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W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Welcome to Ark Farm. Everything you need to know about who we are, what you’ll be doing, and how you will help to look after our animals properly. W H A T ’ S I N S I D E 01 Who we are Our work and our animals 02 Your jobs Where they come from and how to record them 03 Working smart Getting faster and asking for help 04 Animal welfare Daily checks and reporting problems 05 Useful things to know Breaks, kit, Wi-Fi and first aid 06 Before you go home End-of-shift checklist and jargon H O W W E W O R K T O G E T H E R “At Ark Farm we work together to keep our animals content and thriving, our farm clean, organised and welcoming, and our visitors engaged and smiling. We support each other, follow routines with purpose, notice what needs doing and take pride in a job done well. Everyone takes ownership of their area, communicates clearly, and acts when something needs attention. By working in this way, we enrich the lives of our animals, deliver an excellent visitor experience, and strengthen Ark Farm’s mission, reputation and future.” Teamwork that supports animals, visitors, and each other.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 2 R E A D T H I S F I R S T Day one essentials If you remember nothing else from this pack, remember this page. Where things are Lunch 12.00–13.00 in the Static Caravan (or the Welfare Unit if it’s in use). PPE: drawer unit in the Guinea Pig House (GPH). Fire assembly point: top end of the staff car park, opposite the entrance gate. Who to ask Start with whoever is supervising your shift. Late or ill? Call Fraser (07885 263208) or Tam (07837 915559) before your shift. Accident? Tell Natasha, Primary First Aider (07902 927191). The welfare rule Find it · Look at it · Check it · Report it · Record it. Every animal, every check, every time. Never tick a check you haven’t actually done. Phones and photos Your phone is for work messages, QC photos and emergencies only. Never photograph or film visitors — especially children. Never post the farm, animals or visitors on social media. Get it in writing Verbal instructions are fine — but ask for them in your WhatsApp chat too. Especially if they change the plan, like moving an animal. If in doubt Stop and ask. Don’t guess or improvise. Animal sick, injured or missing? Tell staff in person, immediately. Wash your hands after animals and before eating.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 3 01 Who we are An educational animal centre near Bedford — and you’re now part of it. This booklet introduces our work, how we organise daily jobs and the standards we expect from work experience students joining us. It also explains how to record your work and report animal welfare concerns. Your practical induction will show you how to carry out tasks safely — this booklet is the “why” and “where” behind it. Our vision and mission Our vision To be the ‘go to’ company for educational and sensory animal encounters within the geographic areas that we operate. Our mission To provide an outstanding and memorable experience for children and adults of all abilities, building their knowledge, confidence, well-being and compassion for animals. What we do Ark Farm helps people learn about animals through visits to schools, care settings and other venues, as well as activities here at the farm. Farm visits Educational trips out to schools and nurseries Animal encounters Small animal sessions up close Therapeutic sessions Calm, animal-assisted time in care settings Care programmes Structured animal care courses Our animals We care for a wide range of animals — from the big and muddy to the tiny and nocturnal. Each species needs suitable food, housing and handling. You’ll learn the routines for the animals you work with. T H E F A R M Y A R D C R E W Donkeys · Horses · Alpacas · Sheep · Goats · Pigs · Poultry T H E C U D D L Y O N E S Rabbits · Guinea pigs T H E U N U S U A L S U S P E C T S Chinchillas · Harvest mice · Sugar gliders · Tortoises · Hedgehogs · Geckos · Frogs · and more
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 4 How we care for them The animals depend on us every single day. Here’s what that looks like: Food & water Appropriate food and fresh water Clean homes Clean and secure habitats Health checks Watching health and behaviour Extra care Treatment and monitoring programmes Daily instructions, cleaning rotas, quality control photographs and welfare records support this work. Our Animal Care System (ACS) helps the team plan care and keep records so information passes between shifts. Your role You’ll be doing real farm work, with instruction and supervision. Your responsibilities will grow as you learn. We expect you to: ✔ Follow instructions, handle animals calmly and ask when you are unsure. ✔ Complete work carefully, record it accurately and report concerns or mistakes promptly. ✔ Work at a purposeful pace and leave equipment and areas clean and ready for others. ✔ Follow safety and hygiene instructions, including handwashing. T H E D E A L We don’t expect you to know everything when you arrive. We do expect you to listen, make an effort and communicate with the team.