Integrated Care Assistant, Adoption Center

Summary:

Are you passionate about delivering high-quality care to animals in need, and do you thrive in a fast-paced, team-based environment? The position of Integrated Care Assistant (ICA) at the ASPCA's Adoption Center may be right for you. ICAs support the health of animals in the Adoption Center by providing daily, direct care, behavioral enrichment and some medical treatments. One of the most critical functions of this role is serving as a member of a departmental team of medical, behavior and sheltering personnel, all dedicated to working together to provide effective, holistic care for our animals.

Who We Are

The Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery provides intake, holistic care, including medical and behavioral support and outcomes for animals in New York City that need us most.

Our population consists of five groups of animals:

• Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD
• Animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team
• Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals
• Animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes
• Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners

The Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery teams utilize and develop best practices for providing care and innovative placement strategies for these specialized populations.

What You'll Do

ICAs interact with animals regularly to provide daily care, administer certain medications, engage in behavioral enrichment activities, detect potential problems or changes in their medical or behavioral health, communicate observations effectively to clinical professionals, and document/maintain records of all activities.

The Adoption Center ICA role reports directly to the Managers of Animal Welfare and has no direct reports.

Where and When You'll Work

• This position is an on-site role and reports to the ASPCA Adoption Center location, located in New York, NY.
• Regular shifts for this position are 10 hours in duration.

What You'll Get

Compensation:

The starting pay rate for this role is $23.00 and falls under a collective bargaining agreement.

Benefits:

At the ASPCA, you don't have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage , including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions - we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Behavior 60%:

• Ensure the welfare of animals in our care by attending to their physical and emotional health and comfort, following all ASPCA protocols.
• Engage in behavioral and emotional enrichment activities, following enrichment program protocols; recommend animal-specific changes as appropriate.
• Assist in behavioral health evaluations, assessments, trainings, and other animal interventions.
• Exercise and socialize animals and manage playgroups, under the direction and guidance of Adoption Center behavior staff.
• Abide by existing dog-walking protocols, observe and report response to environmental events or human/animal interactions, and record elimination (urination and defecation). Encourage healthy behaviors and interactions throughout walks and reward animals appropriately.
• Feed animals, provide clean water, and ensure a clean environment while interacting with animals to encourage and promote healthy behaviors.
• Observe, log and report to clinical professionals in a timely fashion any irregularities or changes in animal nutrition, elimination, hydration, or behaviors (including responses to your interactions). Observing animals during these interactions is vital to the recognizing medical and behavioral changes/abnormalities early, maximizing the efficacy of potential treatments.
• Monitor the comfort of shelter animals, report any signs of distress, anxiety, or physical ailments, and ensure that their physical environment is optimal to meet their needs (e.g., appropriate, clean bedding, adequate space, non-adverse neighboring animals.
• Maintain the cleanliness of animal enclosures and other workspaces to ensure readiness for the arrival of new animals.
• Monitor animal holding areas for appropriate music and/or auditory stimulation and report observations.
• Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques.

Medical 20%:

• Ensure the welfare of animals in our care by attending to their physical and emotional health and comfort, following all ASPCA protocols.
• Using the Adoption Center electronic database, maintain shelter records including updating animal statuses and documenting observations.
• Read and follow all kennel signage and treatment sheets regarding animal treatment and care.
• Under the guidance of the Adoption Center medical team, administer medication and medical treatments in a low stress manner, following all medication administration protocols.
• Recognize and report potential medical issues effectively and in a timely manner to medical teams so that they can quickly and effectively attend to animals.

Team Support 20%:

• Send timely medical and behavior observation reports and actively engage with subject matter experts to implement interventions.
• Work in partnership with other teams (Medical, Behavior, and across departments) to continually develop knowledge and support continuity of care for the animals.
• Routinely collaborate with other Adoption Center ICAs, and attend and actively participate in daily ICA huddles, to support the continuity of care for the animals.
• Integrate volunteers into daily care, provide guidance and coaching as needed; demonstrate respect and gratitude for volunteer support.
• Use low-stress animal handling techniques and follow applicable organizational policies and protocols when moving animals between ASPCA facilities and to partner agencies, as applicable.
• Abide by organizational policies and protocols to maintain the safety and well-being of animals, staff, volunteers and visitors in ASPCA facilities.
• Attend and participate in team meetings and training classes as scheduled.
• Deploy locally or nationally as part of an ASPCA response once per year.

Qualifications

• Fear Free Shelter certification is required within 60 days of hire.
• Always treat people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals.
• Able to communicate clearly in writing and verbally
• Ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where humane euthanasia is performed.
• Dependable; able to demonstrate regular and reliable attendance.
• Motivated team player and problem solver who works well under pressure.
• Flexible; willing to adjust schedule if operations require.
• Ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day, ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Able to safely walk and handle dogs up to 100 lbs. or more, including up and down stairs.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to drive a vehicle and possesses a valid New York State driver's license preferred.
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA's core values and behavioral competencies

Education and Work Experience

• High school diploma or GED required
• Previous experience in the detection of common medical ailments, and the stress-free administration of topical and orally administered medications;
• Previous experience working in behavior training facility or in a shelter and/or veterinary setting with compromised animals.
• Previous experience with sheltering software systems and record keeping, including medical records, preferred.

Language:
English (Required), Spanish

Education and Work Experience:
High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent Experience (Required)