We are looking for an experienced gardener and trainer who could join our bank staff. We provide training courses for adults with learning disabilities and autism. Our horticulture training runs five days a week in our beautiful 2.5-acre walled garden in the grounds of Springfield University Hospital.
As a bank worker with us, you would be responsible for stepping in to provide cover during staff absence. Students come to the garden for educational or wellbeing progression and your main responsibilities would be to support and train our students in the full range of horticultural and craft skills needed for the appropriate external qualifications.
Work is offered on an as-needed basis once you are added to our bank staff. There is no guarantee of work; however, we are looking for people who are happy to be contacted at short notice to provide relief or can be booked for block weeks in advance.
You can find out more about our horticulture programme here: https://www.sharecommunity.org.uk/courses/horticulture
What we are looking for
We are looking for people who have a horticulture qualification or occupational competency, and have experience of delivering teaching or training. You must be a confident gardener and have a can-do attitude. All staff in the garden are expected to keep students safe within the working environment, so knowledge of health and safety within a garden would be a bonus.
Main responsibilities:
- To support learning, encourage and supervise adults with learning disabilities and autism in horticulture and craft activities which will assist the development of skills, experience, confidence and independence, and ultimately lead them to getting qualifications
- To support the work of our social enterprise, which completes job off site occasionally
- To support learning in an inclusive way, encouraging students to work at their best, to stay motivated and engaged with the task at hand
- To ensure that you know where students are within the garden, abiding by good health and safety practice
- To support with pastoral or behavioural issues as much as possible, ensuring referral to the manager if appropriate
- To work always in a spirit of positivity and encouragement and in a way that values diversity
- To undertake any other tasks that may be reasonably required.
Essential experience and qualifications:
- Qualification in horticulture or relevant occupational competency in gardening
Essential skills:
- Able to explain tasks and procedures clearly and simply
- Ability to follow guidelines of activities set out by City and Guilds, and to make the activities accessible for students with diverse needs
- Passionate about horticulture, and an enjoyment of working outdoors in all weathers
- Reliable, punctual, caring, hardworking and able to use your own initiative
- Excellent problem solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate positively and in a non-discriminatory way to disabled people from a range of backgrounds and communities.
- Good understanding of and ability to practice effective health and safety in a horticultural working environment.
- Excellent organisational skills and proven ability to work as part of a small team.
- The ability to inspire and motivate others
Desirable experience and qualifications:
- Experience of working with disabled people who have sensory or communication needs
- A teaching or training qualification
- First aid trained
How to apply
We positively welcome applications from all parts of the community and from people with diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experience.
Please send your CV with a covering note detailing your availability to hradmin@sharecommunity.org.uk
If you would like to have chat about the role please contact a member of the HR team at hradmin@sharecommunity.org.uk.
This job is subject to two satisfactory references, evidence of qualifications, an enhanced DBS check and providing evidence of the right to work in the UK. If you are disabled and would like to discuss other ways of submitting your application, please contact us on 020 7924 2949.
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We look forward to receiving your application.