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 5 Phones, photos and safeguarding We welcome school and nursery groups, care home residents and families. Every visitor must be safe, and their privacy protected — and that includes how you use your phone. NEVER PHOTOGRAPH OR FILM VISITORS. No photos or videos of visitors — especially children — ever. That includes the background of a QC photo: if a person is in shot, don’t take it. Your phone is a work tool ► Use it for work messages, QC photos and emergencies only. ► Put it away when you’re handling animals or working with a visitor group. ► No calls, games or headphones while you’re working. Don’t post the farm ► Never post photos, videos or details of visitors, animals, staff or the farm on your own social media. ► What’s in our WhatsApp groups stays in our WhatsApp groups — don’t forward or screenshot it. S A F E G U A R D I N G — K E E P I N G V I S I T O R S S A F E Never be alone with a child or vulnerable visitor. Stay where other staff can see you, and leave personal care (toilets, changing) to the group’s own staff. If a child or visitor tells you something worrying, or you see something that doesn’t feel right: listen, don’t promise to keep it secret, and tell Fraser or Tam straight away, in person. Don’t discuss it with anyone else.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 6 Meet the team These are the people you’ll see around the farm. If you’re not sure who to ask, start with whoever is supervising your shift. Fraser Bairstow Operations Director 07885 263208 Tam Bairstow Educational Programmes Director 07837 915559 Bethany Carpenter Educational Programmes Manager Daisy Hughes Animal Welfare & Enrichment Lead + F I R S T A I D E R Natasha Bairstow On-Site Activities Co-ordinator 07902 927191 + F I R S T A I D E R Tracey Taylor Office & Marketing Manager Daniel Bairstow Head of Maintenance & Repairs + F I R S T A I D E R Bradley Capp Farm & Livestock Carer
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 7 02 Your jobs Where your work comes from, and how to prove you’ve done it. S T E P 1 A S S I G N E D Where your work comes from Tasks are assigned through ACS and the jobs board. The Animal Welfare Team builds and maintains the work in ACS. Any staff member may add extra jobs to the jobs board as needs arise. B E F O R E Y O U S T A R T , C H E C K Y O U K N O W … ► Which habitat or area you’re working in ► What type of clean is needed ► What the finished result should look like If instructions clash or you’re not sure which job comes first, ask a member of staff to confirm the priority. SAID OUT LOUD? GET IT IN WRITING. Instructions, requests and anything about an animal can be given verbally — but they must be followed up in writing in your individual work experience WhatsApp group. Given a verbal instruction? Ask the person to put it in your WhatsApp chat, so you don’t forget and can look back at it later. This matters most when an instruction changes the plan. For example, the list says “feed the skinny pigs in the SAC”, but you’re told verbally “move them to the GPH for the day and feed them there”. If that change only lives in a conversation, nobody else knows the pigs have moved — or that they must go back before night. Left in the wrong place overnight, they could die of cold. A written message means the whole team can see the change.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 8 S T E P 2 A C T I O N E D Doing the job Follow the method demonstrated to you. A job isn’t finished until all three of these are done: Do the job Follow the method you were shown Check it Look over the whole result Tidy up Clean and return the equipment S T E P 3 P H O T O G R A P H E D QC photos Upload clear QC (quality control) photos to your individual work experience WhatsApp group. Depending on the job, show: Feed Buckets or bowls Water Troughs or drinkers Habitat After cleaning Photos help staff check the standard of your work; written records show what was done. You need both. Report welfare concerns through your individual group too, so staff can pass them on to the right welfare group. U R G E N T ? Urgent concerns must also be reported directly to staff, immediately. Don’t just post and walk away. S T E P 4 R E C O R D E D What needs recording? As a licensed company working with animals, we must keep records of what we do. The rule of thumb: if you did something to an animal, or something that affects an animal, it goes on the licensing record. Jobs that don’t affect an animal at all are still recorded, but as part of our on-farm quality control.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 9 Which route are you? Paper user Complete the relevant paper form. Put it in the correct office filing tray. The office team enters it into ACS for you. ACS user Only if you’re trained and authorised. Add the required task entry directly into ACS. B O T H R O U T E S A L S O N E E D ✔ A Cleaning Rota entry (see below) ✔ The relevant QC photographs (Step 3) Welfare paper logs have an extra checking stage — see Section 04. The monthly Cleaning Rota The track sheets are called the “[month] Cleaning Rota”. There are four A3 sheets covering the different areas, hanging on hooks on the back of the office door. Habitats run down the left side; dates run across the top. S = Skip Clean or Spot Clean Skip for livestock enclosures · Spot for small animal habitats D = Deep Clean The same for both types Habitat ↓ / Date → 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Goat paddock S S D Rabbit run 2 S S S Gecko vivarium D S or D? Example only. Find the habitat row, find today’s date column, and write the letter where they meet. Not sure of the difference? Ask staff to show you a Skip, Spot and Deep Clean. And only ever mark a clean you have actually completed.