Grounds Person Grade 3 (2 Posts)

Responsible to: Team Supervisor or other supervising officer

Job Purpose

The person appointed shall work as a member of the Grounds Maintenance Service, and be responsible for carrying out grounds duties under the direction of the Team Supervisor or other supervising officer.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Setting out, marking and maintenance of all playing fields, sports and amenity areas.
• Preparation, planting and maintenance of tree and shrub areas, including any associated specialist work such as pruning and minor tree surgery.
• Preparation, seeding, turfing and maintenance of grass areas including the upgrading of playing facilities.
• Constructional labouring duties associated with the post.
• Carry out minor works including interpretation of plans, hard and soft landscaping, site preparation and construction.
• To accept responsibility for the direction of the work of trainees and/or other employees assigned to them.
• Use and routine maintenance of all powered plant, tractor mounted equipment and machinery necessary for the job.
• Opening, closing and locking gates, where appropriate.
• Driving and routine maintenance of any vehicle necessary for the transportation of goods, equipment and personnel.

General Conditions

All duties must be carried out to comply with:

• The Health and Safety at Work (N1) Order 1978, Agreed Codes of Practice; including the COSHH regulations and Safe Working Practices manuals, Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements.
• Any other statutory regulations which may apply.

All duties will be carried out in the working conditions normally inherent in the particular job, including the agreed flexible working hours arrangement. All necessary paperwork must be completed. Duties will be carried out for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided such duties are within the competency of the employee.

Training

Employees will accept any training to facilitate the undertaking of duties for jobs up to and including their own grade. Employees will accept training for jobs graded at higher levels than their own. Payment will only be made where there is a requirement by the authority for the higher level duties to be carried out, in adherence to EA guidelines. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.

Summary of terms and conditions

To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
2. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Hold an NVQ Level 1 in Horticulture, IOG National Certificate or an equivalent or higher level qualification relevant to amenity horticulture and have one year’s relevant experience of working in a grounds maintenance setting OR have two years’ relevant experience of working in a grounds maintenance setting.
• Demonstrable awareness/knowledge of Health and Safety requirements relevant to amenity horticulture and the safe use of machinery/equipment.
• Hold a full, current valid driving licence.

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

• Evidence of knowledge of: The requirements of a Groundsperson, and, The machinery/equipment used for grounds maintenance.

Skills/Abilities

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of:

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Effective team working skills.
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Planning and organisational skills.

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Hold Pesticide Application Certificates PA1, PA2 and PA6.

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that YOU WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.

Further information can be accessed on www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/accessni-criminal-record-checks or www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/about-accessni.