ASSISTANT GROUNDSPERSON (MATERNITY COVER) Temporary, part-time, averaging 27.5 hours per week The Assistant Groundsperson will work as part of an integrated 3 person team, led by the Groundsman, maintaining the grounds and playing fields for Worcester Sixth Form College and Nunnery Wood High School. It is hoped to appoint a part-time member of staff who can work without supervision, with a good mix of gardening and grounds maintenance skills. Most of all a hard working, reliable and flexible groundsperson is sought, who is willing to work appropriate hours as the seasons and weather demand, and who can adapt to the changing needs of the two organisations. The four areas that require grounds maintenance are detailed on the attached sheet Areas for grounds maintenance. The person appointed would be expected to work in all these areas. Within this pack or online (www.wsfc.ac.uk under job opportunities) you will find: 1. An introduction to the College 2. Conditions of employment 3. Job description and person specification 4. Areas for grounds maintenance 5. An application form with equal opportunities monitoring form 6. Summary information on the Local Government Pension Scheme 7. Policy Statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders 8. Code of Conduct for staff Applications Please complete the College application form and the supporting statement giving details of reasons for your application including experience, skills, training and expertise and how these are particularly suited to the needs of the post. Please refer to the job description, person specification and/or job details as applicable. Please do not write more than two sides of A4. We regret that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form. s are available from and should be returned with the equal opportunities monitoring form by Friday 13 th April 2012 to djb@wsfc.ac.uk or: Personnel Worcester Sixth Form College Spetchley Road Worcester WR5 2LU Tel: (01905) 362600 If you choose to send your application back in an A4 envelope please use a 'large letter' stamp together with a stamped, addressed envelope if receipt of the application is to be confirmed. Interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 23 rd April 2012 and candidates will be notified by letter and/or phone. The selection panel will be chosen in terms of their availability on the relevant dates and their current/designated roles. If you do not hear from us, we regret that you will not have been included on the shortlist and we would like to thank you for your interest in the College.
ASSISTANT GROUNDSPERSON Conditions of Employment General Conditions Contractual arrangements for this post determining conditions of employment are as agreed between the Sixth Form Colleges Forum and staff representatives at national level. They relate fairly closely to the Local Government Conditions of Employment. Start Date 1 st May 2012 Status Hours of work Temporary post to cover maternity leave in the College s Support Staff structure. This could last for up to 12 months depending on the existing member of staff s return date. Part-time, term-time, plus 2 weeks equivalent to be worked during non-term time days, averaging 27.5 hours per week (full-time is 37 hours per week) with varying working times on a seasonal basis. Flexibility to increase or alter hours/days to cover holiday/sickness absence may be required at times. Hours of work would normally be between 10.00am and 4.00pm (including ½ hour lunch break), though some flexibility would be required from time to time to reflect the particular needs of the three organisations. Additionally, hours may be dictated by daylight and weather on some days. Pensions Holidays Pay Child Protection/ Safeguarding Equality and Diversity Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, administered by Worcestershire County Council, is available for contracts exceeding 3 months duration. As an essentially term-time employee, the leave entitlement is paid as part of salary and all annual leave is taken during College holidays. Full year employees receive 25 working days plus 8 public holidays. The salary for 27.5 hours per week, term-time plus 55 hours, will be 9,588 ( 14,661 pro rata) based on point 14 of the sixth form colleges support staff salary spine. The College and all its personnel are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young persons and vulnerable adults. This position is subject to an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure check. Where you have lived overseas in the last 5 years the College is required to carry out an overseas check in addition to the CRB check. Please refer to www.businesslink.gov.uk/crboverseas for further information as to how you can apply for a certificate of good conduct if you are appointed. Where there is a charge applicants will be required to pay for this themselves. The College is an equal opportunities employer and staff, students, volunteers and workers are expected to respect the principles of open access and opportunity for all regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Applications from members of the ethnic minorities would be particularly welcome as they are currently under represented in our workforce. Disability Where a disabled candidate is placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to a non-disabled applicant consideration will be given to any reasonable adjustments required to enable them to do the job after an offer of employment has been made. Personnel will discuss any reasonable adjustments required for the recruitment process with candidates shortlisted for interview.
