Level 2 Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship

This course is suitable for individuals who are already working or looking to start a career in caring for animals. No experience is necessary.  

The course combines classroom learning with hands-on-experience in the workplace. Apprentices attend College once a week, typically on a Friday, to develop the underpinning knowledge needed for this occupation. The remaining four days will be spent in the workplace where apprentices build practical skills and gain experience.  

This blended learning approach allows apprentices to apply what they have learnt in College directly to their work, helping them to gain the confidence, skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in animal care. 

Length of Programme 

The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 12 months. The EPA period is typically three months. 

• GCSE Maths and English – grade 4 and above – or a willingness to work towards these qualifications.
• A strong work ethic and good communication skills.

The apprentice will follow a training programme to complete the apprenticeship requirements and meet the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for them to be fully competent: 

• The apprentice works and trains with the employer and the training provider.
• The apprentice will create and maintain a mandatory portfolio to provide supporting evidence that will be needed to supplement the knowledge, skills and behaviours observed by the Independent Assessor at the End Point Assessment. The portfolio will be used as evidence for the professional discussion.
• A record of off-the-job training – this is training that must occur for a minimum of 20% of the time the apprentice is paid to work and is training delivered outside of their normal working duties – to develop a wider understanding of the industry.

The qualification consists of learning including:  

• UK and EU animal-related legislation.
• Signs that indicate potential problems with animals’ health and welfare and the actions that should be taken.
• Animal first aid, urgent, ongoing and preventive care.
• Animal behaviour.
• Animal accommodation.
• Animal diets and feeding plans.
• Basic anatomy and physiology.
• Basic reproduction and obstetrics and reproductive behaviour, including neutering.
• The changing needs of animals depending on their life stage.
• Biosecurity and infection control.

Individuals will need to achieve the core skills, knowledge and behaviours and take one option from the following list: 

Options: Animal Interaction and Handling; Rehoming, Movement and Transportation; Operational/Reception Duties; Breeding; Working Dog Handler; Wildlife Rehabilitation; and Veterinary Care Support. 

The route will depend on the apprentice’s job role. 

Learning will take place in a variety of ways, which could include workplace training, formal courses, work shadowing, industrial visits, research, self-study, attendance at College for classroom/workshop activities and time spent completing assignments set by the assessor. 

You will attend Derby College Group’s Broomfield Campus on one day a week. 

You will be expected to undertake off-the-job training within the workplace and spend time completing additional work and evidence towards your portfolio. 

You will be required to wear PPE in the workplace and in College during practical tasks. You will also be required to bring along writing materials e.g. books, pens and laptops to enable you to complete your learning. 

The apprentice will undertake their End Point Assessment when the employer, training provider and apprentice all consider that they are ready to do so.  This stage of the apprenticeship is known as the gateway and will not be reached until the apprentice has completed the entirety of their portfolio and required off-the-job training hours, typically no earlier than 12 months. 

An End Point Assessment (EPA) is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the knowledge, skills and behaviours. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for. 

The assessment methods are as follows: 

• Practical assessment with questions. An observation with questions involves an independent assessor observing an apprentice undertaking work as part of their normal duties.
• Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence. A professional discussion is a two-way discussion that involves both the independent assessor and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the KSBs mapped to this method.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are: 

• fail
• pass
• distinction

When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.

Following completion of your apprenticeship, you could be employed full time in animal care settings in roles such as kennel/cattery assistant; animal technician; animal welfare assistant; animal day care assistant; animal collection officer; wildlife rehabilitation assistant; zoo keeper assistant; pet retail assistant; animal handler; veterinary care assistant; or farm park assistant. This qualification also provides a strong foundation to progress to Level 3 studies. 

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk

Apprenticeships are a paid route into employment, so apprentices earn a wage while they train. Training costs are usually covered by the employer, meaning apprentices do not pay course fees. Additional support may be available in some cases, depending on individual circumstances.