Maintain the health and welfare of animals
Overview
It includes monitoring an animal’s physical condition and behaviour, carrying out measures to promote its health and welfare and reporting any concerns or unexpected changes.
You will need to be aware of your own limitations and confirm that you meet the relevant legal responsibilities for providing a duty of care under current animal health and welfare legislation.
This standard is suitable for anyone who maintains the health and welfare of animals.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
carry out your work in accordance with workplace instructions and procedures
carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
carry out all work in accordance with the relevant animal health and welfare legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
maintain hygiene and bio-security in accordance with workplace instructions, organisational practice and the relevant legislation
carry out a health and welfare check on the animals you are working with
recognise signs of ill health in animals and take action, reporting any concerns where necessary
minimise the risk of stress and injury to animals in order to maintain their health and welfare
monitor the physical condition and behaviour of animals in order to maintain animal health and welfare
identify the sex of the animal in order to maintain animal health and welfare
monitor the condition of the animal’s accommodation and identify any action required
monitor the environmental conditions relevant to the animal and make adjustments if necessary
check that animals are provided, where necessary, with the required feed and water, monitor their intake and report any concerns
provide animals with the opportunity to exercise, where necessary, in order to maintain their health and welfare
provide animals with the relevant enrichment, where necessary, in order to maintain their health and welfare
provide animals with suitable social interaction opportunities where necessary, in order to maintain their health and welfare
interact with the animals, when maintaining their health and welfare, in a way that minimises stress to the animal
seek assistance for any animal health emergency and initiate action relevant to the situation
complete records as required by relevant legislation and organisational policy
manage waste in accordance with the relevant legislation and organisational policy
carry out your work in a way that considers the environment and avoids unnecessary waste
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
the importance of carrying out activities in accordance with workplace instructions and procedures
your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
your responsibilities under the relevant animal health and welfare legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
the importance of maintaining hygiene and bio-security and the methods for achieving this
the purpose for which the animals are kept and how this may affect their husbandry
how to assess the health and welfare needs of the animals in your care and how these can be maintained
the common animal diseases and disorders that may affect animals in your care
how to promote the health and well-being of animals and minimise any stress and injury
how to recognise the signs of health in the animals in your care and the actions that should be taken
how to recognise normal social behaviour in order to understand which social opportunities to present to the animal
how to recognise the signs that indicate problems with an animal’s health and welfare, and the actions that should be taken
the accommodation requirements and maintenance routines for the animals in your care
the feed and water requirements and routine for the animals in your care
how the environmental conditions may be adjusted to meet the health and welfare requirements of the animals in your care
why animals need exercise and how the type and amount varies according to species, breed and at different stages of an animal's life
the different types of enrichment required by the animals in your care
how animals maintain their own physical condition and appearance
how to recognise a health emergency in an animal and the actions to take
how to respond to concerns or issues in relation to your duty of care
the limits within your area of responsibility in relation to health problems with the animals in your care
the records that need to be kept and the importance of completing them in accordance with relevant legislation and organisational policy
Scope/range
appearance and body condition
posture and movement
behaviour and social interaction
excretions (bodily functions)
pain
ill-health
injury
pest infestation
trauma
weight
stress
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
England and Wales, Animal Welfare Act
Scotland, Animal Health and Welfare Act
Northern Ireland, Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland)
light
ventilation
temperature
humidity
weather conditions
size/space
social contact
The needs of animals:
suitable environment (place to live)
suitable diet
ability to exhibit normal behaviour
protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease
housed with, or apart from, other animals (where applicable)