Gardener/Grounds Person

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year 5 over 7 days, primarily Monday to Friday 07.00 – 16.00 (Additional hours required from time to time to support school events or project work)

Gardener/Grounds Person

Pay Banding: Salary Grade 16 to 19 (£24’957 – £26’761 dependent on experience)

Location: On-site at Warwick Campus & Leamington Campus

Start Date: As soon as available

Reporting Lines: Reporting to: Grounds Manager. Also accountable to: Deputy Grounds Manager

Purpose of this Job Description: The Foundation considers this document as a “snapshot” of the job and the tasks listed are not an exhaustive list. It aims to provide a clear guide at the time of writing to all that is involved about the requirements of the job. It will also be used to communicate expectations about performance and will be used to monitor effective performance.

Responsibilities

Grounds

• To assist the Grounds Manager\Deputy Grounds Manager in the maintenance, development and upkeep of the grounds, all grass, and hard\artificial pitches.
• Maintain the lawns, playing fields, artificial pitches and hardcourt areas to a high standard ensuring they are safe and fit for purpose.
• To mark and set out pitches for football, rugby, cricket and athletics and associated sports equipment and other areas as required and in liaison with the Sports Departments.
• To ensure all grounds plant and machinery are checked before use, reporting any defects to the Grounds Manager\Deputy Grounds Manager.
• Undertake cleaning duties, as requested.
• To assist with the supervision of contractors, suppliers or any other staff working in the grounds team.
• To help maintain the irrigation and land drainage systems and ditch maintenance.
• To undertake grounds work requests through the internal Quadpro Estates software that are allocated.
• Undertake painting, removing rubbish and carrying out general duties as directed.
• Ability to operate and drive various machinery equipment such as hedge cutters, strimmer’s and ride-on mowers, pesticide spraying equipment, tractors, and hand tools etc.
• Keeping the sports fields free of litter at all times.
• Maintaining high levels of presentation of all grounds and the gardens with particular focus on areas that are on regular public view.
• Undertake painting, removing rubbish and carrying out general duties related to the grounds and estate.
• To undertake snow clearance and salt gritting of the campus as and when required.

Landscaping

• Undertake planting, weeding, pruning, and cultivating of flower beds, maintenance of boarders, hedgerows, hanging basket and trees.
• Plant propagation from seeds and cuttings.
• The ability to use machinery such as pedestrian and ride on lawn mowers, rotovators, hedge trimmers and other such equipment related to grounds work.
• Apply nutrients to planted areas and lawns via liquid, granular and organic matter.
• Undertake regular tree inspections and report back findings to the Grounds Manager\Deputy Grounds Manager.
• Maintenance of irrigation systems such as drip hose and automated irrigation systems.
• Maintaining high presentation of the ground’s lawns and beds around the campus. and automated irrigation systems.
• Undertake a weed control programme on hard and soft surfaces around the campus.
• General hard landscaping, such as repairs to footpaths and driveways, fence post and panel installations and repairs.
• Undertake maintenance of the composting system.
• Dealing with weed control through preventative measures (such as regular spraying, use of weed brushes etc).
• Sweeping of the Campus grounds and use of leaf and debris collection machinery.
• Undertake any other duties as and when required.

Particular H&S issues for this post are:

• To comply with the employer’s Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• To assist with the supervision of children crossing roads where necessary and to ensure that vehicles on site are driven in a safe and appropriate manner and report where necessary.
• Awareness of legionella, asbestos, PAT and COSSH regulations (training provided).
• Working with chemicals.
• Participate in the school’s response procedures for all fire drills.
• Ability and willingness to work outside in all weathers.
• Working at height and manual handling with training provided.
• The role involves physical effort and a great deal of walking across a large school site. The post holder will need to be and remain physically fit and able to cope with the demands of the role.

Additional duties

• The post holder must comply with the Data Protection Act 1988, the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and all other policies operating at the school.
• To report any Health & Safety problems to the Health & Safety Manager.

Safeguarding and Protection of Children and Young Persons

In accordance with the Children’s Act 1989, on appointment post holders will be required to commit to their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding. In addition, offers of appointment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and other pre-starter checks as required by the regulations governing the appointment of staff within education.

