Job Description

About Us:

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THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF GIRO'S PERSUASIVE POWERS

The Environment and Communities team in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. We love it when our work touches lives.





Take Stepping to the Beat, our 3k walk, jog or run for people with learning or physical disabilities or Autism, their families and carers. It's a life-affirming, music-based event Coreen and Claudia are massively proud of - and they were keen for people to spread the word. So, imagine how thrilled they were when one of our residents, Giro, did just that. Advocating for people with disabilities at a planning meeting for transport in London, he was proudly wearing his event medal. And he decided to use it to encourage others. As he passed it around the room, Giro inspired lots more people with disabilities to get involved. Infectious enthusiasm goes a long way here.





Please view the extraordinary story of Giro's Persuasive Powers

here

.

The Role:

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As a Grounds Person at Sayers Croft Outdoor Learning Centre in Surrey, you can make your own powerful contribution to Westminster's success. Sayers Croft is a beautiful residential site with 56 acres of woodlands, meadows, ponds and streams, and offers a great range of adventure activities including wall climbing, caving and rope courses. It's the ideal place for groups of city children to discover the fun and joy of the countryside, and when you join us you'll help to manage the grounds for the maximum educational benefit of our visitors and the promotion of conservation and biodiversity.





Your responsibilities will be divided into a number of different areas - the first of these will involve grounds maintenance, which includes trimming hedges, mowing grass, repairing fences, gates and paths, and managing woodland areas. Looking after and using a range of equipment will be another key task - this will include an agricultural tractor, chainsaw, chipper, strimmer, mower, hedge trimmer and leaf blower. You'll also work with a large selection of hand tools and keep stocks of flammable fuels in a safe and secure condition.





In addition, your role will involve supervising and training Assistant Instructors and work experience students in the use of basic hand tools and other equipment, and assisting groups of conservation volunteers who are undertaking woodland management tasks. You'll also maintain a stock of firewood for campfires, and help with the construction of sheds, bird observation hides, platforms on adventure courses, gates, stores and other structures.





Please refer to the

for more information.

About You:

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With substantial experience of grounds maintenance and safe tree management practices, you should have some knowledge of habitat management techniques and be capable of working with and training volunteers. It's important that you possess the skills to maintain mechanical equipment and tools, and be capable of building a range of wooden structures, for example benches, fences and bridges.





When it comes to qualifications it's essential that you hold NPTC Level 2 awards in ground based chainsaw operations, branch removal and the breakdown of crown. With a full UK driver's licence and an appropriate First Aid certification, a diploma or higher in countryside or habitat management would be desirable, as would digger operating skills and a NPTC Level 2 award in the safe use of powered pole pruners. In addition, a LANTRA award in basic tree surveys and inspection would be an advantage.





Applicants should be aware that at certain times of the year working conditions can be poor, and you may need to work in all weathers. You'll also have some residential duties - these include living in onsite accommodation on a rota system to cover call outs between the hours of 5pm and 9am the following morning by visiting residential groups. This work will involve attending urgent situations such as the fire alarm or a lost child if you are on site at the time, regardless of being on duty or not.





Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.

What We Offer:

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Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council's strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city's future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.





At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit

https://www.westminster.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health-strategy-policies-and-reports/equality-duties

As a forward thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.





The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application , we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.





We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.