Pets as Therapy (PAT) Dog Handler (Headington, Oxford)

Dogs have a way of brightening up a room as soon as they walk in. You’ll know the joy you get from seeing that wagging tail and all the daft things they do. Our residents are just the same; many were dog owners and are dog lovers still and like nothing better than a cuddle from a furry friend. This is where our PAT Dog Handlers come in.

They ensure their visits are a highlight for our residents and team alike. They take their lead from our Care Team who share with them who would benefit most from some time with their pooch. Our PAT Dog Handlers know that their dog is the star but that their role is vital too; to chat and help our residents get the most from their visit. Many of our residents’ love to tell stories about their beloved pets and our PAT Dog Handlers get just as much from this as the dogs do from a good ear tickle.

Our PAT Dog Handlers recognise that having a dog at home and bringing a dog into a care home setting can be quite different, so they take guidance from the Home Team to ensure we’re looking after the safety and well-being of everyone; pets and people. Some of our homes also have resident pets, including cats and other furry friends, and visiting animals too, so our PAT Dog Handlers are always aware of what else is happening in the home.

Your dog will need to have be registered with a recognised therapy pet organisation and we’ll need to see evidence of this before you start. Because we support people with low immunity we can only accept dogs who have been vaccinated against leptospirosis.

You’ll build up relationships with people so ideally, we’d like a regular, longer term commitment of at least one visit per month. Days and times are flexible; talk to us and we’ll see what suits us both.