and caring homes. You will coordinate home visits, manage volunteer fosterers, and liaise with local vets, the public, and other RSPCA branches. Additionally, you will oversee the welfare of cats and kittens in our care, from their initial acceptance to their adoption.

About the RSPCA:

Founded in 1824, we have been saving animals for nearly 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. Our vision is a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion. Through our campaigns and daily efforts, we strive to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and promote responsible pet ownership.

The Buckinghamshire South Branch is one of the RSPCA’s local branches. While we operate under the umbrella of the National Society, we are a separately registered charity focused on helping animals in our local area. Our work is driven by dedicated volunteers who play an essential role in delivering our mission.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Animal Rehoming & Coordination:

• Liaise with local volunteers to arrange home visits for animals in our care.
• Ensure all animals offered for adoption have been properly assessed for their suitability.
• Act as the main contact point for the inspectorate, the public, and other agencies regarding the acceptance of unwanted or unowned animals.
• Network with other RSPCA branches, private boarding establishments, and local cat rescues to maximise our capacity for rehoming.
• Oversee the rehoming application process, ensuring animals are matched with suitable adopters.

Cat-Specific Duties:

• Act as the contact point for the acceptance of unwanted or unowned cats and kittens from the public, vets, police, local authorities, and inspectors.
• Arrange and carry out cat collection and transportation to fosterers or vets in emergencies.
• Oversee the scanning of all cats/kittens to attempt to reunite them with their original owners.
• Ensure all cats and kittens in our care receive necessary vet checks, vaccinations, and treatments before being placed for adoption.
• Maintain records of all cats in care and compile regular rehoming reports.
• Organise and conduct viewings of cats ready for adoption.

Fosterer & Volunteer Management:

• Recruit, train, and manage a team of home visitors and fosterers.
• Conduct at least two health and safety visits annually for each fosterer.
• Oversee a fosterer WhatsApp group to provide support and share updates.
• Arrange and lead regular volunteer team meetings for training and motivation.

Communication & Administration:

• Oversee all email and voicemail inquiries related to cat rehoming.
• Monitor and respond to the cat coordinator’s mobile phone, offering emergency support Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM and/or evenings and weekends.
• Provide regular updates to shop managers regarding rehomed cats and food supply needs.
• Oversee stock of cat-related supplies, including food, litter, flea/worm treatments, probiotics, powdered kitten milk, microchips, and vaccination cards.
• Maintain accurate adoption records, including sending confirmation emails, processing adoption fees, and sending welcome packs to new owners.
• Arrange and conduct post-adoption follow-ups (virtually or via email) 4-6 weeks after adoption.

Public Engagement & Support:

• Offer a lost and found service by collecting information, offering advice, and posting on social media.
• Provide guidance to the public on animal welfare issues and refer them to the National RSPCA or other organisations when necessary.
• Ensure social media pages, websites, and volunteers are kept up to date with photos and descriptions of animals available for adoption.

What We Are Looking For:

• Excellent organisation and communication skills.
• Ability to manage and support volunteers effectively.
• Comfortable with administrative tasks, record-keeping, and reporting.
• Passion for animal welfare and dedication to improving their lives.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Flexible and reliable, with the capacity to offer an ongoing commitment, we are looking for 2 positions to cover days, evenings and weekends.
• Experience in team management or coordination is an advantage but not essential.
• You must be 18 years or older, hold a valid driving licence and be able to lift animals in and out of your own vehicle safely, possess your own vehicle, lap top, mobile phone and have access to the internet.

What We Can Offer You:

• A rewarding opportunity to directly improve the welfare of animals.
• Become part of a compassionate community, meet new people, and make lifelong friends.
• Gain valuable skills through our comprehensive induction and training program.
• Gain leadership and management experience and newly acquired skills.
• Access to the RSPCA Learning Hub with a wide range of training materials.
• The satisfaction of seeing cats and other animals find their forever homes.