Casual Groundsperson

Salary:

Scale 3 SCP 7 £13.68 per hour for all hours worked. Please note payments will be made one month in arrears.

JOB PURPOSE:

The post holder will work as a member of the outdoor space’s maintenance team under the general direction of a Head Grounds person/team leader and be responsible for undertaking both basic and skilled work in parks, playing fields, landscaped areas and open spaces either individually or as part of a team.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly regarding time, place and type of work assigned within the Borough in the field of amenity horticulture including the care and maintenance of buildings, sports equipment, sports facilities, general amenity areas, parks and play areas and work diligently, efficiently and effectively to achieve assigned personal and team tasks to the required quality and within the allotted timescales.

The post holder will be required to develop personal competence in the use of plant and equipment and provide customer care services at parks and sports grounds.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Carry out horticultural operations, including planting trees, shrubs and plants.

Carry out grass cutting, hedge cutting and pruning.

Carry out labour associated with soil cultivation, fertiliser spreading, site preparation and constructional labouring.

Carry out sports facility maintenance as and when required to include preparation and constructional labouring.

Maintain games facilities and areas including spiking, aeration, scarifying, top-dressing, fertilising and also marking of games areas and erection/dismantling of posts.

Load, unload and move equipment and materials such as mowers, barrows, plants, soil, fertilisers, horticultural and sundries.

Assist the higher graded gardeners with their work.

Responsible for opening and closing parks facilities as and when required to include the setting of alarms etc.

Maintain the orderly condition of grounds, i.e. sweeping, hoeing, ranking, mowing, edging, removal of litter/rubbish/illegal dumping etc.

Maintain buildings, i.e. cleaning (sweeping, mopping and dusting), movement of equipment and materials (tables, chairs and machinery).

Make decisions on whether to close sports facilities due to adverse weather conditions or acts of vandalism.

Use powered hand tools and light plant to perform duties, including routine maintenance, pre and post operational checks, defect reporting, cleansing and record keeping for such equipment.

Maintain all tools and equipment in a satisfactory condition including the cleaning of garden tools and basic cleaning and maintenance of lawnmowers.

Administrative duties associated with grounds maintenance work.

Supervise the use of parks, sports fields and facilities including maintenance, orderly conduct by the public in line with Council Byelaws and ensuring general safety, giving guidance and dealing with any complaint in relation to the relevant site.

Provide training to allocated staff within the competency of the post holder.

Drive allocated vehicles as required to include the use of vehicles such as ride on mowers, tractors, pick-ups and small vans etc. to include the care of and routine maintenance, pre and post operational checks, defect reporting, cleaning and record keeping for such equipment.

Responsible for the care of and routine maintenance including pre and post operational checks, defect reporting, cleaning of vehicles, plant equipment and tools, as assigned from time to time.

Carry out application of chemical pest control methods under instruction.

Distribution and gathering of information by way of questionnaires and surveys.

Undertake duties in other Environmental Services areas e.g. waste and cemeteries.

Undertake any other relevant duties that may be required and are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.

Experience

• 12 months’ experience in two or more of the following areas:

▪ Operating a variety of commercial grass cutting machinery;

▪ Amenity horticulture skills;

▪ Sports ground maintenance.

Key skills, knowledge and attributes

• Ability to work as part of a team;

• Good communication skills;

• Excellent customer care skills;

• Ability to work on own initiative with minimal supervision;

• Ability to work to deadlines;

• Committed to quality work;

• Committed to safe working.

Driving

• Hold a full current driving licence (valid in the UK) including category B.

Working arrangements / flexibility

Hours will be offered on an ‘as and when required’ basis only and will vary according to requirements. Continuing offers of work whilst on this register will be conditional on satisfactory performance and availability. Preference will be given to candidates who can provide the highest degree of availability. Regular hours cannot be guaranteed and payment will be made for hours worked only.