Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Gardener |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Pride in Place |
Service |
Culture and Events |
Business unit |
Torre Abbey |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Senior Garden Co-ordinator |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Senior Garden Co-ordinator |
Salary grade |
C |
JE ref |
RES208 |
1. Key purpose of job
- You will undertake a full range of practical horticultural work to maintain, develop and protect the garden and contribute to the delivery of projects that enhance the garden.
- You will ensure the highest standards of conservation, horticulture and visitor experience.
- You will be an excellent team player helping to create a great place for your colleagues (staff and volunteers) to work in.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- An appropriate programme of horticultural work will be safely delivered to agreed standards.
- The gardens will be well presented in line with Torre Abbey’s Spirit of Place.
- Staff and volunteers will work in an environment that fosters individual commitment, enthusiasm, team-working and competence to deliver an excellent service to visitors.
- Assistance with events, customer engagement activities and programmes will be delivered in line with Torre Abbey’s Spirit of Place.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Assist in all gardening activity in Torre Abbey Gardens including the full range of manual gardening activities and the use of power tools under the direction of the Senior Garden Co-ordinator.
- Ensure that the environs are always well presented to the standard agreed with Senior Garden Co-ordinator for use of the site as a visitor attraction and event space throughout the year, which may involve liaison with SWISCO or other relevant organisations in respect of landscape maintenance within Torre Abbey’s precincts.
- Ensure you and others comply with processes and procedures to minimise risk to visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors and undertake any relevant training to ensure you carry out your duties competently and safely.
- Support delivery of the volunteer programme, help with volunteer training and development and ongoing engagement of volunteers in Torre Abbey’s programme delivery.
- Supervise volunteers in the absence of the Senior Garden Co-ordinator, providing instruction based on pre-agreed work plans and ensuring the volunteers adhere to safe working practices.
- Provide cover in the event of the absence of the Senior Garden Co-ordinator.
- Prepare plants for sale in Torre Abbey’s shop and assist with maximising other commercial opportunities within the garden as required, including delivering activities that engage visitor’s interest in the garden.
- Answer all enquiries in a professional manner, project a friendly, helpful and approachable image of Torre Abbey and deliver excellent customer service every time by modelling our Core Values and Spirit of Place.
- Assist with the delivery of all short and medium term plans for Torre Abbey gardens within the guidelines of historic designations and the longer term Conservation Management Plan for the site.
- Work flexibly including working weekends and evenings as required.
- Undertake first aid and fire rota duties as required.
- Key holder for Torre Abbey Gardens able to undertake opening up and locking up procedures.
- Be responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults at all times in liaison with the Safeguarding lead.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- No direct line management however some supervision of volunteers work plan in the absence of Senior Garden Co-ordinator.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Working at Torre Abbey, a historic house location, in its gardens and grounds. The role is primarily outdoors in all weathers.
7. Physical demands of the post
- Strenuous physical demands related to practical gardening techniques including manual handling and use of powered and manual machinery and tools.
- Ability to assist with evacuation of persons in a wheelchair during emergency procedures and act as Fire Marshall in event of a fire/emergency.
8. Specific resources used by the post
- Hand held tools.
- Power and motorised tools.
- Garden keys and use of garden alarm activation system.
- IT equipment.
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External:
- Commercial organisations
- Suppliers
- Event hirers
- General public visitors
- Local arts and culture and events organisations
- Contractors
- Internal:
- Culture and Events Manager
- All of Torre Abbey Team
- Staff of the People Directorate
- Other Council Departments
- Council Health and Safety Officer
- Communications team
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- This post is office based at Torre Abbey but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
- You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Gardener |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Pride in Place |
Service |
Culture and Events |
Business unit |
Torre Abbey |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Good horticultural skills including basic level of plant husbandry.
- Organisational skills with good attention to detail. Able to work on own initiative and to follow work routines with minimal supervision.
- Able to demonstrate strong customer service ethos with good people skills enabling positive relationships with other colleagues.
- Effective written, verbal and IT skills including use of Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Ability to work flexible and unsocial hours.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Ability to balance priorities of heritage conservation and care with public access priorities for a significant heritage site.
- Understanding of current trends in gardening.
- Knowledge of hard landscaping and construction.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Knowledge of a range of horticultural techniques covering a variety of plant families and types.
- Knowledge of health and safety and Compliance relevant to horticulture.
- Some understanding of the volunteer role.
Desirable knowledge
- Knowledge of conservation and historic landscapes.
- Knowledge and understanding of volunteer supervision.
- Knowledge of working within a historic house or museum environment.
- Knowledge of Torre Abbey and its gardens.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Good practical experience of horticulture.
- Experience with powered and manual garden tools and garden equipment.
- Experience of working safely.
- Working as part of a team.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of working in the heritage or tourism sector.
- Experience of organising garden activities which enhance the customer offering.
- Working in a customer focused environment.
- Experience of working with volunteers.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to GCSE level grade 4 (C) in Maths and English or equivalent.
- NPTC level 2 in Horticulture or equivalent.
- Appropriate Level 2 Health and Safety qualifications or equivalent.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Relevant risk assessment qualifications.
- Current first aid certificate.
- Relevant National Training Organisation Awards for Land Based Studies (Lantra) certificates or equivalent.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role such as manual handling.
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate shift patterns.
- Ability to accommodate occasional home-working.