VETERINARY ASSISTANT

Transcription

1 I. Position Identification: A) Title: Veterinary Assistant B) Bargaining Unit: N/A C) Customary Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or as designated in departmental schedule D) Customary Work Days: As designated in department schedule (includes weekends) E) Reports To: Animal Services Manager F) Directs the Work of: None G) Educational and/or Experience Requirements: Any relevant combination of education and experience that would demonstrate the knowledge and skill outlined below is qualifying. A typical way of gaining the skills is: Education: Successful completion of the equivalent of a high school diploma from an accredited institution. Experience: At least one (1) year of progressively responsible work experience in a veterinary or kennel environment. OR Education: Successful completion of the equivalent of a high school diploma from an accredited institution and a Veterinary Assistant Certification or a Registered Veterinary Technician Certification. Experience: No experience required. H) Licenses and/or Certificates Required: Possession of a valid California state drivers license.

2 Page 2 of 5 II. III. FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Position Summary: Under general supervision, assist in providing paraprofessional medical care and treatment to all animals, monitor the general health of the animal population; administer emergency first aid treatment, assist with surgery and follow-up care to animals in need; and perform related duties as assigned. IV. Essential Functions: Incumbents may be assigned to varying work schedules, weekend work and be called back to work as needed by the City. 1. Monitor the health of all animals; follow-up on health observation report by staff and volunteers, advise the Veterinarian regarding animals that need further medical care. 2. Ensure that all shelter animals are medicated following strict instructions. 3. Assist with maintaining inventory of all medications, vaccines, medical supplies. 4. Assist with the euthanasia of animals. 5. Ensure all animals in adoptions are properly vaccinated and receive their preadoption examination. 6. Assist Veterinarian with surgery and prepare autoclave and surgery packs. 7. Follow-up on all animals sent for emergency medical treatment. 8. Ensure surgery, examination and grooming rooms are clean and organized. 9. Assist in the identification of possible disease outbreaks and work with the Veterinarian and other staff to take appropriate preventive action. 10. Coordinate all veterinary care for foster animals. V. Job Related and Essential Qualifications: Note: The required level and scope of the following knowledge and skills relate to the level of the position as defined in the class characteristics. A. Knowledge of: Veterinary medicine and disease.

3 Page 3 of 5 Medical treatment for a wide range or animals including domestic, livestock, wildlife and under aged animals. Safety procedures and work methods in an animal care facility. Basic care and control of both domestic and wild animals in a safe manner to avoid injury to persons and animals. Standard and accepted English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Basic principles and practices of positive customer service. Basic office methods and equipment including filing and recordkeeping. Basic feeding and care of domestic animals. Basic mathematical calculations. B. Skills at: Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing in the performance of daily activities. Promote customer service focus in forging cooperative public relations. Learn to work effectively in stressful situations; act quickly and calmly in emergencies. Recognize common breeds of domestic animals and appropriate practices for their care, handling and feeding C. Ability to: Care for domestic and wild animals. Learn laws and ordinance pertaining to animal care. Understand and follow written and oral instructions. Train staff and citizens on the proper care of animal. Recognize injured or sick animals. Assist with the euthanasia of animals. Understand and carry out both oral and written instructions. Perform routine mathematical calculations to include addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

4 Page 4 of 5 Identify with department and City goals and objectives and understand City priorities and needs. Maintain regular and predictable attendance. VI. Physical Demands/Qualifications: 1. Requires the ability to stand for potentially long periods of time throughout the workday. 2. Perform physical labor including lifting objects up to 50 pounds with assistance. 3. Ability to perform task requiring strength and stamina, such as lifting, moving, pushing or pulling equipment objects. 4. Ability to sit, stand, walk, stoop, bend, climb, twist, crawl, kneel, and walk for potentially long periods of time throughout the workday. NOTE: Some accommodations may be made for some physical demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodations. VII. Non-Physical Demands/Qualifications: 1. Communicate information clearly and effectively on a number of different levels, both verbal and written. 2. Must possess a high level of integrity. 3. Remain calm and work effectively under stressful situations. VIII. Environmental Conditions: 1. Working conditions in the office are clean, well lit and free from extremes of temperature and humidity. 2. Working conditions in the field are subject to variations in temperature and may include wind, rain and other elements. The incumbent may be subjected to dust, pollen, chemicals, skin irritants, fumes, and other factors such as odors. Incumbent may occasionally be required to work on slippery or uneven surfaces. IX. Other duties and requirements: This class description lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Not all duties are necessarily performed by each incumbent. Incumbents may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those

5 Page 5 of 5 contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.