Provide and manage accommodation for animal boarding services
Overview
This standard is for those providing animal boarding services as home-boarding and day-boarding.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
comply with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation and associated codes of practice
confirm that the relevant environmental and health and safety policies and risk assessment requirements are put into practice across your area of responsibility
assess the risks associated with the activity to be carried out
maintain hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with workplace instructions, organisational practice and the relevant legislation
assess how the needs of animals may be provided for while under your duty of care
select and prepare accommodation to suit the animal and its needs
check that the accommodation is clean and maintained in a good state of repair
check that the environmental conditions in the accommodation have been considered and can be adjusted to suit the animal’s requirements
check that the accommodation is labelled with details relevant to the animal and that records are completed in accordance with relevant legislation and organisational policy
restrict access to the accommodation according to the animal’s requirements and organisational policy
provide care and monitor animals according to their requirements and their owner’s instructions
provide animals with stimulation and affection wherever practicable
interact with the animal in a way that minimises stress and allows observation to be carried out
promote the animal's welfare at all times and adapt your own behaviour, or that of others involved, if necessary, to avoid creating undesirable animal behaviour
identify the behaviour of animals that may indicate welfare or other problems and take the required action
recognise when behaviour may indicate that the animal is not suited to boarding
maintain the security of the animals to protect them from injury, theft or escape
deal with waste in accordance with workplace instructions, organisational policy and the relevant legislation
communicate with all those involved in or affected by your work and maintain effective teamwork
confirm that records are maintained and stored as required by the relevant legislation and organisational policy
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
your legal and professional liability when providing animal boarding services in your own premises, and the importance of insurance cover
your responsibilities under the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation and associated codes of practice
your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
how to identify hazards and assess risks within animal boarding service
the importance of maintaining hygiene and biosecurity and how this can be achieved
how the needs of animals under your duty of care may be assessed and addressed through offering the relevant types and level of care
the types of accommodation available which are suitable for different species and breeds and how to select and prepare them for animals in your care, and what factors should be considered
the relevant environmental conditions for different animals and the way the conditions can be adjusted
how to mitigate the risks of disease transfer and aggression when animals from different households are on site when home boarding
how to select and use cleaning methods and materials that are suitable for the accommodation, the animals and their requirements
the requirements for the handling and storage of potentially harmful substances, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
the organisational procedure for rectifying any damage to accommodation
the types of bedding that should be provided to meet the requirements of different animals
the dietary and feeding requirements needed by different animals
the toileting requirements for different animals
what is meant by the term “enrichment” and how it may be provided for different animals
how to maintain the safety and security of the animal boarding accommodation and who is authorised to access it
how and when animals should be monitored, and how animals’ requirements influence such monitoring
the indications that animals might be having problems and the action that should be taken
how to recognise the behaviour of the animals in your care, including fear, aggression, dominance, appeasement, anxiety, play and relaxation and the importance of recognising indications that the animal is not suited to boarding
how and when to stimulate animals and how different animals may respond
how to minimise stress in boarding animals and how your actions, or the actions of those involved in or affected by your work, may affect the behaviour and welfare of the animal
how to handle, store and dispose of waste in accordance with relevant legal requirements and organisational policy
the records and reports that need to be kept and the importance of completing them in accordance with the relevant legislation and organisational policy
Scope/range
Take the following into account when providing accommodation for animals:
species
breed and/or size of animal
age
health
feeding requirements
length of stay
other animals
handing and exercise requirements
temperament
bedding
enrichment
toileting needs
privacy
safety
security
medical or other special needs
behaviour
food and fluid intake
toileting
interactions with people and other animals
grooming
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Current animal welfare legislation:
England and Wales, Animal Welfare Act
Scotland, Animal Health and Welfare Act
Northern Ireland, Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland)
- light
- temperature
- humidity
- ventilation
- noise
- vibrations
- smell