Gardener Grounds Person

Salary: Scale 4 and in the range SCP ¬9-13

Currently £26,409 to £28,163 per annum. The starting salary is normally at the base of the salary scale. A higher starting salary may be awarded in exceptional circumstances where the decision to do so can be justified.

Pension:

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council operates under the NILGOSC pension scheme. For more details on this please visit www.nilgosc.org.uk

Hours of Work: Successful candidates will be required to work 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Given the nature of the duties, the post holder may be expected to work outside of these hours at weekends, evenings and public holidays as dictated by the needs of the service.

Transport/Mobility: Successful candidates will be required to travel on official duty within the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area and beyond. Appointees will have access to council vehicles to enable them to meet the requirements of the post in full.

Date: July 2025

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To be responsible for carrying out a range of horticultural and grounds maintenance service tasks within all Parks & Open Spaces locations identified by the line manager either individually or as part of a team.

To ensure effective communication with site users, other members of the team and line management.

Assist in the community development of the Parks & Open Spaces Service through initiatives that engage the community within the Borough.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Service Delivery

1.1. Maintain the condition of parks, playing fields and other open spaces including all labour associated with grounds maintenance operations.

1.2. Transport machinery and equipment including a wide range of materials to various locations in execution of laid down programmes of horticultural maintenance work.

1.3. Operate a wide range of powered hand tools and pedestrian powered machinery including grass cutting, hedge cutting, pruning works and disposal of all clippings at designated locations.

1.4. Carry out inspections and cleaning of play parks to the required industry standard and make safe any defects found in play equipment and surfaces and record and report all defects to the Line Manager or other appropriate officer.

1.5. Carry out labour associated with soil cultivation, site preparations, construction, planting and maintenance including assist in design of planting schemes when necessary.

1.6. Carry out a wide range of maintenance works involving marking out, spiking, scarifying, topdressing, fertilising, turf laying, seed sowing, sweeping, sanding and erection and dismantling of posts within the Council’s football, rugby and synthetic sports ground facilities.

1.7. Undertake a range of fine turf works involved in maintaining a high standard development and maintenance throughout Council owned fine turf locations such as golf greens, bowling greens and cricket ground areas.

1.8. Operate/drive a wide range of motorised vehicles and other types of specialised horticultural machinery involved in the day-to-day operations of the Service including vans, tipper vans, Land Rovers, towing trailers, ride-on lawnmowers, forklifts and tractors & tractor operated / mounted machinery, etc.

1.9. Undertake operations involving the use and application of a wide range of pesticides in control of pests, diseases and weeds by the use of Knapsack/CDA/tractor sprayer, granular applicator and ensure compliance in recording of chemical usage in accordance with relevant legislation and identification of a range of pests, diseases and weeds. Carry out environmental risk assessments as part of these duties.

1.10. To carry out skilled horticultural / arboriculture operations after carrying out all necessary risk assessments and maintain a wide range of plants, trees and shrubs.

1.11. To maintain all horticultural tools and machinery in a satisfactory condition including light maintenance, i.e. fitting of spark plugs, blades, setting up and cleaning of equipment.

1.12. Erect and dismantle equipment for events held throughout the Borough including various types of public safety barriers ensuring safety of the general public.

1.13. To assist in the training, instruction and direction of staff and volunteer placements with special consideration to Health & Safety of staff, public and agency workers.

1.14. On occasion the post holder will be required to undertake other relevant duties associated with community events; street maintenance e.g. litter lifting and salting; and cemetery burial operations e.g. manual & mechanical grave digging including shoring, shuttering and backfilling of grave plots.

1.15. Work with the general public in carrying out your daily duties and advise of potential hazards.

2. Quality

2.1. Adhere to and comply with all Council policies and procedures relevant to this role, including arrangements for health & safety & risk management.

3. Performance Improvement

3.1. Participate in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of the Department Business Plan and relevant Service Plans responding to changing trends and citizen needs.

