Grounds Manager, GMS Band C

Job description

Job responsibilities

Grounds Manager, 37.5 hours per week, based at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester but with regular travel to all locations GMS have contracts.

Reporting directly to the Head of Sustainability and Environment.There are currently five staff members in the Grounds team and a few regular volunteers.

MAIN DUTIES, RESPONSIBILTIES AND RESULTS AREAS

Devising a work programme for grounds team

To work with Estates and Capital Planning officers concerning external spaces

Managing the direct labour (grounds) team

Carrying out risk assessments relating to grounds (including hard landscaping) and equipment

Staff training certificated competency training

Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation such as the Food and

Environmental Protection Act 1985, Health and Safety at Work Act and legislation relating to trees

Managing volunteer teams

Tree management including surveys and management of contractors

LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY

Provide specialist and technical advice to GMS, contractors/ consultants and their agents. Work with clients and GMS colleagues to ensure all changes to the sites take into account the external environment and maximise the potential of the sites to provide green space and biodiversity.Post holder will be a member of the GHNHSFT Green Council.

Identify opportunities to develop and improve the grounds for our clients and all stakeholders. Manage the installation of small-scale projects and assist in the installation of larger ones.

Identify opportunities for applying continuous improvement in service delivery. Support GMS teams to plan and undertake process changes and redesign of services as appropriate.

Develop and manage the existing grounds volunteer team. This will include supporting the programme to attract participation from schools, community groups etc.

Develop and manage the existing team building/away day opportunities. This is where external organisations send their staff to work on a specific green space/ biodiversity improvement project. Manage these teams on site, ensuring Health and Safety is adhered to and that the goals agreed for the external team have been achieved.

Develop the grounds service to offer grounds and gardens maintenance to external (healthcare related) clients. Manage staff, volunteers and grounds related contractors at these sites.

POLICY AND SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES

Actively support the GMS senior team in the development and preparation of grounds and environmental strategies e.g. biodiversity strategy.

Implement policies and procedures in area of work and propose changes to practices and procedures within the grounds maintenance service.

Develop and maintain the departments operational procedures /policies /risk assessment and safe systems of work at all times to ensure the Trust/GMS is exposed to minimum risk in relation to its estate.

ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBLITIES

Support the delivery of departmental performance targets and a range of KPIs, providing first line investigation and resolution of KPI performance issues.

Responsible for the day-to-day supervision and coordination of the grounds and gardens team to allocate, monitor and evaluate work, regularly provides practical training and support to ensure work is completed to the correct standard. When required provide practical training for staff in other disciplines after changes are made or an update is required. Responsible for ensuring all grounds team staff attend training mandatory training sessions in accordance with legislation and the GMS policies.

Manage all grounds contractors, tree specialists etc. working on site, including daily checks and evaluation of the work.

Promote a safe culture by contributing to Health and Safety and Risk Management within GMS and the Trust, reviewing and amending risk assessments, action plans and method statements.

Responsible for ensuring all grounds teams, contractors and volunteers adhere to Health & Safety regulations including COSHH, Moving & Handling, Infection Control to ensure a safe environment for patients and staff in accordance with legislation, industry best practice and GMS policies and procedures.

FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Authorises payments to contractors, suppliers, signs off direct labour costs; maintains and repairs to properties and equipment/ responsible for maintenance of facilities, equipment.

Manage all tools, materials and resources as needed by the grounds team and volunteers.

Write specifications for grounds-based surveys, consultancy works etc. for example scanning works before excavation works.

PLANNING AND ORGANISATION

Ensure that all grounds maintenance plans and work schedule specifications are up to date and that these make best use of available resources and meet the needs of the client.

Organise and conduct occasional biodiversity surveys and report findings to the Green Council.

Initiate, organise and deliver green space engagement activities, including leading guided nature walks and the development of information boards highlighting green spaces

Work with GMS and clients in the planning, design and maintenance of landscaping, including external lighting, paths, car parks and roads, and the impact these have on the soft landscape.

Maintain site record drawings for grounds interventions.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Be aware of, and support, the participation in local and national strategies associated with health such as NHS Forest or Thrive.

Maintain effective communication with all staff using a variety of tools such as face to face meeting, briefings, written communication, notice boards and on-line platforms.

EFFORT, SKILLS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Skills - driving, use of garden tools. Good IT and digital skills including Microsoft Office, AutoCAD or equivalent systems

Physical Effort - requirement to frequently exert intense physical effort over short or long periods dependent upon task. Also moderate effort e.g. tree planting or use of lifting equipment.

Mental Effort - concentration when operating machinery or reviewing KPI data etc.

Emotional Effort - occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.

Working Conditions - site visits and working outdoors in all weather and temperatures. Occasional exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions e.g. removal of drug use equipment from the grounds or pest control hazards such as dead birds.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in landscape or environmental management, landscape design or similar professional qualification or relevant experience
• Project management experience
• IOSHH or equivalent health and safety qualification
• To hold a full driving license

Desirable

• ILM Level 3 or equivalent in leadership and management (or working towards it)

Experience

Essential

• Substantial practical experience in gardening, landscaping or similar industry
• Comprehensive knowledge of managing amenity grounds and gardens
• Experience in managing the work of others including day to day staff management
• Experience of following Health and Safety guidelines and writing risk assessments

Desirable

• Experience in working with volunteers

Knowledge/ Skills

Essential

• Excellent horticultural knowledge of plant identification
• Able to use professional skills to resolve design or maintenance problems
• Work to deadlines and cope with different demands on time
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to use grounds equipment and step in should the situation call for it

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Managed Services

Address

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL13NN

Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/gloucestershire-managed-services/ (Opens in a new tab)