ASSISTANT GROUNDSPERSON Areas of the Site The total area of the site (including the buildings) is approximately 45 acres and the four areas which require grounds maintenance are: 1. Worcester Sixth Form College Site (Area B) This is an area of approximately twelve acres including the buildings. It includes driveways and car parks, hard tennis courts, an area of open playing fields, borders and shrub beds, lawns and marginal hedges. A high standard of presentation of this educational site is a necessity in a time of competitive recruitment by all schools/colleges. 2. Nunnery Wood High School Site (Area A) This is an area of approximately fourteen acres which includes a similar mix of surfaces and amenities though it has rather more mature hedging especially at the rear of the houses on Spetchley Road. The specification of work for this site will be at the discretion of the High School Headteacher through the Groundsman. A high standard of presentation of this educational site is a necessity in a time of competitive recruitment by all schools/colleges. 3. The Playing Fields (Area C) The whole playing fields were levelled, terraced and drained in the early 1990s and there is an area of six or seven sports pitches remaining outside the perimeter fence of the all-weather facilities. There are two permanent synthetic cricket wickets sited on this part of the playing field which is shared in use equally by the College and the School. Day to day needs for linemarking, net fixing, corner flags, etc. will be at the request of the Heads of Physical Education at the two establishments within a planned programme agreed with the Groundsman. 4. All Weather Surfaces (Area D) In 1994 about one third of the playing fields were converted into an all-weather astroturf pitch for hockey and soccer with an adjacent eight-lane tartan athletics track encircling a floodlit soccer pitch. There are accompanying facilities including car park, changing rooms, access pathways and a storage building. These facilities are shared by the College, School and City Council for community use. The maintenance requirements for these areas are largely in accordance with the manufacturers specifications for the surfaces concerned. The pitch and track are available for community use by the general public when not being used by the School and College. Thus there is intensive use between 8.30 am and 10.00 pm every day of the year except when there is closure for repair and maintenance and public holidays. The facilities are designed to a high standard to reduce annual maintenance requirements and so that prestigious events will be attracted. Litter clearance and leaf sweeping in season are important and regular tasks. The floodlit grass soccer pitch in the centre field is also well used and a particular problem, apart from overuse, is to prevent mud contaminating the track and throwing areas. The all-weather facilities are managed by Worcester City Council for the College, School and City Council on a cost sharing basis in proportion to use. A management agreement has established the framework for this. Groundstaff Facilities Facilities are available on the school site, Nunnery Wood Sports Centre and Worcester Sixth Form College where there is a cafeteria. The main store for grounds equipment is on the Nunnery Wood High School site.
JOB DESCRIPTION It must be recognised that this job description is likely to change as the circumstances of the College change and the post holder must recognise and actively adapt to these changes as they affect the job described. JOB TITLE: JOB PURPOSE: Assistant Groundsperson To assist the Groundsman with the maintenance and improvement of the grounds of Worcester Sixth Form College and Nunnery Wood High School, their shared playing fields and all-weather facilities, working across all sites. RESPONSIBLE TO: Site Groundsman, though requests re various tasks may be received directly from various members of WSFC, NWHS and Nunnery Wood Sports Centre staff MAJOR TASKS 1 To mark and maintain sports pitches. 2 To mow and strim grassed areas, maintain their edges and practise good lawn and turf care. 3 To maintain flower beds, borders, hedges, trees and shrubs to enhance their health and appearance. 4 To prepare for use and preserve the synthetic sports surfaces and their surrounds and equipment according to the manufacturers' instructions. 5 To mark out, clear and maintain as necessary, including weed spraying, other hard surfaces and pathways 6 To keep the sites clear of leaf fall and litter and to assist with clearing snow as necessary 7 To undertake improvement projects to the grounds as appropriate. 8 To monitor grounds maintenance needs and report these to the Groundsman. 9 To drive and maintain equipment and machinery and maintain stores and storerooms in good order and ensure their security. 10 To follow proper health and safety procedures for all members of the School and College and visitors to the sites. General Responsibilities 1. To be responsible for and committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children, young persons and vulnerable adults whether responsible for, or in contact with them. 2. To observe the College Health and Safety policy at all times, taking responsibility within own areas as set out in the policy. 3. To be fully aware of and implement College policies relating to equality and diversity and actively promote positive practice. 4. To comply with all other College policies and procedures.
5. To undertake personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the position and to participate in appropriate training activities. 6. To undertake any other duties commensurate with this post as the Principal may from time to time decide. 03/12
PERSON SPECIFICATION: ASSISTANT GROUNDSPERSON Requirements /Desirable Assessment Methods Sound general education Education & Training Knowledge & Experience Desirable A relevant qualification eg NVQ in a relevant skill/rhs Level 2 certificate Experience of gardening/grounds maintenance work Desirable Experience of using a sit on mower Interview Skills/ Aptitude Other factors Customer service skills Good organisational skills Ability to follow instructions accurately Ability to communicate effectively Ability to take some responsibility and work effectively within a team and/or without direct supervision Desirable Mechanical skills for the driving and care of tractors, mowing and other equipment Current driving licence Motivated, adaptable and hardworking Enthusiastic and friendly manner Honest and trustworthy Positive attitude towards students Ability to undertake manual handling Willingness to work outdoors in all weathers Willingness and ability to accept some variation in the hours of work around the average from week to week depending on circumstances Interview Selection activity Interview In addition to candidates ability to perform the duties of the post, the interview will also explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people including: motivation to work with them, ability to form and maintain appropriate boundaries, emotional resilience when dealing with issues of student discipline. If candidates are shortlisted any relevant issues arising from references will be taken up at interview.