Hours: 4 days per week (including regular overnight stays)
Salary: £30,000 per annum (pro rata if applicable)
Benefits: Company car • Hotel accommodation covered • Full training provided • Company mobile
Base: Autism Dogs Charity HQs in Congleton, Cheshire and Louth, Lincolnshire (UK-wide travel required)
About the role
This is a hands‑on role supporting newly qualified Autism Assistance Dog teams as they settle into home life. You’ll help the dog and handler build confidence, consistency, and routine during the crucial early weeks of placement.
Placements can be anywhere in England, Scotland, or Wales, so you must be willing to travel long distances when required. The role involves staying locally for 4 days / 3 nights near the handler’s home during each placement.
You’ll spend your days advising, teaching, and supporting the family, while observing the dog’s adjustment and reporting progress back to the operational team.
Key responsibilities
* Build a strong relationship with the dog and support the dog‑handler bond
* Understand the individual needs of handlers and families, and adapt your approach accordingly
* Visit the family home to coach and practise tasks with the newly established team
* Demonstrate and reinforce advanced skills tailored to the handler’s needs
* Maintain high standards of lead walking, focus work, and recall
* Support the dog’s transition into home routines, settling, and welfare needs
* Supervise public access training in shops and local venues, important to daily life
* Provide guidance on nutrition, wellbeing, and general care
* Write comprehensive daily reports for the Operations team, including observations and recommendations
* Complete a structured handover to the Aftercare team for ongoing remote and long‑term support
Training and support
You will receive six weeks of training, plus ongoing support and mentorship, to ensure you are fully equipped to meet the high standards required in this role.
What we’re looking for
* Strong dog training and handling skills
* Confidence working independently in family homes and public environments
* A compassionate, professional approach when working with autistic people and their families
* Excellent observation skills and the ability to communicate progress clearly in writing
* A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel extensively and stay away from home regularly
To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter detailing your experience in dog training/handling and your suitability for a role involving regular UK-wide travel and overnight stays. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to: caroline.preston@autismdogs.co.uk
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