These checks will highlight cautions, reprimands, and final warnings as well as any convictions. The post holder must not have any spent or unspent convictions that would prevent working with children.

All staff are required to adhere to the school Policy on safeguarding and undertake training as required and ensure the safeguarding and well-being of children and young people at the school, in accordance with School policies.

Health and Safety

As an employee you are expected to:

1. Take reasonable care of your own health and safety.
2. Take reasonable care not to put other people – fellow employees and members of the public – at risk by what you do or don’t do during your work.
3. Co-operate with your employer, making sure you get proper training, and you understand and follow the company’s health and safety policies.
4. Not interfere with or misuse anything that’s been provided for your health, safety, or welfare.
5. Report any injuries, strains, or illnesses you suffer as a result of doing your job.
6. Tell your employer if something happens that might affect your ability to work (e.g., becoming pregnant or suffering an injury)
7. If you drive or operate machinery, to tell your employer if you take medication that makes you drowsy.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualification

• Completed a broad education including GCSE grade C and above in English Language and Maths (or equivalent)
• RHS General Certificate in horticulture.
• NPTC Pesticides PA1 & 6 Spraying Licenses.
• Good standard of spoken and written English.

Experience/Knowledge

• Health and safety and fire safety procedures.
• Basic understanding of COSHH.
• Previous experience in similar or skill transferable roles.
• Experience of grounds and sports turf knowledge.
• Good knowledge of all types of ground/sports turf machinery.

Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrate high levels of time management using own initiative to manage a heavy workload and at times conflicting priorities as well as tracking progress on a wide range of tasks.
• Good oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage, inform and negotiate with colleagues and contractors at all levels.
• Ability and willingness to work outside in all weathers.
• Ability to drive work vehicles.
• Basic IT skills via PC and Mobile use (emails, photos, Word etc.)

Personal Attributes

• Naturally demonstrates a ‘can do’ helpful attitude always considering the needs of the schools.
• Confident to act on own initiative and be self-motivated.
• Ability and willingness to undergo further training specific to the needs of role.

Circumstances

• Able to work flexible hours when required.
• Annual leave will be restricted at certain times of the year as workload is high and full team complement is needed.

Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

• Understands their role in the context of safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people

Equal Opportunities

• Understanding of the requirements of Equality and Diversity

Desirable Criteria

Qualification

• RHS Level 2 Certificate in principles of Horticulture.
• NVQ Level 1 Horticulture & Sports Turf qualification (or equivalent)
• NPTC Level 1 & 2 in Felling and Processing Trees.
• NPTC Pesticides PA2 Spraying License.
• Registered member with GMA.
• Certificates, qualification or training in relevant areas of Health and Safety, in particular COSHH but also general risk assessment, manual handling and first aid would be advantageous.

Experience/ Knowledge

• Knowledge of working at height regulations.
• Legionella Awareness.
• Experience of working within an independent school environment.

Skills/Abilities

• Experience of multi sports pitch marking.
• Demonstrative plant and tree knowledge.

Personal Attributes

• Willingness to undertake first aid training.

Circumstances

• Clean driving licence to drive school vehicles (not more than 6 penalty points either on licence or pending).

Remuneration

Working hours: 40 hours per week
Working weeks: 52 weeks per year
Pay Banding: 16 to 19 (£24’957 – £26’761)

Other benefits:

• Competitive contributory pension scheme (employer contributions up to 14%).
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Six weeks annual holiday plus public holidays.
• Staff Fee remission at our Warwick Campus.
• Death in Service benefits.
• Free meals and refreshments provided during the working day.
• Free parking on site.
• Use of the Sports Complex for staff.
• A strong, supportive staff community.
• Some flexible working will be considered depending on the vacancy.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please complete the application form found by following this link: Application Form

Completed applications should be submitted to hr@warwickschools.co.uk

Deadline for submissions:
Closing date: 12 noon on Monday 10 June 2024.
Interviews: Week Commencing 17th June 2024.

An interview will include questions about safeguarding children. The appointment will depend on satisfactory DBS clearance.

The Warwick Schools Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any concerns should be reported in accordance with the Foundation’s Child Protection policy.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Warwick Independent Schools Foundation is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all pupils and staff, both current and prospective, and in this position, you will actively support an environment and culture that values diversity and inclusion.