Gardener

Responsibilities

• Undertake all gardening and grounds duties for the Trust, including the maintenance of lawns, borders, flowerbeds, paths, ponds, and indoor planting.
• Provide a high-quality service to customers, supporting and advising residents who wish to engage in gardening activities and responding appropriately to queries from residents, colleagues, or visitors.
• Work with the wider Estates team to carry out additional security and maintenance duties in line with the Trust’s policies, procedures and health and safety legislation.
• Assist the wider estates team with additional duties such as the set‑up for site events and activities and the timely collection of recycling and waste.
• Respond to site emergencies including emergencies involving utility services, extreme weather or environmental disasters.
• Drive any of the Trust’s vehicles, including the minibus, as required (providing the required qualifications).
• Adapt style and approach to be appropriate to the situation or task.
• Structure tasks and activities.
• Pre‑empt issues and troubleshoot.
• Refer appropriate decisions to line manager.
• Identify and recommend learning and development areas for colleagues.
• Challenge or suggest new ways of working to promote the efficiency of the unit or team.

Well‑being and values

• Demonstrate interest, care and attention.
• Create a positive impression.
• Be reliable, dependable and professional.
• Collaborate with residents, tailoring service to meet individual needs.
• Promptly respond to or refer to team leader/line manager (as appropriate to the role) about issues of residents or colleagues’ health or well‑being.
• Understand the needs of older people and people with dementia (including willingness and motivation to learn).
• Be aware of cultural and individual differences in all interactions and service areas.

Working with Others

• Work effectively as part of a team.
• Build relationships of trust with others (team, residents and their family & friends).
• Potential exposure to challenging, physical or emotional situations.

Communication

• Write notes and messages – numeracy, literacy and verbal skills.
• Communicate with people with differing communication needs.
• Encourage and influence.
• Understand and follow instructions and procedures.
• Have strong customer service skills.
• Use mixed methods and mediums of communication.

Thinking Style

• Experience of working as a gardener.
• Ability to carry out a range of practical tasks including basic maintenance and security.
• Practical knowledge of using machinery and chemicals safely for gardening.
• Current, clean full driving licence or ability to travel efficiently across our villages.

Desirable

• RHS level 2 certificate (or equivalent).
• Pa1 and Pa6a certificate.
• Chainsaw certificate.
• D1 category or PCV driving licence with minibus driving experience.
• Basic health and safety, first aid, fire procedures and manual handling.
• Basic ground works, building and maintenance knowledge.
• Previous experience of working with older people in a care environment.

Duties must be carried out in compliance with St Monica Trust’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

This role profile contains the principal accountabilities relating to this post and does not describe in detail all the duties required to carry them out.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and this means that any criminal conviction, including spent convictions, must be made known at the time of the application.

Salary Ranges: £28,371.20 – £31,470.40. Time Type: Part time.