School Farm Technician in Maidstone

To carry out the professional duties of a technician as circumstances may require and in accordance with the school's policies under the direction of the Head Teacher.

Responsibilities

• Adhering to the highest industry standards of animal husbandry and welfare and implementing changes to coincide with this.
• Working responsibly, safely, and efficiently around animals, within a team or independently.
• Observing the behaviour, health and security of animals and reporting any problems to the Line Manager.
• Supporting and implementing animal enrichment programs on a regular basis.
• Organising the provision and availability of equipment, animals and facilities required for learning sessions.
• Exhibiting outstanding communication and demonstration skills to provide professional, fun and interactive sessions to students and supporting staff in offering sessions to the public in providing a service to the wider community.
• Carrying out animal husbandry as needed, including over weekends and holidays, whenever required as instructed by the Line Manager.
• Assisting the Head of Land-Based Studies with the developments of the practical provision in matters of estates, animal welfare, animal stocking and delivering services to the local community.
• Providing the day-to-day routine husbandry of the school animal stock, which includes cleaning out of accommodation and land-based areas, provision of feeding and providing water, bedding, and daily health checks.
• Maintaining any animal-related records.
• Taking stock, including ordering of feeds and other resources.
• Administering treatments to animals and carrying out preventative care methods as and when appropriate.
• Ensuring excellent standards of sanitation, hygiene and cleanliness in all animal areas and associated storage and service areas.
• Disposing of and maintaining all waste from the animal areas in a correct manner.
• Exercising, training, and handling of animal stock as appropriate and required.
• Ensuring that all requirements and regulations relating to health and safety are always adhered to, including by learners and other staff members.
• Providing technical assistance and advice as required when carrying out practical sessions.
• Recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers for carrying out animal husbandry and ensuring animal welfare.
• Ensuring that all policies, requirements and regulations relating to health and safety and animal welfare are always adhered to.
• Assisting in the designing and running of interactive education sessions with schools and groups during weekdays.
• Completing detailed records relating to routine animal care, reporting any abnormalities or problems to the Line Manager as appropriate.
• Being flexible in supporting or carrying out animal operations.
• Any other reasonable duties of a similar nature as required by the Line Manager.
• Promoting and implementing all school policies, particularly those which refer to health safety, equality of opportunity and safeguarding young people.
• Developing effective working relationships internally and with external partners.
• Undertaking other duties as may reasonably be required in the interests of the efficient functioning of the school.

Qualifications and Experience (Educational Desirable and Vocational)

• Level 2 qualification in English and Maths or a willingness to achieve within a specified period.
• Level 3 qualification in Agriculture or Animal Management.
• HND or Higher Education Degree in Animal Management, Animal Science, Zoology or similar.
• Proven practical experience within a range of animal collections.
• Experience of working with the public, demonstrating good principles of customer care.
• Experience of working with learners in an educational environment.
• Experience working with livestock within the agricultural industry.
• Experience with sheep production cycles and lambing.

Skills (Competencies and Aptitudes)

• Be able to work independently, as well as making a positive contribution to a team.
• Sound administrative skills ideally including Animal Shelter Management and Microsoft Excel.
• The ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Understanding of animal movement licences.
• To follow rotas and working routines carefully and conscientiously.
• Carry out a range of animal husbandry tasks confidently including health checking and giving medication.
• Be able to demonstrate initiative and a pro-active approach to completing tasks.
• Be reliable, have good timekeeping and attendance record and able to demonstrate supervisory skills and professionalism to the team and learners.

Other factors / additional requirements

• An understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to creating a safe learning environment.
• An understanding of and commitment to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults.
• Motivation to work with children/young people.
• Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people/vulnerable adults.
• Clean Driving License.
• Trailer licence (Desirable).
• Experience in estate maintenance tasks within Land-Based (Desirable).

Benefits

• Working within an idyllic rural setting.
• Headteacher & SLT open door policy.
• Welcoming environment.
• SLT Staff Wellbeing Champion.
• Competitive Salary.
• Staff Priority in school admissions.
• CPD Prioritised through Appraisal.
• Access to school car.
• Reduced Directed Time (50 hours).
• Electric Car Chargers.
• Staff Loyalty days.
• Free Parking.
• Paid leave for key life events.
• Free Duty Meals.
• Schools UK Health Insurance.
• Free Tea and Coffee.
• Wellbeing weeks - 3.30pm closure.
• Sick Pay.
• Comprehensive Induction.
• Pension Contributions.
• Personalised CPD Support Line.
• Aspirational Leadership Support.
• Occupational Health Support.
• Funded NPQ's/Higher Level training.
• Staff Social Events.
• Access to Teacher Training.
• Staff wellbeing & workload group.
• Small Class Sizes.
• Kent Rewards.

About the School

Hadlow Rural Community School (HRCS) opened in September 2013 and offers a unique educational opportunity to students across the Weald of Kent; located within an idyllic 20-acre rural campus, situated in the historic village of Hadlow. HRCS is a popular, oversubscribed School with a current roll of just under 400 students. The School relocated to a £7 million new build in 2016 and has developed a strong reputation both locally and beyond for enabling its young people to excel and flourish; providing an exciting, vibrant and dynamic experience in academic and land-based vocational studies. The school is heavily oversubscribed and has, for the last four years, achieved one of the highest percentages of preferences for Year 7 places, for non-selective schools, across Kent. The success and popularity of the school has been based on our ethos of providing an educational experience suited to our students and the local community and, whilst academic progress is of the highest importance to us, this is equally matched by our promotion of vocational and enrichment opportunities, ensuring the development of every child as a whole. Positive, productive, and supportive relationships with all stakeholders is a key element of the school and this is further underpinned by maintaining small class sizes of 25-26 students across the school, with many Key Stage 4 option subjects averaging class sizes of 15 students. High expectations are promoted across every aspect of the school and all members of HRCS are expected to be kind, caring and considerate, showing honesty and integrity and applying 100% effort in all their endeavours, supporting our school motto of 'Effort Achieves'. Hadlow Rural Community School is a unique school, combining a traditionally academic curriculum with a challenging Land-based specialism. As the only specialised Land-based school in the country, our students have the opportunity to not only study for the highest academic grades but also to participate in a wide variety of life-enhancing and enriching experiences, working in a beautiful outdoor environment in areas such as agriculture, horticulture, animal care and countryside management. Due to maternity leave we are now looking for a dynamic, innovative and exceptional school farm technician who has the ambition and expertise to play a key part in the continuing success of the School. This is an exciting post for an excellent practitioner and offers an outstanding opportunity for career progression (70%+ of leadership positions appointed internally in the last 5 years). The role provides the perfect opportunity for a candidate wishing to begin their career within a small and supportive environment or, for more experienced colleagues, it will provide the opportunity to take on more responsibilities supporting any potential aspirations for leadership in the future. If you feel that you are a highly motivated, inspirational technician who has the expertise and experience to play a vital part in the future of our School then we would very much like to hear from you.