Horticulture Instructor

The Methodist Church in Britain; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

In-house health services

Staff wellbeing team

Staff networks

Job summary

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a technical instructor in the horticulture department at Wathwood Hospital, part-time. The role supports patients in mental health rehabilitation through therapeutic gardening, animal care and creative sessions on site and in the community.

The post requires 30 hours a week with weekend and bank holiday rotation, plus involvement in the public café. DBS checks are paid by the applicant, and food hygiene training is preferred.

Qualifications

• GCSE 5-9 (A*-C) in maths and English.
• NVQ level 3 or equivalent in related vocational area, animal care or healthcare.
• Good IT skills and health and safety awareness.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate therapeutic horticulture activities for patients in hospital grounds and the community.
• Support patients and staff in horticultural skills, animal care and environmental awareness.
• Deliver practical, vocational, creative and leisure activities under senior occupational therapy direction.
• Oversee maintenance of horticulture areas and greenhouses.
• Care for on-site animals including feeding and housing upkeep.
• Assist with cafe operations at weekends and with catering duties.

Skills

Effective communication

IT skills

Teamwork

Health and safety

Confidentiality

Education

GCSE maths and English (5–9)

NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Job description

Technical instructor post in the horticulture department at Wathwood Hospital, part of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, supporting patients in mental health rehabilitation. The work centres on running individual and group gardening, animal care and creative sessions, both on site and in the community. The role is part-time at 30 hours a week, with rotational weekend and bank holiday cover and some work in the public café. Food hygiene training is needed for café work, and applicants pay their own DBS check, deducted from salary.

What the job involves

• Facilitate individual and group therapeutic horticulture activities in the hospital grounds and the community
• Support patients and staff in horticultural skills, animal husbandry, environmental awareness and community engagement
• Deliver practical, vocational, creative and leisure activities as part of the therapy team under senior occupational therapy direction
• Oversee the maintenance of horticulture areas, including polytunnels, allotment, fields and greenhouse
• Care for on-site animals, including feeding and maintaining their housing
• Use available green space for hospital-based gardening activities, particularly for patients unable to reach the external horticulture area
• Write and review activity-based risk assessments, protocols and patient guidelines
• Carry out patient and staff inductions
• Oversee safe use and maintenance of machinery and tools
• Help run the café at weekends with café staff and volunteers, including some catering duties
• Liaise regularly with members of the public

Qualifications

• GCSE 5-9 (A*-C) or equivalent in maths and English
• NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience in a related vocational area, animal care or healthcare

Experience

• Working with individuals in a healthcare setting
• Organising and facilitating group and individual patient sessions
• Working in a team, liaising with colleagues, other agencies and services, and maintaining written records

Skills & knowledge

• Understanding of the purpose of rehabilitation and recovery in mental health care
• Knowledge of workplace health and safety and patient clinical risk
• Awareness of confidentiality and professional boundaries in healthcare
• Non-judgmental, positive attitude towards working with mentally disordered offenders
• Good verbal and written communication, and good IT skills

Checks & eligibility

• DBS check, paid for by the applicant

Other

• Motivate others, work independently without direct supervision, and prioritise own workload
• Work flexibly to meet service needs, including weekends and bank holidays on a rotational basis
• Complete mandatory training, including management of violence and aggression, with occasional intense physical effort to respond to incidents
• Willingness to complete further role-specific training
• Act in line with Trust values and commit to equality, diversity and inclusion

Nice to have

• Training specific to mental health care
• Food hygiene training
• Experience of working in forensic settings
• Understanding of Wathwood Hospital medium secure unit and its purpose
• Other skills relevant to the post

What’s offered

• In-house occupational health and staff counselling
• Dedicated Health and Wellbeing team
• Staff networks, including EDI, Green Champions, Freedom to Speak Up, Health and Wellbeing and Menopause Champions