As a Regional Assessor Manager for RSPCA Assured, my role includes managing a team of eight field assessors. Our region extends from Wales and North Lincolnshire up to the Scottish borders. Key to my role is supporting the team in performing their annual farm visits, ensuring that member farms adhere to our high animal welfare standards and don't go longer than fourteen months without an assessment. As a manager, I'm responsible for team training, recruitment, health and safety, as well as annual reviews. Part of my role also involves observing assessors' performances and reporting to our certification body, SCI.
I joined the RSPCA Assured on 16th May 2022, but my journey with the RSPCA began way back in 1998. I started with spot checks on RSPCA Assured farms, and now, after 24 years with the organisation, I’m proud to support our mission to improve animal welfare.
There's no greater joy than knowing we're making a real difference in the lives of animals. By delivering robust assessments and supporting my team, we ensure animals on our member farms are raised to high welfare standards. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing animals thriving on the farms we visit.
Though my career began in dairy farming, my experience with the RSPCA has allowed me to gain extensive knowledge across multiple species. Today, as a Regional Assessor Manager, I primarily oversee the welfare of pigs and laying hens, though I retain a soft spot for dairy cows!
In my view, RSPCA Assured offers the most robust farm assurance scheme in the UK. Our qualified and dedicated assessors ensure consumers buying RSPCA Assured products can trust the animal welfare standards upheld by our farms.
Aspiring assessors should have a solid understanding of agriculture, especially concerning the welfare challenges of their chosen species. It's essential to stay curious, and always try to increase your knowledge. Faith in your abilities, excellent communication skills, and keen attention to detail are also crucial for delivering thorough and consistent assessments.
Away from work, I enjoy walking, visiting the gym, and indulging my foodie tendencies – I make an excellent ragu sauce!
At home, our family includes Dinkley, a Maine Coon cat we found abandoned 12 years ago. He's been a treasured part of our family ever since.