Academy Guide Dog Mobility Specialist X 3 - Atherton

The Guide Dogs Academy is home to our world-class training programmes aimed at recruiting, training and developing our expanding specialist workforce of Guide Dog Trainers (GDT) and Guide Dog Mobility Specialists (GDMS).

These roles are crucial to ensure Guide Dogs meets the needs of people living with sight loss and supports them in living the life they choose.

The Academy is currently recruiting for three Academy Guide Dog Mobility Specialists to join our training programme in Atherton starting at the end of August 2024.
Online Information Session
We will be hosting an information session about the role on Tuesday 26th March at 5pm. For more details and to register please follow this link: Register Here for Webinar
What is a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist?

Our GDMSs aim to successfully create a long-lasting partnership between a Guide Dog and a person with sight loss. This takes a huge amount of time, skill, patience and dedication. It is also one of the most rewarding jobs you could have.

This is not your normal 9 to 5 role, and no two days are the same -one day you may be in planning meetings, another day walking in all weathers training dogs, or you could be working with a service user resolving challenges.

In the following video Natalie, one of our GDMS, tells you why she loves her role: https://www.youtube.com/embed/BF1azWtyXgw
What does the training involve?

The Academy training programme provides you with all the skills and knowledge required to become a fully trained GDMS. Using our industry leading learning platform ‘Guide Dogs Learning’ you will work under one of our Technical Learning Specialists in a cohort of three learners to become proficient in every aspect of the GDMS role including dog training, sight loss awareness, creating and implementing training plans, completing coursework and of course, making life changing partnerships.

Once you have completed the learning and development programme in the Academy you will cover a large region including Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
As an Academy GDMS your starting salary will be from £24,519 to £28,000 per annum dependent on experience. Throughout your training you will receive competency-based gradual salary increments. Once you are fully competent and graduate from the Academy (usually within 3 years of starting training), your salary will increase to £34,122.
What are we looking for?

We’re looking for people with a determined and positive mindset who have a passion for supporting and empowering people – and of course, you also need to love dogs! You’ll be active, professional, and committed to providing the best service to our service users.
Should you be shortlisted you’ll be required to attend an initial virtual online interview to take place w/c 20th May 2024 and may subsequently be invited to attend our Assessment Day in Atherton due to take place w/c 3rd June 2024.

For the complete list of all criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Job Description below. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions document which includes tips on making a great application.

Due to the element of working with our service users there may be restrictions regarding when you are able to take annual leave. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that holidays can be taken during school holidays for example. During your training there will be other times where annual leave will be limited.
During your learning programme you will be allocated a branded vehicle to ensure the safe transportation of dogs and people to various locations for training and development purposes. The vehicle is for both business use and private use outside of working hours and subject to benefit in kind tax.

More information about Guide Dogs Academy and the role can be found here: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/careers/guide-dogs-academy/

How to apply
Our recruitment system has a one-hour time limit; therefore, we would advise you to prepare everything first and then copy and paste into the online form once finalised.

The application form is made up of 3 mandatory elements;

1 – Upload a current CV.
2 – Upload a cover letter. Use clear examples to demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria as specified within the job description.
3 – Fully complete the online form. This includes providing the details of professional referees (minimum of 2) to ensure a full 5-year professional referee history is provided.

Diversity
Guide Dogs’ welcomes applicants regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We are a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.

Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.

We cannot provide sponsorship for this role.
If you have any questions please contact our Academy Recruitment Team on 0118 354 0345 or academyrecruitment@guidedogs.org.uk