Animal Care Specialist

ODYSSEY BEHAVIORAL GROUP•Sevierville, TN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This role assists clinical staff with animal-assisted therapy sessions, focusing on the safety of residents and animals. Responsibilities include grooming, managing hazardous materials, pasture rotation, farm improvements, and reporting maintenance needs. The specialist will also ensure adequate supplies of feed, hay, and medications, conduct daily animal observations, assist with socializing and handling animals, administer first aid, and support professional service providers. Additionally, the role involves orienting new employees and ensuring humane treatment of animals according to I.A.H.A.1.O. standards. The position requires reliability, adaptability to facility changes, adherence to company policies and ethics, and a team-player attitude. Attendance at required training and performance of other assigned duties are also expected.

Requirements

High School or equivalent
Minimum of 2 years’ experience with farm equipment, animal care, barn and pasture management/maintenance.
Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance and acceptable driving record.
Clearance of criminal background, TB test, and any other mandatory state/federal requirements.
Current CPR and First Aid certification
Excellent verbal and written skills
Demonstrates a high level of follow through
Demonstrates commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Renaissance Health Care, the Stables.
Will possess the ability to read and interpret verbal and nonverbal body communication.
Demonstrates an ability to adapt to changes in the facility function, management styles, and facility routines.
Demonstrates knowledge about medication side-effects, medication reactions, and what to do should an event occur.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Assists clinical staff at stables as needed, with animal assisted therapy sessions, including grooming, family therapy, or extra sessions, with an emphasis on safety for residents and animals.
Ensures all utensils/tools/cleaning solutions/potential hazardous materials are securely stored when not in use.
Assists in pasture rotation and planning with animals.
Participates in planning stable and farm improvements for animal safety, welfare, and program advancement.
Reports any maintenance needs concerning, the barn, turnout pastures/shelters, arena, general grounds, and equipment.
Assists with ensuring adequate amounts of feed, hay, medications, supplements, and supplies are maintained.
Conduct daily observation of individual animal's condition.
Assists in routine socializing and handling/schooling of all animals.
Administers animal first aid and responds to animal emergencies, as necessary.
Supports farrier, veterinarian, and other professional service providers' visits.
Assists with orientation of new employees.
Ensures all animals are humanly treated and the standard put forth by I.A.H.A.1.O. are followed.
Reliable and is rarely absent from work, notifying the supervisor if absent.
Ability to adapt to changes in the facility function, management styles, and facility routines.
Reads, understands, and adheres to all company policy statements on ethics, conduct, and conflict of interests.
Adheres to facility policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
Maintains positive behaviors and acts as a team player with others.
Attends all training within assigned time frames, as required by the facility.
Performs other duties as assigned.