Apprenticeship training course

Animal training instructor (level 4)

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Information about Animal training instructor (level 4)

Planning, managing, delivering and reviewing the training of animals.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Professional responsibilities and boundaries, accountability, and autonomy in relation to the duty of care of animals.
  • Legislation and its implications for the ATI, guardians and others, including health and safety and animal welfare, data protection, employment and animal transportation.
  • How to carry out risk assessments and use them to manage risk.
  • The benefit and value of difference in a diverse and inclusive environment.
  • The environmental impact of the occupation, wider organisation and industry.
  • The selection and application of digital tools to enable record keeping and collaboration with colleagues and customers.
  • The five animal welfare needs and how to assess and address welfare impact across the five welfare domains.
  • How training impacts on animal welfare, how to assess whether training is in the best interests of the animal involved and when training is inappropriate.
  • The suitability, action, welfare and ethical considerations when selecting training equipment and techniques and the implications of individual animals’ physical and mental capabilities.
  • Signs of poor animal health and the actions that should be taken to address health concerns.
  • The importance of, and approaches to, routine healthcare, preventative veterinary medicine and biosecurity.
  • Anatomy, physiology, health (particularly pain) and the impact on training and behaviour outcomes.
  • Natural behaviour patterns, body language and communication methods of animals.
  • Ethology, animal behaviour, the human-animal bond and related terminology.
  • Socialisation effects on animal learning and behaviour.
  • How to take a 'case history' to determine factors which may affect the progress and success of training.
  • The process of establishing measurable goals and objectives when developing training plans.
  • How to formulate, review and revise training plans based on the available resources and the objectives agreed between the ATI, guardians, and other.
  • The importance of, and how to establish and maintain training records in accordance with data protection regulations.
  • Classical and operant conditioning and their uses, effects and practical application, including the differences between positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment.
  • Schedules of reinforcement and how they can be used to establish and maintain desired behaviour, including the need to guard against unintentional classical and operant conditioning creating undesirable behaviour.
  • How behaviour can be reduced or extinguished by the removal of reinforcement and the principle of spontaneous recovery.
  • Principles of learning theory and human behaviour change, including lesson plans, learning styles, feedback and coaching as they apply to the ATI occupation.
  • How to identify the information that guardians and others need and why.
  • Instructional techniques and how to adapt exercises and communication styles to meet the needs and abilities of guardians.
  • The importance of confirming that people have received and understood the information and knowledge you have communicated, and how to do so.
  • The importance of reflective practice and checking the currency, accuracy and completeness of the information and knowledge you are communicating, and how to do so.
  • Levels of academic evidence and how to access peer reviewed literature and reference them into reports.

  Skills

  • Assess and maintain the health and welfare needs of animals, including physical, psychological, and emotional needs.
  • Assess and maintain the working environment to ensure it is safe and in accordance with relevant legislation, workplace policies and procedures.
  • Assess and maintain working practices to ensure they are safe and in accordance with relevant legislation, workplace policies and procedures.
  • Assess the risk of disease transmission and implement bio-security controls.
  • Complete a dynamic risk assessment and implement control measures.
  • Evaluate, manage, and make balanced decisions to address potentially conflicting demands of guardians, animal welfare and societal expectation.
  • Create and implement an evidence-based, accessible and individually tailored training plan that meet the needs of animals and their guardians and achieve desired outcomes.
  • Take 'case history' to determine the factors which may affect the progress and success of training.
  • Prepare the animal, resources, and environment for the training session to aid the achievement of agreed learning outcomes.
  • Monitor progress and modify training to meet required outcomes.
  • Reinforce desirable animal behaviours and avoid creating undesirable behaviours.
  • Create and maintain training records and reports in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
  • Communicate with animal guardians, colleagues, and professionals.
  • Apply the principles of learning theory, human behaviour change, instructional techniques, teaching and coaching to deliver training that meets the needs of guardians and achieves required training outcomes.
  • Support guardians to implement training.
  • Apply digital tools to assist in the ATI function.
  • Contribute to the development of sustainable organisational processes and practices.
  • Identify and evaluate advances in animal science, working practices and technology and incorporate into operational practice and reference into written reports.
  • Recognise when referral to another professional is required or desirable.
  • Reflect on personal practice and use this to inform continuous performance improvement.

  Behaviours

  • Committed to delivering good animal health and welfare, whilst also meeting the needs of the organisation, the guardian and any societal expectations.
  • Acts in a professional, moral and ethical manner, and shows empathy and respect to both animals and people.
  • Passionate and committed to sharing their knowledge to support guardians and their animals.
  • Committed to the adoption and promotion of safe working practices.
  • Acts in a way that builds and maintains positive working relationships.
  • Committed to self-reflective practice and keeping up to date with industry best practice.
  • Supports an inclusive culture, treating colleagues and external stakeholders fairly and with respect.
  • Committed to the adoption and promotion of environmentally sustainable practices.
  • Able to work independently and with autonomy within their scope of practice.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Qualification level: 4; Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
• Course duration: 24 months
• Funding: £10,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Animal training instructor
  • Assistance dog instructor
  • Dog trainer instructor including search and rescue

View more information about Animal training instructor (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.