Barn Assistant at Easterseals Massachusetts in Canton, MA

Barn Assistant

Temporary, Part Time up to 25 hours per week

Easterseals is currently seeking a part time Barn Assistant responsible for feeding and caring for various animals, assisting with barn programs/activities, and assisting students with significant disabilities to fully participate at their individual levels in barn and animal care programs.

General Job Responsibilities

• Assist in the educational and social development of students by leading a variety of individual and group barn activities according to student’s functional level under the direction of the Barn Manager.
• Follow the guidelines established for the care, exercising, grooming, and maintenance of the horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, and other animals
• Clean stalls/crates/cages, add shavings, clean water and feed buckets, sweep aisle, and dump muck buckets.
• Clean and maintain tack. Tack and untack horses.
• Monitor volunteers and students within the barn environments
• Supports students with emotional or behavior concerns and assists them in developing appropriate social skills while participating in barn activities.
• Confers with Riding Instructors on a regular basis for the purpose of assisting in evaluating students’ progress

Qualifications

• Horse handling experience required including, but not limited to, tacking/untacking, leading, and safely working around horses.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be comfortable in barn setting, supporting horseback riding & small animal activities.
• Experience with children and young adults with various levels of behavioral, physical and learning disabilities preferred.
• Knowledge of the basic principles and techniques of therapeutic equine recreation: the types of equipment used, safety practices and procedures, a variety of individual and group barn activities, care/grooming/maintenance of a variety of animals.

Easterseals Massachusetts conducts extensive background checks and professional references for all potential employees. If selected for hire, candidates must be able to provide a recent physical indicating the ability to perform the essential functions of the job either with or without accommodations, proof of negative TB, and required immunizations including Covid-19, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, and Hepatitis B.

Why join Easterseals Massachusetts?

ESMA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play. Join our team to make an immediate and powerful impact in the lives of the clients we serve!

What will you bring to ESMA?

• A passion for improving the lives of the clients we serve.
• Independent time management and critical thinking skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate flexibility in order to adjust to changes in organizational operations and/or job responsibilities.
• Ability to independently seek out support and guidance from a supervisor.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.

At Easterseals MA, we champion diversity, inclusion, and equity to foster an environment where every employee feels valued and respected. We welcome a broad spectrum of individuals. We celebrate unique perspectives and strive to dismantle barriers that hinder individuals from reaching their full potential.

We actively engage with our staff, volunteers, partners, and the broader community to promote understanding, empathy, and collaboration. Collectively, we are changing the way the world defines and views disability, making profound and positive differences in people’s lives every day. By beginning with our diverse workforce, we demonstrate our commitment throughout the commonwealth.

Together, we can create a workplace where everyone thrives by ensuring all feel welcome and valued.

Easterseals Massachusetts is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. We base all employment decisions on each individual’s capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetics, or any other legally protected characteristic.