Care worker

The HTU provides work experience in horticulture and equine care for adults with learning disabilities and has been providing this service on this site since 1999. The HTU is on the Earth Balance site and has a substantial area of paddocks and fields, as well as glasshouses, polytunnels, and gardens. The main focus of the HTU is the production of vegetables for sale to the public. In addition to this, the HTU looks after other people's horses in our stables and paddock and manages a large area of land, including grass cutting, strimming, hedge cutting, log splitting, etc. The HTU has 6 permanent staff, including this post, and provides a service for up to 18 people per day. We are advertising for a permanent part-time care worker, 15 hours per week. We would require the successful candidate to work on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Role

You will provide care, training and support in horticultural and similar work for adults with learning disabilities, including soil preparation, planting, and growing of vegetables, and land management. The service aims to promote independence, create opportunities for personal development, and facilitate positive interactions between those who use the service and members of the public. You will work as a keyworker for people who use the service, preparing care plans and risk assessments, keeping records of the work people do, and working closely with other members of the staff team.

Essential requirements

• QCF 2 in health and social care - or you will need to work towards this once appointed.
• A commitment to undertake training as required and to professional development.
• The ability to form appropriate relationships quickly.
• An ability to focus upon service users' needs and abilities.
• The ability to work to and follow individual service users plans and risk assessments.
• The ability to use word processing, e-mail and internet software on a PC.
• Excellent communication and literacy skills.
• The ability to produce simple, short and clear case notes.
• You are able to understand and follow written or spoken instructions.
• You are reliable and keep good time.
• You are able to work unsupervised and also as part of a team.
• You understand the need to respect confidentiality, privacy, dignity, independence, choice, rights and fulfilment of service users.
• It would be very helpful if you have a passion for growing plants or vegetables, with some working knowledge and experience of horticulture, particularly grounds work, and that you are also happy to work outdoors and in a wide range of horticultural settings.
• It would be an advantage if you could drive the HTU van.
• Experience with garden machinery would also be an advantage.
• Follows and works to policies and procedures, guidance, CQC Standards and keeping to schedules.

Equal opportunity statement

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.