Head Gardener - Amenity Landscaping

Overview

The Forward Trust are a leading provider of Information, Advice and Guidance services (careers advice) in prisons to the Matrix Standard  delivering a wider range of vocational training, apprenticeships, enterprise and employability services in the community funded by the ESFA, devolved administrations, DWP and others.

Amenity Landscaping is a social enterprise owned by the Forward Trust and within our Employment Services Division.

Amenity Landscaping delivers grounds maintenance, gardening, facilities management and horticultural services on behalf of local authorities, social landlords and other partners.

Amenity Landscaping employs people with lived experience including ex-offenders, people in recovery and also the unemployed or NEET. All staff are employed on Forward Trust terms and conditions.

What you will be doing?

As a Lead Gardener, you will be working outdoors and in open spaces and your activities will include:

• Bed work & pruning
• Hedge cutting & shrub pruning
• Seasonal activities such as lifting & splitting herbaceous perennials, mulching, etc.
• Lawn care
• General gardening activities at your discretion, allowing you the flexibility and to use and further develop your skill as a gardener.
• Operating equipment such as Strimmers, Mowers, Blowers, Hedge Cutters etc for the undertaking of; gardening maintenance, waste and house clearance and soft landscaping.
• Complying and reporting any health and safety, equalities and diversity, complaints/complements, safeguarding/prevent and other incidents relating to the work of the Amenity Landscaping to the General Manager

What we are looking for?

We are looking for people who are interested in working outdoors, with an interest in the environment and working as part of a team.  The post holder will enjoy undertaking manual work in different types of weather and starting work early (often by 7.30am) and finishing by 3.30pm.

The work can be hard but you will eventually be working with an experienced team of colleagues and we work on different sites in London, so every day is a bit a different.  We expect all staff to start work by 7.30am Monday to Friday and on time.   This post is 37 hours per week.

We encourage applications from either ex-offenders, those at risk of offending or have been in trouble with the police or in recovery and unemployed.

Below is a list of the qualities that we are looking for in applicants for this post.  Please address these points in your application.

Essential

• Ability to Lead a small team when carrying out gardening services to the clients of the Enterprise
• Ensuring you/your team follow the job schedules
• Ensuring you/your team are carrying the right equipment for the scheduled tasks
• Keeping a record of chemical applications and on-site customer requests
• Leading the gardening activities to maintain and improve the gardens 'owned' by the team
• Offering recommendations for improvement.
• Giving guidance and support to the gardener(s) in the team.
• Be a seasoned gardener with a broad knowledge of plants found in British gardens
• Practical knowledge of how to manage and maintain a garden i.e. when and how to prune various plants.
• A full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Respectful of customers and team members with a mature attitude to receiving feedback
• PA1/PA6 chemical spraying certification.
• Good interpersonal and digital communication skills to liaise with the customers during garden visits
• Able to work as a member of a team undertaking gardening duties to contract specified standards, ensuring that the quality of service is maintained to meet client or customer requirements.
• Able to undertake any administrative duties required, e.g. Completing any H & S forms and risk assessments, etc.
• Awareness of the health and safety regulations that affect the work area and able to work in accordance with all health and safety policy requirements; e.g., Manual handling, Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE), etc.
• To have a flexible and adaptable approach to work, including being willing and able to work as directed during the day, e.g. As relief and cover; to work unsociable hours, weekends and bank holidays if necessary to meet the demands of the service.

What we offer

We value the dedication and commitment of our employees by rewarding them with market-leading pay and benefits.  We provide comprehensive training and opportunities to progress in the Employment Services Division.

We also offer:

• Flexible working
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• 3 x Wellbeing Days per year (Pro Rata'd for Part Time employees)
• 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

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Person specification

Lead Gardener - BSS Amenity - Job Description - April 22

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