Key information: This position is for individuals who are qualified as a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist (GDMS/GDMI), as recognised by the International Guide Dog Federation.

This is not a Trainee opportunity. More information on our trainee Academy GDMS roles can be found using the following link:

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/careers/guide-dogs-academy/

Visa sponsorship is available for oversees GDMS/GDMI's wishing to relocate.

Starting salary: £34,805 - £38,388 per annum negotiable dependent upon experience + £4,200 London Weighting for London based roles.

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from qualified GDMS/GDMI's interested in working at our sites across the UK. Our Guide Dog Mobility Specialists (GDMS) are central to the delivery of the core guide dog service. As a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist, you will have a passion for delivering exceptional services for people with sight loss, working as part of an integrated team with our Vision Rehabilitation Specialists and Guide Dog Trainers to create exceptional guide dog partnerships. We pride ourselves on our person-centred and dog-centred approaches to creating partnerships between people with sight loss and guide dogs. We fully embrace modern, science-based, positive reinforcement in the training and care of our dogs, and believe this approach delivers the best outcomes for dogs and people.

More information on GDMS roles at Guide dogs available via our spotlight videos which can be accessed here: https://guidedogs.sharepoint.com/SitePages/Spotlight-on-Krist.aspx

For this role you’ll be working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. 

We offer a generous pension scheme, annual leave, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, we provide an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme to care for our people.

More details can be found in the attached candidate pack and job description.

Diversity

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.

We encourage applications from people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.

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.

To be able to fulfil this role, the skills and experience we are looking for in a potential candidate include:

Essential

• GDMI/GDMS qualification recognised under the International Guide Dogs Federation with proven practice in last 5 years.
• Experience of working for an Organisation recognised by the International Guide Dogs Federation
• Current valid UK/EU Driving licence, or able to demonstrate how to complete the role without.
• Experience of coaching and teaching individuals and groups of adults and/or children in practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
• Willing and able to drive dog-carrying vehicles
• Have an understanding of theories and models relating to teaching, coaching and person-centred working.

For the complete list of essential and desirable criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Person Specification within the Job Description below. The candidate pack contains more information about this role & the recruitment process at Guide Dogs.

As a forward-thinking, innovative organisation we are particularly interested in hearing from people who have a wish to share their own international experiences whilst building their professional knowledge by working with one of the oldest and largest guide dog organisations.

We are looking for qualified Guide Dog Mobility Specialist who are interested in potentially working in any of our Community or Regional teams in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

How to apply

If you have any accessibility issues, please contact our Recruitment Team on 0118 3540345 or peopleservicecentre@guidedogs.org.uk.

Applications need to be made using the online application form, accessed using the ‘apply’ button above.

As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description.

The system has a one-hour time limit. We would advise you to prepare your answers separately and then copy and paste into the online form once finalised.

If any mandatory fields are missed, a pop-up box will appear at the top of the page advising which sections require completion.

Please note that you’ll have to upload a CV as this is a mandatory requirement as part of our Safer Recruitment Policy.

Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If there is not enough space in your application form to provide this information, please ensure you upload additional documentation containing the additional detail.

Please contact our Recruitment Team on 0118 3540345 or peopleservicecentre@guidedogs.org.uk if you require any support with your application.