3.2. Achieve high standards of personal performance, through meeting agreed personal targets and undertaking planned programmes of professional development.

3.3. Examine opportunities to gain efficiencies and improve effectiveness including collaborative partnerships, joint working and other innovative approaches to achieve best value in the use of public money.

4. General

4.1. Uphold the Core Values of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and work to achieve the wider organisational objectives as detailed in the Corporate Plan.

4.2. Participate in the Council’s Performance and Development Review process as detailed in the published scheme.

4.3. Fulfil the legal Health and Safety duties placed on employees by:

• taking reasonable care of your own health & safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or do not do;

• Co-operating with the Council on Health & Safety matters;

• Ensuring that you use work items provided by the Council correctly and in accordance with the training and instruction received, including personal protective equipment (PPE);

• Ensuring that you do not interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety, or welfare purposes.

4.4. Contribute to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in fulfilling all of its commitments in relation to anti-discrimination practices, its Equality Scheme and under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

4.5. Comply with all the Council’s policies and procedures.

4.6. Fulfil your legal responsibility* for all records held, created or used as part of Council business whether paper based or electronic, including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004 and Data Protection Act 1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council procedure on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

* Any subsequent updates will supersede legislation identified within the Job Description

4.7. Maintain high standards of personal accountability.

4.8. Comply with the Code of Conduct for Local Government Employees and the Local Government Employee & Councillor Working Relationship Protocol.

4.9. Perform any other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the necessary experience and/or training.

Closing caveat:

This job description sets out the main duties of the post as at the date of completion. It is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the post holder is required to work. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time by the Head of Service. Duties may vary to meet the changing needs of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility that it entails. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must have:

·       A minimum of Entry Level Essential Skills qualifications in Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy.

·       Industrial PA1 & PA6 pesticides spraying certificate

AND

Be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, that they have one year’s experience to include:

• horticultural and grounds maintenance within a parks and open spaces environment
• using a range of horticultural chemicals, machinery and hand tools in a safe manner
• providing a high quality service in a customer facing role

OR

For applicants who do not hold an Industrial PA1 & PA6 pesticides spraying certificate, they must be willing and able to obtain this qualification within six months of appointment

AND

Be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, that they have three years’ experience to include:

• horticultural and grounds maintenance within a parks and open spaces environment
• using a range of horticultural chemicals, machinery and hand tools in a safe manner
• providing a high quality service in a customer facing role

General

A full current driving licence valid in the UK with minimum category ‘B & E’. A vehicle will be provided that enables you to carry out the duties of the post

(Consideration will be given to candidates who do not possess Category ‘E’ on the basis that it is obtained within six months of appointment)

Knowledge

·        A sound knowledge of horticulture and grounds maintenance methods

Behavioural Competencies

(Frontline Level)

These competencies are the top 5 competencies the Local Government Competency Framework[i] which have been identified and prioritised for effective performance in this role.

1.   How we Provide Leadership and Direction:

1.2    Leadership – Motivates others to achieve their objectives and organisational goals through involvement and providing feedback and support. Provides and supports development to enable effective delivery

2.   How we manage ourselves

2.1    Managing Our Own Work– Plans, structures and prioritises own work to achieve optimum results.

3.   How we work with others

3.3   Meeting Customer Needs – Establishes the needs of customers and strives to ensure that these are met.

4.   How we move forward

4.1    Problem Solving and Decision Making – Gathers information from a range of sources. Analyses information to identify problems and issues. Makes effective decisions and recommendations based on resolution agreement within an environment of trust, mutual respect and co-operation.

4.3   Achieving Results – Takes personal responsibility for

making things happen. Shows motivation and perseverance in overcoming obstacles and achieving results.

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications and Experience

·       NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture

·       RPII Level One ‘Outdoor Routine Inspection’ grade and it will be a condition of appointment that the post holder will be required to successfully update the qualification every three years.