Care for mothers and young animals in a Home Office designated establishment

This standard covers the care of mothers and young animals in a Home Office designated establishment.

When working with research animals recognise humanity’s obligation to them and your responsibility for ensuring their proper care and treatment at all times.

You must be able to promote the health and welfare of the animals by monitoring the appearance, posture, movement and behaviour of the mother and young, and taking the appropriate action.

This standard is for animal technologists in Home Office designated establishments.

It is essential that you work strictly within the limits of the relevant project licence.

1. confirm that your work is carried out in accordance with the approved codes of practice and the organisation’s procedures and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
3. assess the risks to health and safety before starting and throughout the activity
4. comply with legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies relating to the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment
5. use safe practices and the correct clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the activity
6. maintain the required levels of hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
7. maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work
8. prepare and maintain accommodation for mothers and young animals in accordance with instructions
9. provide the animals with appropriate care in accordance with their requirements and instructions
10. confirm that the animals have access to food and water
11. maintain the required environmental conditions
12. monitor the health and condition of the animals, and report any problems in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
13. carry out weaning and separation where required
14. prepare and maintain accommodation for young animals after separation
15. use safe and humane animal handling and restraint methods such that the animal is not distressed or caused harm
16. safely and humanely handle and sex neonatal animals where required and safe to do so
17. carry out the segregation of males and females in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
18. deal with waste from the activity safely and correctly in accordance with the relevant legislation and the organisation’s procedures
19. keep accurate and up-to-date records as required by the relevant legislation and the organisation
20. conduct all activities within the provisions of the project licence

1. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
2. your responsibilities for the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment under the relevant animal welfare legislation and Home Office codes of practice
3. the reasons for using animals in scientific research and humanity’s responsibilities to them
4. the importance and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out activities in a Home Office designated establishment
5. the importance of maintaining the appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and the procedures for this
6. the methods of caring for mothers and young animals in a Home Office designated establishment
7. the accommodation, food and water and environmental conditions required for the mothers and young animals you work with
8. the reasons for, and methods of, monitoring mothers and young animals
9. the factors which affect the health and condition of the animals
10. how to recognise the signs of good and poor health in the animals and the procedure for reporting concerns
11. the age at which weaning and separation from the mother should take place, where required
12. the potential problems likely to be encountered prior to, during and after weaning and separation, and the procedure for reporting concerns
13. the methods of caring for animals post-weaning
14. safe and humane methods of animal handling and restraint
15. safe and humane methods of handling and sexing neonatal animals and when this is not advisable
16. at what age it is necessary to segregate males from females in the animals being cared for and how this should be done
17. the purpose of cross-fostering and why it may be necessary
18. the legal and organisational requirements for the handling, storage and disposal of waste produced by the activity
19. the records that need to be kept and the importance of completing them in accordance with the relevant legislation and the organisation’s requirements
20. the provisions of the project licence