MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

Undertake work of a horticultural nature and carry out grounds maintenance as directed throughout the Parks and Cemeteries Service to include artificial surfaces; parks; playing fields; golf courses; and other open spaces

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensure grounds and horticultural areas are maintained in accordance with the required standards and carrying out the instructions of the Team Leader/Parks and Cemeteries Supervisor.
2. Operate and maintain tools and equipment required to carry out any of the duties pertaining to the post, ensuring daily safety checks are completed.
3. Carry out routine maintenance activities including litter and leaf collection, hedge cutting, planting, sweeping, weed control operations, grass cutting, shrub/tree pruning, floral planting, watering hanging baskets, maintaining pitches/sports area, administering fertilisers/spraying pesticides and any other grounds or cemetery maintenance activities required in the delivery of the service.
4. Undertake duties in the Nursery, for example, making up hanging baskets; prepare cut flower and other displays; sow seeds; take cuttings etc.
5. Routine constructional labouring, including backfilling graves and topping up sunken graves.
6. Carry out routine maintenance of plant and equipment including daily checks on oil, water, fuel, tyres to ensure that plant and equipment are kept clean and operational condition.
7. Routine cleaning of buildings, toilets, showers, changing rooms, community areas and pavilions.
8. Removal of litter and hazardous waste (e.g. Animal carcasses) from shorelines, beaches and waterways, ensuring correct disposal.
9. Completion of written and computerised records (e.g in-house systems, accidents, defects and safety checks.
10. Inspect and maintain playground area e.g replace damaged swings; repair fencing.
11. Taking booking for activities/facilities in the area (e.g caravan park, special events), taking and receipting of monies where appropriate.
12. Hold keys to allocated building, ensuring security of same and public access where appropriate.
13. Implement adverse weather programmes i.e. salt/flooding when required.
14. In the event of inclement weather preventing normal working undertake such alternative tasks as may be allocated by management.
15. Delivery and collection of requested items, including erecting stands/displays when necessary.
16. Ensuring Health and Safety requirements are adhered to as per Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council's Strategy.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Demonstrate a team approach to achieving the objectives of the Section through full flexibility in relation to tasks undertaken.
2. Provide a high level of internal and external customer service including taking ownership of customer queries and complaints and following issues through to completion.
3. Continuously develop personal knowledge and skills to enhance internal and external customer service.
4. Comply with Council's policies and procedures including those relating to health, safety, wellbeing and safeguarding.
5. Promote equality and diversity by demonstrating appropriate behaviours in line with Council values.
6. Carry out any other relevant duties which may be assigned including working in other sections of the Department and Council.

Essential Criteria

• A minimum of 1 years experience of horticultural work including planting and flowerbed maintenance
• Working knowledge of grass cutting, grounds maintenance techniques, horticulture materials including shrub, bedding plants etc and knowledge of Health and Safety regulations

Other

• As this post involves significant physical and manual handling elements, a good level of general fitness is required

Desirable Criteria

• C1 + E license to drive vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes
• Hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence and qualification card (CPC card)
• Hold PA1 qualification for safe use of pesticides
• Hold PA6A qualification for spraying pesticides using a hand held applicator
• Hold an NVQ Level 1 in Amenity Horticulture
• Hold a qualification in Road Management / Traffic Control
• NPTC in use of Chainsaws

Full time temporary seasonal role to start early March

£9.81 per hour based on 37hrs per week

Interested applicants please forward your cv via the apply button or directly to Ashleigh, ashleigh.lyle@staffline.co.uk any enquiries please call 028 25642699