About this role
Job summary
We have a medium size courtyard and are in the process of developing this into a therapeutic space so that service users with long term conditions can use the space to access peer support, and as part of their rehabilitation. We are looking for a volunteer gardener to help with the general upkeep of the Therapy Garden. This could include independent gardening as well as working with service users to support them in the space i.e. seed sowing for summer with a group of service users.
We are really hoping that the garden can be a lovely therapeutic space for service users living with long term pain and that we can support them to live happier and healthier lives by accessing a green space.
Main duties of the job
A volunteer would provide invaluable support:
Help maintain planted areas and internal courtyards, with regular planting, weeding, and mulching.
Create wildlife habitats, such as insect hotels, bird boxes.
Help plant seeds and bulbs and provide aftercare.
Monitor butterflies, pollinators, plants and other wildlife
Encourage and inspire others to use the garden space
Report any concerns, issues to the service manager
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
We're Kind We're We Listen We Care
Job description Job responsibilities
We have a medium size courtyard and are in the process of developing this into a therapeutic space so that service users with long term conditions can use the space to access peer support, and as part of their rehabilitation. We are looking for a volunteer gardener to help with the general upkeep of the Therapy Garden. This could include independent gardening as well as working with service users to support them in the space i.e. seed sowing for summer with a group of service users.
We are really hoping that the garden can be a lovely therapeutic space for service users living with long term pain and that we can support them to live happier and healthier lives by accessing a green space.
A volunteer would provide invaluable support:
Help maintain planted areas and internal courtyards, with regular planting, weeding, and mulching.
Create wildlife habitats, such as insect hotels, bird boxes.
Help plant seeds and bulbs and provide aftercare.
Monitor butterflies, pollinators, plants and other wildlife
Encourage and inspire others to use the garden space
Report any concerns, issues to the service manager
Person Specification
Knowledge Essential
A knowledge of plants and wildlife is required
Experience Essential
Experience of gardening and general upkeep of gardens is required
Skills Essential
A calm and patient nature is required due to the nature of the therapy groups
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Address Queen Marys Hospital
Frognal Ave
Sidcup
DA14 6LT
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)