Specialist Production Instructor in Wotton-under-Edge

Responsibilities

• Carry out a full range of gardening activities, giving instruction to prisoners on all gardening duties including use of machinery.
• Carry out soft landscaping – turf laying and hard landscaping – laying patio stones.
• Maintain the establishment’s grounds and conservation areas, including lawns, ponds, water features, external grounds and woodland.
• Deliver all actions in the establishment’s biodiversity action plan, develop the conservation area and monitor flora and fauna work within the establishment.
• Work inside and outside the establishment grounds, cutting, mowing and maintaining areas in accordance with accepted practice.
• Submit surveys for Land Based Activities specific to site.
• Carry out preventive pest control measures across the area of responsibility.
• Act on wildlife and conservation group recommendations and implement these within the establishment’s grounds.
• Undertake small project work as advised or requested, including soft and hard landscape development and erection of horticultural support structures where warranted.
• Participate in the selection process of prisoners for the workshop/area of work.
• Induct prisoners to the workshop/area of work and train them in aspects such as Health and Safety, Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH), machinery and tools usage.
• Provide support for prisoners where required; tailor learning and training requirements to individual needs.
• Set work schedules, manage targets and quality standards, and maintain delivery of contractual arrangements.
• Assess and evaluate prisoners’ skills up to national qualification standards.
• Supervise and maintain discipline of prisoners within the workshop/area of work, responsible for performance, motivation, discipline, appraisal and development of prisoners.
• Maintain regular communications via radio net in accordance with Local Security Strategy (LSS).
• Open and complete Assessment Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) forms, Violence Reduction Incident Reports (VRIR) and Security Information Reports (SIRs) when required and contribute to Incentive Earned Privileges (IEP) reports.
• Conduct a metal detector scan or rough‑down search of prisoners attending and leaving their own workshops.
• Provide quality assurance against product specification.
• Log attendance and approve prisoner hours worked and wages, including recording piece work where appropriate.
• Carry out fabric and tool checks of workshops and maintain security of areas, logging any tool/equipment faults and undertake planned maintenance programme on machinery.
• Contribute to prisoner reports including parole and sentence planning.
• Complete regime monitoring information and update prisoner training records.
• Contribute to Health and Safety risk assessments relating to the workshop/work area and specialist areas.
• Request materials and estimate usage to meet work targets.
• Initiate product development reviews to maintain workshop/area of work output levels and provide variety of work and experience for prisoners.
• Participate in self‑audit and in achieving Service Delivery Indicators (SDIs).
• Complete administration activities to support the smooth running of the workshop.

Essential Experience and Qualifications

• Relevant work experience in horticulture.
• Knowledge of grounds maintenance practices, including grass maintenance, turf culture, drainage, soil husbandry, ornamental horticulture (aquatics, bedding, perennials, trees, shrubs) and different habitats supporting insects and wildlife.
• Experience of using horticultural machinery and tractors.
• Preferable supervisory experience.
• Current knowledge of all relevant Health and Safety and COSHH regulations.

Technical Requirements

• Full current United Kingdom (UK) driving licence.
• Hold or be prepared to work towards a Level 3 qualification or equivalent in horticulture.
• Hold or be prepared to work towards PA1‑PA6 spray certification.
• Hold or be prepared to work towards a recognised workplace assessor qualification.

Abilities

• IT skills.
• Basic maths.
• Basic English.

All candidates are considered irrespective of race, gender, disability or any other protected characteristic. The Civil Service is an employer committed to equal opportunity and inclusive recruitment practices.