Gardener (Grade A)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Maintenance of the grounds and gardens within the Airedale Estate to the highest achievable standards.

Grass cutting routines with self-propelled commercial grade grass cutting machinery including basic machine maintenance/adjustment and the safe use of all grass cutting and other types of machinery to ensure safety of the individual and passers by.

Sweeping and cleaning roadways and main entrance areas, including the removal of litter, to maintain the Estate in a tidy condition.

Control of flower beds, hanging baskets and containers, including planting, pruning, weed control and feeding.

Control of weeds by traditional methods and by chemical spraying.

Roding and cleaning surface water drainage to ensure proper operation.

Participation in grounds improvement schemes and where required support other disciplines in developing the amenity value of the estate.

To assist with any other duties as assigned by the Head Gardener.

To be self-starting, self-motivating and capable of showing and using ones own initiative.

To maintain customer confidentiality and promote good customer liaison at all times.

To provide assistance to Maintenance Engineers or other more senior grades on new works or repairs (not necessarily ground related) when directed to do so by supervisory staff in the performance of their duties in either an active or in a safety role.

To use the relevant gardening tools and equipment safely without risk to self or others.

To use chemical agents such as pesticides, herbicides and proprietary fertilizers in a safe manner without risk to self or others.

Shall be prepared to undertake additional training in order to fulfil the requirements of the post, satisfy new regulations/legislation or to further to develop the post holders duties.

Be expected to produce work to a consistently high standard of work across the whole range of duties and applications required.

The preparation and re-finishing with paint or varnish of garden furniture elements and storage of same on a seasonal basis.

The use and effective operation of four wheel drive vehicles with a variety of attachments such as trailers, salt/grit hopers, snow ploughs etc.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• Good standard of secondary education to GCSE level
• Has a clean driving licence for a four wheeled vehicle and is able to drive to other trust properties when required

Desirable

• Has own transport
• Awareness of current Health & Safety Legislation and related issues such as PPE, Safe Use of Tools
• Has some form of formal qualification in horticulture or related subject. Dry stone walling, fencing etc.

Skills/Competencies

Essential

• Ability to work as an individual with a minimum of supervision or as part of a team.
• Ability to make sound judgements with regard to operational safety when in lone worker situation or when put under pressure by the situation or other workers.
• Able to use own initiative in relation to problem solving in order to resolve situations to a satisfactory conclusion

Desirable

• Ability to drive four wheel drive vehicles in a range of weather conditions with a variety of attachments - tandem axle trailers, gritting hoppers, snow plough attachment etc.

Knowledge

Essential

• Able to demonstrate a reasonable knowledge of Health & Safety requirements in the workplace and how these should be applied in relation to particular tasks and situations.
• Has knowledge with regard to the safe use of gardens machinery, tools, chemical applications and access equipment.
• Able to demonstrate a fair knowledge of seasonal issues in relation to grounds maintenance and relevant planting schemes/activities as these would apply a different times of the year.

Experience

Essential

• To have recent relevant experience of working within a Grounds & Maintenance function aimed at ensuring the quality and high standards required
• Able to substantiate at interview knowledge and experience indicated on application form in relation to the routine maintenance of grounds and gardens and other relative experience claimed within the application form

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in a hospital\healthcare\care home environment
• Has some degree of basic maintenance knowledge in relation to grass cutting and other gardens type machinery

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

AGH Solutions Ltd

Address

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD

Employer's website

https://aghsolutions.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)