Estates Gardener

AGH Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and provides Estates, Facilities and procurement services for the Trust. We are looking for a Gardener to join our team.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual capable of working well within our current Estates team who can carry out pre-planned and reactive maintenance to the grounds and gardens on the Hospital site. Suitable training will be offered to carry out this role.

We are seeking an individual with the experience and qualifications stated in the essential criteria within the person specification.

For further information please contact Chris Sharpe Estates Supervisor or Sam Barlow Gardening Team Leader on 01535 294827.

To undertake, with a minimum of supervision, routine grounds maintenance including:
- Grass cutting with commercial machinery
- Control of weeds by manual and chemical means
- Litter collection around main entrance areas
- Planting out seasonal displays in beds and containers
- Seasonal pruning and plant care
- Hedge cutting and boundary maintenance by hand and with commercial equipment
- Minor tree surgery
- Winter gritting and snow clearing
- Basic maintenance of surface water drainage
- Application of fertilizers/top dressings to maintain quality of appearance

AGH Solutions was born out of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, a hospital and community services trust based outside Keighley, West Yorkshire.

We are privileged to operate in a beautiful part of the country. The clinical services we support reach far up into the Yorkshire Dales, across the Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven patch. We are also lucky to have excellent transport links to Leeds, Bradford, Manchester and beyond. Leeds city centre is 25 minutes by train from Keighley.

We provide a wide range of services, from traditional facilities management and estate maintenance, to sterile services, wheelchair engineering and procurement.

Our vision is to bring you a flexible, responsive, high quality, value for money service.

Maintenance of the grounds and gardens within the Airedale Estate to the highest achievable standards.

Grass cutting routines with self-propelled commercial grade grass cutting machinery including basic machine maintenance/adjustment and the safe use of all grass cutting and other types of machinery to ensure safety of the individual and passers by.

Sweeping and cleaning roadways and main entrance areas, including the removal of litter, to maintain the Estate in a tidy condition.

Control of flower beds, hanging baskets and containers, including planting, pruning, weed control and feeding.

Control of weeds by traditional methods and by chemical spraying.

Roding and cleaning surface water drainage to ensure proper operation.

Participation in grounds improvement schemes and where required support other disciplines in developing the amenity value of the estate.

To assist with any other duties as assigned by the Head Gardener.

To be self-starting, self-motivating and capable of showing and using one’s own initiative.

To maintain customer confidentiality and promote good customer liaison at all times.

To provide assistance to Maintenance Engineers or other more senior grades on new works or repairs (not necessarily ground related) when directed to do so by supervisory staff in the performance of their duties in either an active or in a safety role.

To use the relevant gardening tools and equipment safely without risk to self or others.

To use chemical agents such as pesticides, herbicides and proprietary fertilizers in a safe manner without risk to self or others.

Shall be prepared to undertake additional training in order to fulfil the requirements of the post, satisfy new regulations/legislation or to further to develop the post holders duties.

The preparation and re-finishing with paint or varnish of garden furniture elements and storage of same on a seasonal basis.

The use and effective operation of four wheel drive vehicles with a variety of attachments such as trailers, salt/grit hopers, snow ploughs etc.