K9 Security Dog Handler – London
Doorman Security Services Ltd
Location: Various sites across London
Job Type: Employment / Self-Employed Subcontractor
Hours: Regular and long-term assignments, including day and night shifts
Pay: Competitive hourly rates depending on site, experience, qualifications and employment status
About the Role
Doorman Security Services Ltd is expanding its K9 division and is currently recruiting professional General Purpose K9 Security Dog Handlers for regular and long-term assignments across various locations in London.
We are looking for reliable, experienced and professional handlers who maintain high standards of security, operational discipline, documentation and canine welfare.
Both employed positions and self-employed subcontractor opportunities are available depending on the individual contract and location.
Rates vary according to the site, operational requirements, qualifications and professional experience.
What We Offer
- Regular and long-term K9 security assignments
- Various locations across London
- Employed and self-employed opportunities
- Competitive site-specific rates
- Reliable and timely payment
- Career progression opportunities
- Further professional and K9 training
- Opportunities to progress into Senior K9 Handler, Team Leader and Supervisor roles
- Professional operational and management support
- A growing and dynamic K9 security team
- Opportunities to work across a variety of professional security environments
Essential Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Valid SIA Door Supervisor Licence
- NASDU Level 2 General Purpose Security Dog Handler qualification, or recognised equivalent acceptable to Doorman Security Services
- Current and valid Handler & Dog Team Certificate for the dog intended for deployment
- Evidence of ongoing continuation training and competency
- Current Emergency First Aid at Work qualification or higher
- Appropriate Canine First Aid qualification or recognised training
- Right to Work in the United Kingdom
- Professional security experience
- Good written and verbal English
- Ability to produce accurate incident, patrol and welfare reports
- Professional appearance and conduct
- Full compliance with Doorman Security Services operational and K9 welfare standards
A Security Guard licence alone does not meet our minimum recruitment standard for these K9 positions.
Mandatory BS 7858 Screening & Vetting
Successful completion of our screening and vetting process is a mandatory condition of any engagement with Doorman Security Services Ltd.
This applies equally to:
- Employees
- Self-employed K9 handlers
- Self-employed subcontractors
All applicants must successfully complete screening and vetting in accordance with BS 7858:2019 – Screening of Individuals Working in a Secure Environment.
Applicants must be willing and able to provide all documentation required to verify:
- Identity
- Right to Work
- Address history
- Employment and activity history
- References
- Qualifications and licences
- Any additional information required to satisfactorily complete the screening process
Criminal Record Check
All applicants must provide a satisfactory Basic DBS Certificate or acceptable current digital DBS result issued within the previous three months as part of our pre-engagement compliance process.
Any relevant unspent convictions or conditional cautions must be declared where legally required.
Holding a valid SIA licence does not remove the requirement to complete Doorman Security Services' own screening, vetting and criminal-record verification process.
No applicant will be deployed or enter into a final employment or subcontractor arrangement until all required screening and compliance checks have been satisfactorily completed.
K9 Documentation
The handler and operational dog must form a properly trained and currently certified working team.
Applicants must be able to provide current documentation including:
- Handler qualification
- Current Handler & Dog Team Certificate
- Dog identification and microchip details
- Up-to-date vaccination certificate and vaccination history
- Relevant veterinary and health documentation
- Evidence that the dog is fit for operational deployment
- Training records
- Continuation-training records
- Competency records
- Appropriate canine welfare documentation
The dog proposed for deployment may also be subject to a practical competency assessment.
Dog Welfare
Handlers must maintain high standards of animal welfare at all times.
This includes appropriate arrangements for:
- Hydration
- Feeding
- Exercise
- Rest periods
- Working duration
- Weather and temperature conditions
- Transportation
- Pre- and post-deployment welfare checks
- Injuries or illness
- Veterinary treatment where required
Any concern affecting the dog's health, welfare or fitness for duty must be reported immediately.
Vehicle & K9 Transportation
Applicants deploying their own dog must have access to a reliable vehicle suitable for the professional and safe transportation of a working security dog.
Transport arrangements must include, where appropriate:
- Secure purpose-designed dog cage or compartment
- Adequate ventilation
- Appropriate temperature management and monitoring
- Safe access and exit
- Clean and hygienic transport conditions
- Drinking water
- Suitable welfare equipment
- Emergency arrangements in the event of breakdown or excessive temperature
Transportation arrangements must follow recognised UK industry good practice and the principles of BS 8517-1 – Security Dogs: Code of Practice for the Use of General Purpose Security Dogs.
