We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Head Gardener for a prestigious role in a new Harris Bugg Studio designed, hospital garden project at Sheffield’s spinal injury centre.
You will be working closely with renowned garden designers Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg and their team, to plant and establish the new garden which is due to open in February 2025. The design of this garden was represented at Chelsea Flower Show last year for which it won both a gold medal and Best in Show.
The project has had widespread publicity throughout the fundraising and development stages, and will trail blaze the benefits of gardens and health.
Horatio’s Garden nurtures the wellbeing of people after spinal injury in beautiful, vibrant sanctuaries within the heart of NHS spinal injury centres. Leading designers create the accessible gardens where the charity’s team, alongside volunteers and creatives, care for people and plants alike.
The fully accessible garden will be a design masterpiece and will include a water feature, garden pod and a large garden room to give patients a warm sheltered place to enjoy the garden in all weather. There will be a large glasshouse, and an area of raised beds for patients where you will lead garden therapy sessions and a dedicated office space, looking out over the garden.
The Head Gardener will join a team of seven other dedicated Head Gardeners across the charity’s existing projects. You will work with a part-time Garden Administrator and a team of volunteers to nurture the beautiful space for patients and their visitors. Harris Bugg Studio will be closely involved as the garden grows, visiting regularly and offering advice.
You will be responsible for delivering a therapeutic gardening programme as well as arts activities for patients in the garden, supported by the charity’s Arts Programme Manager.
With the Garden Administrator you will also arrange social events for patients and their families in collaboration with the rehabilitation centre’s team.
The role is a fantastic opportunity for a confident, experienced gardener with an interest in gardens and wellbeing, and a passion for people as well as plants.
We are looking for someone who has:
Essential
- Practical experience as a gardener, including experience of garden management
- RHS Level 2 or equivalent Diploma in Principles and Practices of Horticulture
- Experience of leading and managing teams
- Experience of working with volunteers
- Good IT skills, specifically proficient with Microsoft Office 365: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Excellent communication skills
- Confident public speaker
- Experience in managing budgets and petty cash
- Interest in wellbeing benefits of gardens
Desirable
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture
- Experience of therapeutic activities
- Working in the voluntary sector
- NHS experience or work in a health care setting
- Digital photography
- Supplier management and ordering
Qualities
- Professional and confident
- Empathetic and kind
- Calm under pressure
- Able to meet the physical demands of the job
- Ability to prioritise and adapt to changing needs of each working day
- Self-motivated and capable of working with the minimum of direction but understanding the limits of your knowledge and able to seek advice when required
As a charity we are committed to creating and promoting a culture that protects and preserves the welfare of the vulnerable people in our care. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining and evaluating information from and about candidates including criminal record checks, to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work for our charity.
See the full job description here.
To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to kath.moss@horatiosgarden.org.uk
Salary: £36,000 FTE
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Application deadline: 27 October 2024
Job type: Full time, permanent
Work location: The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
