Workshop Garden Co-ordinator

We are seeking a Head Gardener (Day Opportunities Workshop Coordinator) to lead our amazing team of horticulturists. You will have a passion for environmentally friendly and therapeutic horticulture activity and have experience managing green spaces, as well edible plant production. Working with a dynamic group of people with mixed ability to maintain and develop our garden workshop activity as part of our growing strategic development plan. The candidate will have a passion for leading a staff team and volunteers in this hybrid role, supporting people learning disabilities and autism with horticulture management, to enabling them to engage in meaningful activity.

About Us:

Camphill Milton Keynes Communities is a charity providing unique person-centred support, based on a modern view of the Camphill movement, for adults with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum condition, as well as a number of people living in the Milton Keynes area who have a learning disability.

About the Role:

To plan and manage a variety of existing and new horticultural and landscaping activities, support adults with learning disabilities and autism to undertake all elements of work in the gardens.

Knowledge & Skills:

Minimum RHS Level 2 (or equivalent).

Minimum of 2 years’ experience in gardening horticulture

Minimum of 1 year managing and leading a team of gardeners and/or volunteers.

Experience keeping records and risk assessments processes.

A working knowledge of horticulture techniques, plant identification and sustainable environmentally kind garden practices.

A working knowledge of health and safety and manual handling practices.

Understanding of the principles of equality, diversity, and anti-discrimination practice.

• Proven ability to carry out a range of gardening, landscaping, and horticulture tasks.

• Ability to use and maintain a range of hand and mechanical tools.

• Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative.

• Ability to build rapport and communicate effectively with service users who have learning disabilities and other communication needs.

• Ability to work with people with mixed abilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide a safe, secure, and healthy working environment for service users with learning disabilities and autism, support staff and volunteers in accordance with CMKC policies and procedures.

• To adhere to and update risk assessments, train staff, service users and volunteers to work within individual safe limits. Ensure safety checks are maintained and comply with health and safety audits.

• To maintain the greenspaces and orchards at CMKC and continue to develop existing garden projects.

• To plan, implement and develop environmentally sound new landscape gardens and propagation areas in like with CMKC strategic development plans.

• Work alongside the team to perform duties to ensure a high standard of work and environmentally kind practices are maintained in the workshop.

• To liaise with the facilities manager regarding site maintenance work and contractors.

• Regularly monitor all pathways/entrance and exit point allowing for unobstructed and safe movement around the site/grounds including the carpark, including assisting with snow clearance, and gritting when needed.

• Maintaining/managing suitable PPE for all staff, service users and volunteers.

• Maintain/manage boundaries with assistance/coordination of any third parties and facilities team.

• To maintain machinery and garden equipment and to ensure appropriate training is given.

• To plan and prepare individual and group projects for service users, day, and corporate volunteer groups according to their abilities.

• To provide training, support, and line management to the staff team and volunteers.

• To carry our well-being reviews and record activity and achievement of service users. Handover any care and support concerns via the internal Nourish system.

General:

Build a professional working relationship with residents, colleagues and relevant professionals.

Represent CMKC in a positive and professional manner.

Adhere to confidentiality procedure.

Comply with CMKC and social care workers (GSCC) Codes of Practice.

Comply with CMKC policies and procedures.

To work in accordance with CMKC mission and vision statements and statement of values

Able to work on own initiative and under direction

High attention to detail and high level of accuracy

Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels

Basic awareness of the needs of people with learning disabilities

The above list of duties is indicative only and not exhaustive. You are expected to carry out all such duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.