Kennel Staff - Dog Training Establishment
Job Title: Kennel Staff - Dog Training Establishment
Salary: The starting salary is £35,385.38, which includes a shift disturbance allowance of 12.5% and allowances totalling £2,928.
The salary is broken down as £28,851 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £31,011. Plus, a location allowance of £1,928, a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000 and a shift disturbance allowance of 12.5%.
Location: Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment, Layhams Road, Keston, Kent, BR2 6AR
The Metropolitan Police has approximately 340 dogs based at 6 key locations in North, South, East, and West London including the Dog Training Establishment.
Approximately 60% of MPS dogs are General Purpose Police Dogs and these are mainly German Shepherd Dogs or Belgian Malinois. The remaining 40% are Specialist Search dogs and these are mainly English Springer Spaniels, Labradors, and Cocker Spaniels. Operational Dogs typically reside in the Police Officer handlers’ home.
The role of the Dog Support Unit is to provide 24-hour specialist dog support across the 32 London Boroughs. The MPS dogs perform a variety of policing support roles; dogs are trained to locate suspects and property, giving support to borough colleagues at public order incidents; firearms, drugs, and cash recovery, being included in pro-active crime initiatives. They can also search for explosives and human remains.
All dogs are trained at the Dog Training Establishment (DTE). It holds its place as one of the world’s foremost police and service dog training facilities. Its breeding programme has evolved to such an extent that it produces dogs of various breeds, used not only by the Metropolitan Police, but by other police services and agencies from around the UK and around the globe. New and innovative training methods in the world of explosive and narcotic detection are continually pioneered by the instructional staff and the standard of both dog and student is of the highest calibre available anywhere.
The Role
Kennel Staff play in essential role within the Dog Support Unit. You will be looking after Operational Police Dogs when handlers take annual leave or are absent for other reasons.
The primary role is to look after the health and welfare of all dogs in your care; you will be working as part of a small team where excellent communication skills are essential.
Please be aware that selection is also subject to a suitability assessment within the Kennel Environment with working dogs.
This is a physical and demanding role, and you will be working in sometimes extreme weather conditions.
You will be responsible for the feeding, grooming, and exercising of Police Dogs; administrating dog medication as prescribed by the vet; cleaning kennels and surrounding areas; clearing dog excrement from exercise areas and kennels; general housekeeping; assisting in the dog school veterinary consulting room; accurate completion of daily kennel logs and veterinary treatment; whelping of brood bitches. You will also be taking care of our Brood Bitches and young puppies from birth onwards and may be involved in training exercises under the supervision of accredited Instructors.
Additional Information
You will be working shifts, consisting of Early and Late Shifts, The Early shift starts at 06:30 and in general the Late Shift Start at 14:00. The Kennels close at 22:00.
The kennels are open 365 days a year. (more details can be provided on roster).
You will be expected to work Bank Holidays including Christmas Day and Boxing Day (depending on how your shift pattern falls each year). There may be occasions when leave is restricted on operational grounds (usually during summer months and school holidays). There is also an expectation that you will be willing to work occasional night duties (22:00hrs to 06:30hrs) when we have a whelping brood bitch.
Please note that the role is based at the Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment, Layhams Road, Keston, Kent, BR2 6AR and there is no direct access to public transport.
Application Process
Your application form will be initially sifted against MPS criteria such as convictions and residency.
Following the initial sift your application will be assessed against the role criteria. If successful at this stage, we will contact you regarding an interview date.
The interview will be a competency-based interview and questions will be posed around the criteria for the role in question, as set out in the advert and information pack.
If successful at interview you will be required to attend and successfully complete a two-day suitability assessment in the kennels at the Dog Training Establishment.
This role is currently under-represented within the black and minority ethic and male candidate, and we would welcome applications from these groups. Final selection to the post will solely be based on merit.
We view diversity as fundamental to our success. To tackle today’s complex policing challenges, we need a workforce made up from all of London’s communities. Applications from across the community are therefore essential.
For further information regarding the role, please contact Inspector Stephen Biles at DTE
How to apply
Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed CV, Personal Statement, and online application form. Your personal statement (500 words max) should outline why you are interested in the role and how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. (NB. Please do not attach 2 copies of your CV).
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on the 6th of February 2025.