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 10 03 Working smart Get faster without cutting corners — and never be stuck for long. We expect you to work expeditiously: get started promptly, stay focused and make steady progress — while keeping the quality of your work. Animal care and safe working must stay consistent as your pace improves. Right tool, right job There’s often more than one way to get a job done — and the wrong tool might still get you there in the end. But work experience is about understanding why, and applying what you’ve learnt in the classroom to a real working environment. Using the right tool matters for three reasons, in this order: 1 Safety & welfare The wrong tool can hurt you, or injure or stress an animal. 2 Hygiene Some equipment belongs to one area only — using it elsewhere can spread disease. 3 Efficiency The right tool is quicker, wastes less and gets it right first time. L E A R N T H E D I F F E R E N C E Shavings fork Many close-set tines that sift droppings out of wood shavings, so the clean shavings stay in the bed. Pitch fork A few long, widely spaced tines for lifting and moving loose hay or straw. Muck fork Stronger, closer tines for lifting heavy, wet muck and dirty straw bedding. Yard broom Stiff, heavy bristles for outdoor yards, paths, and wet or heavy debris. Corn broom Natural-fibre bristles for sweeping finer material — spilt feed, dust and shavings — on smoother floors. Not sure which is which? Ask a member of staff to show you each one before you start. A working farm runs on five things — and while you’re here, you’ll have the chance to develop all of them: Pace Steady, purposeful progress Delivery Jobs finished, not half done Quality Checked against the standard Right first time No need to redo it Efficiency No wasted time or materials Welfare and safety always come first. Being efficient never means rushing, cutting corners or skipping a welfare check (see Section 04).
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 11 W H Y I T M A T T E R S Ark Farm is a business. Profit provides the cash we reinvest in the farm — giving our animals improved welfare and enrichment. Waste and inefficiency create avoidable costs. The wrong tool takes longer, even if the final result is right — and longer costs more. Spilt bedding or feed is waste that costs money to replace, and more time (and so more money) to clear up. Learning the daily pattern Feeding, water and welfare checks need doing at the right time. Cleaning and other jobs fit around these and the day’s activities. Follow the priorities you’re given, and ask before changing the order of your work. Building an efficient routine 1 Read the task and gather the correct equipment before you start. 2 Follow the demonstrated method and hygiene rules, including any rules about equipment used in different areas. 3 Organise yourself to avoid repeat trips for forgotten items. 4 Check the whole job before recording it or taking QC photos. 5 Return clean equipment and tell staff when you’re ready for your next job. Your speed targets Your first two shifts are for learning the methods and setting your starting pace. After that, we expect you to get around 20% faster at familiar tasks by your fifth shift, and 30–40% faster by your tenth shift — at the same quality. Shifts 1–2 Learning the methods Shift 5 Around 20% faster Shift 10 30–40% faster Bar = speed at familiar tasks. Quality stays the same the whole way. Compare similar tasks done to the same standard. Improvement should come from confidence, organisation and practice — not rushing. If you’re struggling to improve, ask staff to watch your method and help you work out what’s slowing you down. Welfare checks are never skipped to hit a target — see Section 04.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 12 Stuck or unsure? Ask. Ask promptly if you don’t understand an instruction, can’t find equipment, or are unsure about feeding, handling, cleaning products or an animal’s condition. A good question covers three things: 1 What I was asked The job you were given 2 What I’ve done How far you’ve got 3 What’s stopping me The problem or question L I K E T H I S “I’ve cleaned the drinker, but it’s still leaking. What should I do about the animals’ water, and who should I tell about the leak?” S T O P R U L E If carrying on could put you or an animal at risk, stop that part of the task and get a member of staff immediately. Don’t guess or improvise. If the first staff member you approach isn’t available, find another one. M I S T A K E S — O W N T H E M , L E A R N F R O M T H E M You will make mistakes — everyone does, and that’s fine. Tell staff straight away so we can put it right: hiding a mistake is the only real problem. What matters is not repeating it. If you get something wrong, ask to be shown again, make a note of what to do differently, and check the method next time. Repeating the same mistake isn’t fair or acceptable to the animals, your colleagues, or the staff giving their time to support your placement. Tell us if you need a demonstration, repeated instructions or extra support.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 13 04 Animal welfare You’re our eyes and ears. Find it, look at it, check it, report it, record it. The welfare rule A N I M A L W E L F A R E C O M E S F I R S T Every animal must be seen, checked and cared for. A tick is a promise that you actually carried out the check. A task is not finished just because you’ve visited an enclosure. It’s finished when the checks have been carried out properly, any concerns have been reported, and the results have been recorded accurately. Observation is part of every task Good animal care is preventative — and it starts with knowing your animals and keeping them calm and stress-free. The better you know what’s normal for each animal, the sooner you’ll spot when something isn’t. W H Y O B S E R V A T I O N matters Small changes in behaviour — like an animal keeping away from the rest of its group, or making unusual noises — are often the first sign of a health problem, before any obvious symptoms appear. So watch your animals every time you’re with them, until it becomes second nature. Whenever you feed, water or clean, check that all the expected animals are present, and look at their condition and behaviour. Report a missing animal immediately. S P O T T H E S I G N S — T E L L S T A F F I F Y O U S E E : Not eating Unusually quiet Difficulty moving An injury Abnormal droppings Missing animal
