Gardener

Job Summary

Nua Healthcare Services is one of Ireland’s leading Care Providers. We provide Residential, Supported Living, Day Services and Community Outreach Services to both Children and Adults with a range of complex support requirements. 

Benefits of joining Nua Healthcare!

• Company Pension
• Specified Illness Cover
• Comprehensive Induction process
• Continuous Professional Development
• Fantastic development & career opportunities
• Life Assurance/Death-in-Service
• Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Education Assistance
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Working hours over a 7-day roster involving shift work
• Bike to work Scheme
• Refer/Retain a friend bonus. 
• Discounts with Retailers - Nationwide 

Job Objectives

At Nua Healthcare Services, we are proud to offer high standards of service and care. Renowned for offering some of the best facilities in the country; our residential accommodation combines modern state-of-the-art facilities with beautiful outdoor environments. Our tailored day care programs encompass a wide variety of stimulating and enjoyable activities. 

Our team bring a wealth of experience in supporting individuals with a range of complex needs including, but not limited to: 

• Autism 

• Asperger Syndrome 

• Acquired Brain Injuries 

• Challenging Behaviour 

• Intellectual Disabilities with Alzheimer’s or Dementia 

• Mental Health Rehabilitation and Recovery 

• Personality Disorders 

The role of The Gardener will be responsible for the day to day planning, maintenance and presentation of the gardens and landscaped grounds at Gormanston.

The grounds include extensive mixed shrub and perennial planting, sensory gardens, lawns, hedges and trees. The Gardener will organise seasonal work, maintain horticultural standards, monitor plant health and provide practical direction to the Assistant Gardener.

Job Objectives

• Plan and deliver the routine and seasonal garden maintenance programme.
• Prioritise work and allocate daily tasks to the Assistant Gardener.
• Maintain mixed shrub and perennial borders and sensory gardens through planting, pruning, deadheading, division, staking, mulching, feeding, watering and weed control.
• Maintain lawns to a high standard, including mowing, edging, strimming, feeding, aeration, scarifying, overseeding and localised repairs.
• Maintain hedges through appropriate seasonal cutting, renovation and replacement planting.
• Carry out routine tree care, including watering, mulching, formative pruning and checking tree stakes and ties.
• Report damaged, unstable or potentially hazardous trees that require specialist attention.
• Monitor plant health and identify common pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies and environmental stress.
• Implement an integrated approach to pest and disease management, prioritising good horticultural practices and non chemical controls where possible.
• Use plant protection products only when appropriately trained and authorised, following product instructions, risk assessments, storage requirements and company procedures.
• Maintain any required pesticide application, inspection and treatment records.
• Operate and carry out routine checks on grounds maintenance equipment, including ride on and pedestrian mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters and blowers.
• Report defective equipment and arrange servicing through the agreed process.
• Maintain appropriate stocks of plants, mulch, fertilisers, soil improvers, fuel and other gardening materials.
• Keep paths, garden features, storage areas and work areas clean, safe and presentable.
• Manage green waste through the approved composting, recycling or disposal arrangements.
• Communicate planned work, access requirements, safety concerns and maintenance issues to the Facilities Manager and relevant site staff.
• Support appropriate resident involvement in gardening activities when agreed with the service team.
• Maintain basic work, inspection and stock records and provide progress updates to the Facilities Manager.

Skills Requirement

• A recognised horticultural qualification at QQI Level 5 or 6, or equivalent, together with relevant practical experience. Applicants with substantial professional horticultural experience may also be considered.
• At least three years’ relevant experience in professional gardening, estate grounds, landscape maintenance or a similar horticultural environment.
• Strong practical knowledge of shrubs, perennials, lawns, hedges and trees.
• Knowledge of seasonal maintenance and appropriate pruning techniques.
• Ability to recognise common plant pests, diseases and other plant health problems and recommend appropriate corrective action.
• Competence in the safe operation and routine care of common grounds maintenance machinery and hand tools.
• Ability to organise work, set priorities and maintain high standards.
• Ability to supervise and provide practical direction to another team member.
• Good communication, record keeping and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of the wider site team.
• A full driving licence, or actively in the process of obtaining one.
• Ability to undertake the physical requirements of an outdoor role throughout the year, with reasonable accommodation where appropriate.

Desirable criteria

• Current pesticide application training or certification appropriate to the role, such as PA1 and PA6 or an equivalent recognised qualification.
• Training or experience in integrated pest management, plant health monitoring and pesticide record keeping.
• Additional relevant training, such as first aid, manual handling or operation of ride on machinery.
• Experience maintaining sensory gardens or landscaped grounds within a healthcare, residential or similarly sensitive environment.
• Basic IT skills for email, work records, stock requests and reporting.

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