Ground and Gardens Skilled Operative | West London NHS Trust

West London Mental Health Trust; Buckler's Park; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider in Buckler's Park is seeking a Band 3 Skilled Operative to join their innovative gardening team. The role involves day-to-day gardening operations, equipment maintenance, and supporting the Team Leader. The ideal candidate is passionate about horticulture and has experience with gardening tools. This position is crucial for maintaining the high standards of green spaces within the hospital estate.

Qualifications

• Must have experience in gardening and garden management.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage tasks effectively.
• Experience with different gardening equipment is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support the Team Leader with management and record keeping tasks.
• Assist in arranging work schedules.
• Ensure safety protocols are followed during work.
• Participate in the Grounds & Gardens On-Call Team.

Skills

Knowledge of various plants and invasive species

Ability to use and maintain commercial mowers and tractors

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Job description

We do not offer sponsorship for this role.

Overview

A fantastic opportunity has arisen in The Broadmoor Hospital Grounds and Gardening Department for a Band 3 Skilled Operative; the successful candidate will join a highly innovative and motivated team delivering the highest quality ground care in an inpatient mental health setting & wider estate.

This is an amazing job for someone who is passionate about parks and gardens and is driven to improve standards and the patient experience. The Skilled Operative is responsible for a team focused approach on delivering day to day gardening operations within the Broadmoor Hospital Estate, that includes intensive planting, formal & informal grassland, open grassland, woodland & ecologically sensitive areas. The successful skilled operative will assist and support the existing team in working productively and safely to ensure that the green spaces are managed to the best possible standards with the resources available.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Team Leader in all delegated management & record keeping tasks and to check and submit all paperwork as required ensuring that it is accurate, on time and compliant.
• Actively work with & support Grounds & Garden staff across a wide range of landscape & hospital requirements.
• Assist in arranging work schedules and working patterns, in consultation with the Team Leader.
• Ensure that personnel are working safely at all times and that all accidents and near misses are reported and measures put in place to mitigate against these.
• Ability to use & maintain a wide range of equipment, including commercial mowers, tractors & associated machinery.
• Carry out any other associated duties that may from time to time incidentally arise, develop or be assigned.
• Must have sound knowledge of various plants and invasive species.
• Will be part of the Grounds & Gardens On-Call Team.

About the Trust

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation. Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m. The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’. The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached. The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

This advert closes on Friday 5 Dec 2025.