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 14 Your three welfare checks These checks happen at the morning feed and whenever you’re asked to do them. Here’s what each one really means. C H E C K 1 F E E D & W A T E R Feed and water completed W H A T Y O U P H Y S I C A L L Y D O ► Check the correct food and amount for the species and the individual animal. ► Notice leftover food or anything unusual about eating — don’t just throw it away without asking why it’s there. ► Give clean, fresh drinking water and check that bottles, bowls or drinkers actually work. ► Check that each animal can reach its food and water. ✗ Not this Just topping up bowls or bottles and walking away. Why it matters An animal could get the wrong food, have no usable water, or be showing an early sign of illness through reduced appetite. C H E C K 2 H E A D C O U N T Headcount correct W H A T Y O U P H Y S I C A L L Y D O ► Read how many animals should be in the enclosure. ► Find and actually SEE every animal. Look safely in shelters, tunnels and hiding places where needed. ► Count them and compare your count with the expected number. ► Can’t find one? Don’t guess. Tell the responsible member of staff immediately and record the concern. ✗ Not this Assuming an animal is hiding, counting yesterday’s number, or ticking because the door is closed. Why it matters Missing, trapped, escaped, injured or dead animals could otherwise go unnoticed. C H E C K 3 V I S U A L H E A L T H C H E C K Visual health check completed W H A T Y O U P H Y S I C A L L Y D O — F O R E A C H A N I M A L ► Look carefully at the individual animal, not just the enclosure. ► Check the eyes, face, body and coat for discharge, wounds, swelling, wetness, dirt, missing fur or anything unusual.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 15 ► Watch it move: is it walking, standing and moving normally? ► Watch its behaviour: is it alert and responding as usual, or unusually quiet, hunched, weak or distressed? ► Notice unusual eating, drinking or droppings where you can see them. ► If you can’t see an animal properly, or you’re unsure what you’ve seen, ask a trained staff member to help. R A B B I T S — F L Y S T R I K E Look for visible dirt, wetness or soiling around the rear. Follow the separate rabbit rear- end/flystrike inspection procedure — a visual check alone does NOT rule out flystrike. ✗ Not this A quick glance while feeding, checking only one animal, assuming movement means health, or diagnosing illness yourself. Why it matters Problems get spotted earlier so a trained person can assess the animal. A visual check is not a full hands-on examination. Planned checks and treatments You may assist with health checks and treatments under staff supervision. Follow the agreed instructions and record exactly what you checked, observed or helped with. O N L Y W H E N T O L D Give medication or move an animal only when specifically instructed and supervised by a responsible staff member. Not ACS trained? Use the paper welfare logs. Post the required photos and observations in your individual work experience WhatsApp group. Staff transfer relevant information to the Animal Health & Welfare group. The Animal Welfare Coordinator (AWC) team checks your paper logs before they go to the office for entry into ACS. ACS trained & authorised? Enter the required records directly into ACS.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 16 If an animal looks sick or injured TELL A MEMBER OF STAFF. IN PERSON. IMMEDIATELY. An urgent concern needs direct contact with staff — a photo or WhatsApp message alone is not enough. Tell them: Which animal Which one is affected Where it is Its location right now What you noticed The facts you saw Take a photo if requested and safe to do so. The responsible staff member assesses the concern and decides what happens next. If immediate veterinary treatment is needed, the office team contacts Swanspool, our vets. Staff arrange treatment and any separation from the animal’s group. Your job is to report promptly and help as directed. ► Don’t wait until the end of your shift, and don’t assume somebody else will report it. ► Follow it up in writing. After telling staff in person, post a written confirmation in your individual WhatsApp group. ► Follow instructions about isolation, treatment, monitoring or vet care. You assist only within your training and under supervision. ► Record what you saw, who you told, when you told them, and any action or handover. Monitoring and follow-up Animals needing continued monitoring may be added to the Mandatory Health Check List and the Animals Under Observation WhatsApp chat. Staff manage these records and the treatment programme. If you’re assigned a check, follow the instructions and report the result through your individual group. Write it like a pro Record facts clearly: the animal, date and time, what you observed, and who you told. ✗ Vague “Seems poorly.” ✓ Useful “Did not eat the food offered at 9.15am.”
