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RSPCA inspectors investigate complaints about animal cruelty, rescue animals and give advice to animal owners.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
Working day-to-day, you could:
You may need to wear a uniform.
You could work in the community, at a client's home, on a farm, at an abattoir or in a court.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, physically and emotionally demanding, dirty and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
You can get experience by volunteering with an animal welfare charity, animal refuge or at one of the RSPCA's own animal care centres.
Do-it also has more information on local opportunities for work with animals.
You could do a course in animal care while you're volunteering, which may help when you come to apply for a training place with the RSPCA.
You can apply directly for trainee inspector vacancies. You should be willing to move to another part of the country to do your training, if necessary.
To be taken on as a trainee you'll need:
If your initial application is successful, you'll be invited to a selection day where you'll complete a series of assessments and an interview.
You'll need to:
You'll find advice about working as an inspector through the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
With experience, you could progress to chief inspector then regional superintendent.
You could also move into management or training roles at the RSPCA headquarters.