Gardener - Groundsperson

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; Leicester; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is seeking a Grounds Maintenance Operative to support the upkeep of gardens and grounds across its sites. The role involves mowing, pruning, planting, and basic hard landscaping, with a focus on safety and efficient operations.

Ideal candidates will have extensive grounds maintenance experience, a valid driving licence, and flexibility to travel between sites as required by the Trust. This is a hands-on role within a busy hospital estate.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in grounds maintenance within large estates or hospital environments.
• Ability to operate and maintain grounds machinery safely and report faults.
• Familiar with health and safety requirements in a busy site.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to ongoing improvements of gardens and grounds across UHL sites.
• Operate garden machinery safely and report faults as required.
• Maintain grounds including mowing, sweeping, weeding, spraying, and watering bedding plants.
• Trim and prune plants to keep paths and roadways clear and safe.
• Ensure drainage and gullies are clear of rubbish.
• Carry out minor hard landscaping repairs and preparatory works.
• Empty bins and keep landscaped areas tidy.
• Conduct safety checks on vehicles and equipment; log maintenance details.

Skills

Grounds maintenance experience

Driving Licence

Education

Formal qualifications in grounds maintenance

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To contribute to the continual improvement of gardens and grounds on all UHL and sites as required.
• Control of garden machinery in a safe manner, reporting any faults to the estates management teams and not attempting to self-rectify until assessed or instructed to do so.
• To comply with Health and Safety requirements to ensure personal safety and the safety of colleagues.
• To undertake the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds and gardens including mowing grass, sweeping roads/paths, weeding and spraying, watering bedding plants etc.
• Trim and prune flowers, trees and shrubs in accordance with good gardening practice and to prevent foliage overhanging paths, roadways, drainage gullies and manholes etc.
• To ensure drainage and road gullies are clear of rubbish.
• Carry out minor repairs and preparatory works to hard landscaping e.g. concreting, slab laying, fencing if requested.
• To empty rubbish bins and cigarette bins, to sweep and remove litter from hard and soft landscaped areas.
• To safety check vehicles and equipment are fit for purpose prior to use. Drive, operate, clean, lubricate and carry out minor maintenance operations on all grounds and garden vehicles and equipment, and to record details in maintenance log.

Person specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Suitable experience in grounds maintenance

Desirable criteria

• Formal qualifications in grounds maintenance

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive working experience in the area of grounds maintenance
• Experience of working within a large industrial/ commercial environment.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in an Acute or Non-Acute Hospital Environment.
• Working knowledge of Health and Safety legislation

Skills

Essential criteria

• Flexible individual who can cope with new and changing demands
• Excellent attention to details Approachable and tactful
• Ability to work flexibly as needs arise
• Driving Licence

Desirable criteria

• Responsive to learning new skills with further training.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours
• Evidence of related behaviour supporting the values

Communication and relationship skills

Essential criteria

• Good organisational skills and ability to address and develop solutions to problems.
• Good communication skills, for effective working relationships throughout the organisation
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Organised approach to work
• Skilled in the use of relevant tools and materials.
• Able to prioritise work
• Appreciation of time management to minimise departmental disruption

Planning and organisation skills

Essential criteria

• Able to prioritise works to meet the business needs.
• Experience of work planning and organising.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

• Able to demonstrate a commitment and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.

Desirable criteria

• Examples

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential criteria

• Has the ability to travel, as will be required to work at other sites.
• Ability to work out of hours, evenings, weekends and bank holidays as needs arises.

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential criteria

• IT / PC skills to be able operate the various computer systems for recording works done
• Ability to understand and interpret work plans

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.