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 17 What does a tick mean? Every record you make on a welfare log or in ACS means one of three things: Completed — normal I personally did the whole check and found no concern. Completed — concern reported I did the check, found something unusual and reported it. Not completed I couldn’t finish the check. I reported it and arranged an acknowledged handover. G O L D E N R U L E Never record a check you have not carried out — and never tick “normal” if an animal wasn’t seen or a concern was found. Honest reporting is required, even when something goes wrong. Staff update ACS as care continues and arrange a review if the animal doesn’t improve. A responsible staff member confirms when the issue is resolved and adds a closure photo and note to the Animal Health & Welfare group. “How can I get all my jobs done?” The welfare checks ARE your job. They aren’t extras to squeeze in after cleaning, feeding or other chores. We would rather you complete fewer cleaning tasks properly and ask for help than rush past an animal that needs care. Work steadily and efficiently — but never rush or skip a welfare check to finish a jobs list. A good team member notices problems, speaks up and asks for support before the end of the shift. R U N N I N G O U T O F T I M E ? Tell your supervisor early. Explain which tasks are left and ask them to change the priorities or arrange help. Never quietly miss a check, invent a result or leave a welfare concern unresolved. Training sign-off A competent staff member must show you how to do each check and watch you do it correctly before you sign checks off on your own. If you’re unsure, stop and ask. W E L F A R E C H E C K S — T R A I N I N G S I G N - O F F Learner name: _______________________________________________ Trainer name: _______________________________________________ Date demonstration confirmed: _________________________________
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 18 05 Useful things to know The practical stuff — breaks, kit and where things are. L U N C H B R E A K 12.00 – 13.00 Lunch is typically one hour, from 12.00 to 13.00. Where: the Static Caravan, which has seating and a small kitchen. If the static is in use: adjust your lunch break timings around any student groups on site, and use the Welfare Unit instead. P P E Provided for you You don’t need to bring your own PPE — we provide it. Where: day-to-day PPE items are in the drawer unit in the Guinea Pig House (GPH). W H A T T O W E A R Layers! Wear layers of clothing so you can warm up and cool down depending on the weather and the work you’re doing. Don’t wear just a T-shirt, jumper and thick coat. Keep warm, keep dry. Spare raincoats are available on request. F I R S T A I D E R S Who to find If you or someone else is hurt, find one of our first aiders: Daisy Hughes · Daniel Bairstow Charlotte Casey · Natasha Bairstow Primary First Aider: Natasha Bairstow (07902 927191) — report all accidents to her. C O M P A N Y W I - F I Get online Network (SSID): ARK_FARM_OFF1 Password: L0ll1p0p Spelled out: capital L · zero · small l · small l · one · p · zero · p
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 19 E M E R G E N C I E S If something goes wrong Fire or evacuation: leave calmly by the nearest exit and go to the assembly point at the top end of the staff car park, opposite the entrance gate. Wait there for a headcount. Animal loose: don’t chase it. Close gates if it’s safe, tell staff immediately and help as directed. Any injury — even a scratch, nip or bite: tell staff straight away and report it to our Primary First Aider, Natasha. It must be written in the accident book, which is locked in the office safe. First aid kit: outside the office. Only open it with a first aider present, or if you’ve been authorised to. H Y G I E N E Hands first Wash your hands after handling animals, feed, bedding or droppings — and always before eating or drinking. No eating, drinking, smoking or vaping in animal areas. Cover cuts with a waterproof plaster. If you’re pregnant or have a weakened immune system, tell Fraser or Tam privately so we can adjust your tasks. L A T E O R I L L ? Tell us early Call or message Fraser (07885 263208) or Tam (07837 915559) as early as possible — before your shift starts. Please don’t just not turn up: the day’s animal care is planned around who’s in.