Policy 11.2 — Eddie's Doggy Daycare, Paddock Farm, Harlow, Essex CM17 9HP

Staff Training Policy

Staff Training Policy

1. Policy Statement

Eddie's Doggy Daycare is committed to investing in its people. We believe that a well-trained team is the foundation of excellent animal welfare, customer satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. All training is designed to meet or exceed the standards expected by our licensing authority under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

2. Induction Training

All new staff members will be given a starter pack and employee handbook when they begin employment. The induction programme is structured around our Staff Training Checklist (EDDC-POL-003) and includes:

• Administrative onboarding: Completion of new starter paperwork, bank details, login credentials for Path HR and ProPet systems
• Policy review: Reading and confirming understanding of all operational policies contained in Section 11 of this manual
• Facility orientation: Full tour of the site including fire safety equipment, emergency exits, first aid supplies, and cleaning stations
• Software training: ProPet system (checking in dogs, kennel views, star ratings, incident report logging)
• Manual handling: Completion of manual handling awareness course before commencing physical duties

Each area of training must be signed off by both the trainee and a supervising manager. No staff member may work unsupervised until all induction elements have been completed and signed off.

3. Practical Skills Training

Following induction, all staff complete a structured practical training programme covering:

• Opening and closing procedures
• Cleaning standards and disinfection protocols
• Van cleaning and vehicle management
• Area management (barns, indoor areas, outdoor spaces)
• Feeding routines and lunch monitoring
• Whiteboard and area chart management
• Welfare checklist completion
• Toy inspections and enrichment delivery

4. External Training & Professional Development

Our staff are encouraged to further their skills by taking part in recognised external courses. Eddie's Doggy Daycare will pay for employees to complete the following, subject to their length of employment:

• OFQUAL-regulated qualifications in animal care and management (up to Level 3)
• Canine First Aid certification (via Animal Courses Direct or equivalent)
• Fire Safety Awareness and Fire Warden training (via High Speed Training or equivalent)
• Manual Handling and Health & Safety courses as required

Employees who leave within 6 months of completing a company-funded course may be required to reimburse a pro-rata portion of the training costs, as specified in their employment contract.

5. Ongoing & Continuous Professional Development

Eddie's has a close working relationship with Dog Trainer & Behaviourist Heath Ross (HPDT). Our employees have studied his online training material — including Rapid Recall, Outstanding Obedience, Perfect Puppy, and Harmonious Hellos — to strengthen their understanding of canine behaviour and positive reinforcement techniques.

Health & Safety Refreshers: All staff complete annual refresher training across 13 core H&S topics (see Section 3 and the H&S Training Guides suite). Completion is tracked via the Staff Training Record and Manager Training Dashboard.

6. Annual Appraisals

Each staff member participates in an annual appraisal meeting with management. The appraisal covers:

• Review of performance against role expectations
• Planned continued professional development and career goals
• Recognition of knowledge gaps and training needs
• Discussion of any concerns (welfare, conduct, or operational)
• Cases of misconduct (staff or dogs) requiring documentation
• Options for progression within the organisation

Appraisal outcomes are documented and retained in the employee's personnel folder. Any agreed training actions are added to the Staff Training Record with target completion dates.

7. Training Records

All training — induction, practical, external courses, refreshers, and presentations — is recorded on the Staff Training Record Form. Managers maintain oversight via the Manager Training Dashboard, which tracks completion rates and identifies overdue items.

8. Review

This policy is reviewed annually or following any significant incident, change in legislation, or operational update. All staff will be notified of any changes and required to confirm they have read and understood the updated policy.