Outdoor Garden Instructor

To assist the Food for Thought Co-ordinator in the running of the Food for Thought Programme. Working on a daily basis, providing technical horticultural supervision to ensure that the programme runs effectively and efficiently, the post holder will need to have experience of allotment style organic gardening and planning and developing crop rotations. Additionally, experience of working with people with learning disabilities, learning difficulties and those living with poor mental health is desirable.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To keep the Food for Thought Co-ordinator regularly informed of issues relating to the growing spaces, crop growing, disease control as well as day to day running of the gardens.
• To support the participants to engage in growing and report progress to the Food for Thought Co-ordinator.
• To participate in all relevant meetings and training sessions, including an annual appraisal with the Food for Thought Co-ordinator.
• To help the Food for Thought Co-ordinator by supporting and encouraging any garden volunteers and/or trainees working on the gardens.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• To take responsibility for all aspects of food growing on the Food for Thought Programme on a day to day basis and to provide technical information and instruction to staff and participants including:
• Working with the garden team to determine a list of garden tasks to be done on a daily basis (taking into account the season, weather conditions and skill set of participants working on the gardens).
• Supporting participants and volunteers and providing technical supervision.
• To maintain high levels of engagement to ensure that all participants are kept safe, feel valued and gain the most from their experience.

Communication and Liaison:

• To assist the Food for Thought Co-ordinator in taking responsibility for all aspects of the Food for Thought Programme on a day-to-day basis, including transporting participants to and from site.
• To plan a growing schedule that fully utilises the growing season and provides regular work throughout the year (including tasks to be done during wet weather); ensuring that there is a regular flow of produce into the farm shop.
• To maintain and develop the horticultural areas including weeding, watering, soil preparation and soil enrichment.
• To take responsibility for seed sowing, plant propagation and food production.
• To take responsibility for natural compost production and organic methods for pest and disease control.
• To take responsibility for checking, on a regular basis, that all horticultural tools and equipment are in safe working order.

Planning and Organising Resources:

• To take responsibility for the daily cleanliness and tidiness of the horticultural areas, farm buildings and the surrounding areas, reporting any damages or misuses to the Site and Facilities Manager.
• To help with the preparation of other horticulture resources which link to gardening sessions.
• To assist in the monitoring, evaluating and reviewing of the programme by:
• Seeing that daily records are kept and collated including relevant records of Health and Safety, for example, risk assessment documents.
• Helping the garden Lead Instructor with monitoring information on participants.

To help participants to develop culinary skills and assist them in the production of jams, pickles, chutneys etc., which can be sold in our farm shop. To take shared responsibility for the security and care of the site to ensure it remains a safe, attractive site for people to visit. To provide the Food for Thought Co-ordinator with administrative support and undertake any other duties as required from time to time. To supervise volunteers and programme participants working on the horticultural areas.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensuring that all responsibilities are met in accordance with company procedures and the Staff Handbook.
• Observe all site Health and Safety requirements.
• Understanding the need for confidentiality when dealing with both internal and external information.
• Flexibility to work outside or in excess of standard hours when necessary to achieve objectives.
• Promote good public relations to enhance the Centre’s reputation in the wider community.
• Make full use of the established channels of communication.
• Uphold the care of Lambourne End property and equipment.
• Continue the development of professional competence.
• Facilitate students achieving realistic targets, qualifications and soft outcomes.