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 20 06 Before you go home Your end-of-shift checklist — plus a jargon buster. ☐ My paper forms are in the correct office tray or my ACS entries are done ☐ I’ve marked every clean I completed on the Cleaning Rota (S or D) ☐ My QC photos are posted in my individual WhatsApp group ☐ Equipment is clean and back where it belongs ☐ I’ve told staff about any unfinished work or unresolved problem ☐ All my welfare checks on the weekly welfare planner (GPH door) are done or escalated ☐ My daily welfare report is complete ☐ I’ve told staff about any outstanding welfare concern or check, so the next shift knows — and noted who accepted the handover ☐ Any verbal instructions or reports from today are confirmed in my WhatsApp chat ☐ I’ve washed my hands Jargon buster ACS Animal Care System — where we plan care and keep records AWC Animal Welfare Coordinator team — checks paper welfare logs Flystrike Maggots in soiled fur, mostly rabbits — serious, report straight away GPH Guinea Pig House — where the day-to-day PPE drawer unit is Jobs board Where staff add extra jobs as they come up QC photos Quality control photos that show the standard of your work S / D S = Skip Clean (livestock) or Spot Clean (small animals); D = Deep Clean SAC Small Animal Cabin — heated space for small animals needing extra warmth Static Caravan Lunch spot with seating and a small kitchen Swanspool Our vets — contacted by the office team Welfare planner Weekly plan of welfare checks, on the GPH door Welfare Unit Where to take lunch when the static is in use
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 21 Quick answers Something’s just happened and you’re not sure what to do? Start here. The arrow shows where to find more detail. W H A T D O I D O I F … …I finish my job early? Check it, tidy up, and tell staff you’re ready for the next one. → Section 03 …I can’t find my supervisor? Find another member of staff. Don’t wait around or guess. → Section 03 …I’m given two jobs that clash? Ask a member of staff which comes first. → Section 02 …someone gives me a verbal instruction? Ask them to put it in your WhatsApp chat too. → Section 02 …an animal is missing, sick or injured? Tell staff in person, straight away. → Section 04 …I get scratched, nipped or bitten? Tell staff and Natasha straight away so it goes in the accident book. → Section 05 …I break or lose something? Tell staff straight away. Accidents happen — hiding them is the only real problem. …I’m asked to do something I haven’t been shown, or don’t feel safe doing? Say so and ask to be shown. You’ll never be in trouble for asking. → Stop rule, Section 03 …a visitor asks me something I don’t know? “Good question — let me find someone who knows,” then fetch a member of staff. …I feel unwell during my shift? Tell your supervisor. Don’t just leave. …I see another student doing something unsafe? Tell a member of staff. W H E N S H O U L D I … …take my lunch? 12.00–13.00, adjusted around any student groups on site. → Section 05 …post my QC photos? As soon as each job is done — not at the end of the day. → Section 02 …fill in my records? Before you leave, every shift. → Section 06 Still not sure? Stop and ask. It’s always the right answer.
A R K F A R M · W O R K E X P E R I E N C E S T U D E N T P A C K Autumn 2026 · Page 22 Induction sign-off Please sign once you’ve read this pack and completed your practical induction. We keep a copy as part of our records. B Y S I G N I N G , I C O N F I R M T H A T I … have read this pack and had the chance to ask questions, have completed my practical induction, including safety and hygiene, understand the rules on phones, photos and safeguarding, know who to ask if I’m unsure — and that I must stop and ask rather than guess. S T U D E N T Name: ____________________________________________ Signature: ________________________________________ Date: _____________________________________________ A R K F A R M S T A F F M E M B E R Name: ____________________________________________ Signature: ________________________________________ Date: _____________________________________________ L I S T E N · O B S E R V E · A S K · L E A R N Welcome aboard. The animals are glad you’re here.