Amisfield Preservation Trust
Salary: £13,250 (£26,500 pro-rata)
Hours: 17.5 hours per week.
Holiday entitlement: 15 days per year
Responsible to: Amisfield Preservation Trust Board of Directors
Responsible for: Volunteers, students, & health referrals
Job Role
We are looking for a caring, compassionate and motivated person to further develop our wellbeing work within the garden. The postholder will work alongside our existing Volunteer Coordinator to support people with vulnerabilities to regularly visit and/or engage in gardening with a therapeutic focus. They will work with people both on a 1-1 basis and with small groups. Additionally they will undertake outreach work to other organisations who have a wellbeing focus to develop new partnerships and bring additional groups and people with vulnerabilities into the garden. They will also host 6 wellbeing workshops at the garden throughout the year. These workshops might be run in partnership with other organisations.
This post is offered initially on a fixed contract of one year ( 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025). The post is funded by East Lothian TSI Communities, Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. Continuation will be dependent on further grant funding being secured.
Job Description
Main Duties and Responsibilities
• To engage, support and guide people with vulnerabilities to regularly visit and/or engage in gardening with a therapeutic focus.
• To offer 1:1 support when needed and to work with people in small groups, integrating them into the Amisfield community.
• To supervise and assist people on supported work experience placements.
• To undertake outreach work to health organisations, schools and other voluntary organisations in order to develop new partnerships to bring new people and groups into the garden.
• To work alongside the Volunteer Coordinator to provide appropriate training on induction and health and safety.
• To develop a programme of workshops within the garden with a focus on wellbeing and the links with horticulture.
• To collect and collate monitoring information and statistical data required by funders
• To work alongside the Volunteer Coordinator and Board members to further develop the work of Amisfield as a historical walled garden
• To promote the Garden in the wider local community and to encourage greater access and participation.
• To assist the Board of the Trust in developing and distributing information resources and promotional material, including social media
• To contribute to the formation and delivery of Amisfield Walled Garden’s existing events programme, including open days and workshops
• To report regularly to the management team to ensure that targets are met
• To provide cover when the Volunteer Coordinator is absent and to be responsible for opening and closing the garden on those occasions.
• To work in all parts and all aspects of the garden’s horticultural work as required and to ensure that facilities are kept safe and clean
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience
Essential:
• Experience of working with people with vulnerabilities and disadvantages.
• Experience of working in an outdoors / horticultural / environmental setting.
• Experience of, or interest in, food growing and wildlife gardening
• Experience of Community-led or based work including engagement and encouraging participation
• Experience in designing and delivering activities to groups
• Experience of working with volunteers.
Desirable:
• Experience in monitoring, evaluating and reporting on community development initiatives
• Experience of work within the voluntary sector
• Experience in volunteer coordination and development including delivering training
• Experience in project planning and management
Skills and Ability
Essential:
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Ability to work with, motivate and encourage people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities
• Good horticulture skills and knowledge
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to independently lead gardening sessions with individuals and groups.
• Self -motivated with organisational and time management skills, and with the ability to set and achieve realistic targets and to manage own workload.
• Good networking skills
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills.
• Ability to follow health and safety procedures as well as carry out dynamic risk assessments while leading volunteer sessions
Desirable:
• Practical skills in outdoor activity and land management
• Digital media
• Ability to write, update and implement risk assessments.
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential:
• A high level of training or knowledge in working with vulnerable individuals / groups, preferably in the voluntary sector
• Good knowledge of or training in community development/activity and engagement and evidence a willingness to learn and develop new skills.
Desirable:
• A professional qualification in social care, social work, community education or teaching.
• Professional qualification in horticulture e.g. RHS Level 2 or RBGE Certificate in practical horticulture
• First aid certificate
• Driving licence
• A relevant specialist subject or area of expertise
• Interest in historic properties and the ecological environment
Personal Qualities
• Good “people skills” with patience, understanding and compassion
• A belief in the values and potential of community-based development and of the value of gardening in promoting wellbeing
• Ability to prioritise
• Resilient and flexible
• Creative and personable
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Other
Applicants may be asked to carry out additional tasks as may arise and which may be reasonably accommodated within the post’s salary level. You will be required to act in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to take reasonable care for the health and safety of any person who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.The post involves some occasional weekend work, for which time off in lieu is offered which must be pre-agreed with the board. The post is subject to a check through the Disclosure Scotland scheme.
Please complete the application form, paying particular attention to how you meet the requirements within the person specification. Please send completed applications to : volunteersamisfield@gmail.com
Closing date for applications: Friday 1st March 2024 at 5pm.
Interview date: Tuesday 12th March 2024.
We envisage that the post will start as close as possible to 1st April 2024. Applicants will need to undertake a check through Disclosure Scotland before commencement of employment.
Amisfield Preservation Trust values diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Further information about the post can be obtained from Steve Gowenlock (Board member) at steveg2458@gmail.com
Thank you for your interest in this post.
Amisfield Preservation Trust is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in Scotland Number SC199773 and a Scottish Charity Number SC029412Registered Office: Anne's Cottage,12a Sidegate, Haddington, East Lothian, EH41 4BZ
Link to Information Sheet and Job Description
Link to Application Form
A local garden for community benefit