HMP Highpoint - Skilled Delivery - Grounds Maintenance (Ref:12607)

HM Prison and Probation Service; Cock and End; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency is seeking a Grounds Maintenance Worker in Cock and End, UK. The role involves maintaining the grounds of the estate, performing landscaping duties, supervising workers, and ensuring safety compliance. Suitable candidates must have relevant landscaping skills and be willing to gain a Level 3 vocational qualification. Benefits include a competitive salary and a pension scheme.

Benefits

Salary: £28,122

Civil Service pension scheme contribution

Access to learning and development

Flexible working options

Annual leave and public holidays

Qualifications

• Competent in relevant skill(s).
• Must be willing to work towards vocational qualification.

Responsibilities

• Maintain grounds and amenity areas including lawns and woodland.
• Carry out soft and hard landscaping tasks.
• Supervise prison workers’ parties and ensure quality control.
• Comply with Health and Safety policies.

Skills

Competence in landscaping

Health and Safety compliance

Education

Vocational qualification at Level 3

Job description

Overview

The job holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day maintenance of the grounds and amenity areas within the estate. This is a non‑operational role with no line management or supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Carry out soft landscaping – turf laying and hard landscaping – patio stone installation
• Maintain grounds and amenity areas including lawns, ponds, water features, external grounds and woodland
• Work inside and outside the estate: cutting, mowing and maintaining areas in accordance with accepted practice
• Maintain sports fields in agreement with the Land‑Based Activities Manager and PE Department
• Carry out pest control preventive measures across the area of responsibility
• Undertake small project work as advised/requested, including soft and hard landscape development and erection of horticultural support structures when required
• Maintain correct soil husbandry, ensuring all stages of crop development are followed in accordance with good horticultural practice
• Ensure growing plants are developed optimally and crop needs are fully met
• Provide safe access and exits to the estate
• Supervise prison workers’ parties and undertake quality control over their work as agreed within the Service Delivery Agreement (SDA)
• Undertake other trades tasks, ensuring allocated planned maintenance and small repairs are carried out and service requests raised by the computer‑aided facilities management system are addressed
• Undertake survey inspections in confined spaces and at height, recording all work and completing associated registers and logs
• Carry out project work as required
• Advise on adequate levels of stock, request procurement of goods and services, and log all materials used to ensure they are fit for purpose
• Escort technical contractors as required, working with and supervising them in accordance with the Local Security Strategy (LSS)
• Maintain regular communications via radio net in accordance with the LSS
• Act as a banksman, directing the operation of plant equipment and/or machinery
• Be responsible for all tools and plant machinery, carrying out checks at regular intervals and completing all relevant documentation in accordance with the LSS and National Security Framework (NSF)
• Comply with all Health and Safety policies, procedures and legislation to ensure statutory and mandatory compliance
• Drive estate vehicles and operate plant equipment
• Carry out locking duties as required
• Operate within command mode in line with local contingency plans
• Undertake incidental, emergency or urgent tasks and assignments as per Service Delivery Agreement timescales, in a safe manner
• Assemble products on site as required
• Contribute to prisoner reports, including parole and sentence planning

Behaviours

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Essential Experience

• Competent in relevant skill(s)

Technical Requirements

• Must have a vocational qualification at Level 3, or be willing to work towards gaining this qualification within an agreed timescale

Hours of Work and Allowances

Unsocial hours allowance: 37‑hour working week (standard). HMPPS staff on closed pay structures only: Additional Conditioned Hours Pensionable (ACHP) staff moving from a closed 39‑hour pay structure will be eligible for the two protected pensionable additional committed hours (ACHP). These staff will work a 39‑hour week consisting of the standard 37‑hour week plus an additional 2 hours (ACHP) paid at plain time pensionable rate.

Nationality and Equal Opportunity

We accept applications from the following groups: UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK, nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS), and other individuals with the appropriate right to work in the UK.

Security Requirements

• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
• People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Service Code

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. All candidates are assessed on merit in accordance with the Civil Service principles and the Civil Service Code of conduct.

Benefits

• Salary: £28,122
• Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme contribution: £8,146 (28.97%), plus employer contribution
• Access to learning and development opportunities
• Flexible working options to enhance work‑life balance
• Annual leave and public holidays
• Season ticket advance
• Inclusive work culture encouraging diversity and inclusion