Relevant driving, MOT, vehicle and insurance documentation must be current.
Uniform & Equipment
Handlers must arrive professionally presented, fully equipped and operationally ready.
Required equipment may include:
- Professional security uniform
- Suitable security footwear
- Weatherproof clothing
- High-visibility PPE where required
- Professional working-dog lead
- Suitable collar and/or harness
- Muzzle where required
- Fresh water and drinking bowl
- Canine first-aid equipment
- Human first-aid equipment
- Waste-management equipment
- Torch
- Fully charged mobile telephone
- Any additional equipment specified within the Assignment Instructions or site risk assessment
Additional Requirements for Self-Employed Subcontractors
Applicants wishing to work on a self-employed subcontractor basis must operate as genuine independent contractors and must be able to provide appropriate business documentation, including:
- UTR
- Evidence of self-employed status
- Appropriate Public Liability Insurance
- Insurance specifically covering professional security dog handling activities
- Appropriate vehicle and business-use insurance
- Bank and invoicing details
- Relevant Health & Safety and operational documentation
Self-employed handlers must also maintain appropriate professional procedures and records relating to areas such as:
- Risk assessment
- Safe working
- K9 welfare
- Incident reporting
- Emergency arrangements
- Lone working where applicable
- Vehicle and equipment checks
- Training and continuation training
Additional insurance limits or client-specific documentation may be required for particular contracts.
Employed Positions
Suitable K9 handlers may also be recruited directly as employees of Doorman Security Services Ltd.
For employed positions:
- PAYE arrangements will apply
- Company insurance arrangements will apply to assigned duties
- Personal UTR and contractor Public Liability Insurance will not normally be required
- All screening, SIA, NASDU, K9, welfare and competency requirements still apply
- Employees must comply with company policies, Assignment Instructions, risk assessments and operational procedures
- Additional site-specific training may be provided
Who We Are Looking For
We are particularly interested in handlers who are looking for a stable, professional and long-term working relationship rather than occasional ad-hoc shifts.
Successful applicants should be:
- Reliable and punctual
- Professional and presentable
- Experienced in working with operational security dogs
- Calm and confident under pressure
- Comfortable working independently
- Able to work effectively as part of a security team
- Professional when dealing with clients and members of the public
- Committed to excellent canine welfare
- Capable of maintaining accurate records
- Flexible regarding London locations and shift patterns
- Willing to undertake further training where required
Experience within corporate security, residential developments, construction, hotels, private estates, events or high-value premises would be advantageous.
Career Development
As our K9 division continues to grow, suitable handlers may have opportunities to progress into:
- Senior K9 Handler roles
- K9 Team Leader positions
- K9 Supervisor roles
- Site supervisory positions
- Training and mentoring roles
- Specialist K9 assignments
Further professional development and training opportunities may also be available.
How to Apply
Please apply with an up-to-date CV and provide brief details of:
- Your current SIA Door Supervisor Licence
- NASDU qualification
- Current Handler & Dog Team certification
- Dog breed and age
- Years of professional K9 experience
- Previous security experience
- Your location
- London areas you can cover
- Driving licence and K9 vehicle availability
- Whether you are interested in employment, self-employed subcontractor assignments, or both
- Your general availability
Please do not send sensitive personal documentation with your initial Indeed application.
Full compliance documentation will be requested from shortlisted candidates as part of our formal onboarding and screening process.
Applications will only proceed to deployment once all required screening, vetting, criminal-record checks, qualifications, licences, K9 documentation, insurance where applicable, and competency requirements have been satisfactorily verified.
Doorman Security Services Ltd
Professional Security. Professional Standards. Professional K9 Operations.
Pay: £16.00-£19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you have a valid UTR for self-employed work?
- Do you hold K9 Public Liability Insurance?
- Do you have business-use vehicle insurance?
- Will you complete BS 7858 screening and vetting?
Licence/Certification:
- SIA Door Supervisor Licence? (preferred)
- Do you hold NASDU Level 2 GP Dog Handler certification? (preferred)
- Do you hold a valid Handler & Dog Team certificate? (preferred)
- Do you hold a valid First Aid certificate? (preferred)
- Will you complete a K9 competency assessment? (preferred)
- Canine First Aid certificate? (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (preferred)
Location:
- London, Greater London (preferred)
Work Location: In person
