Job Description

Salary Scale: S2

Hours of work: Full -Time 32.5 hours (Monday to Friday 9:15am-3:45pm)

Main Base: Uplands Enterprise Trust, Stratton Road, Swindon, SN1 2PN

Reporting to: Skills for Work Manager, Outdoor Learning Coordinator

About UET

Uplands Enterprise Trust (UET) is a Swindon based charity that helps young people & adults with additional needs to help themselves through diverse activities and opportunities, focusing on its core offers, Skills for Life, Skills for Work & Bespoke. At UET, our passionate team and expert trustees drive our mission to empower and enhance the lives of young people and adults in Swindon and the surrounding areas.

South Leigh Stables

The Farm offers an inclusive & therapeutic space for young people and adults with additional needs. They are encouraged and supported in carrying out a variety of outdoor learning and nature-based activities around the Farm. All sessions are bespoke and interlink to help young people appreciate the valuable part they play in caring for the environment and each other, learn transferable life and social skills and contribute to a positive sense of well- being.

This includes facilitating time spent:

Caring for and connecting with the animals - chickens, ducks and horses

Cooking with farm grown produce in the cabin

Wildlife watching in the outdoor learning area

Role and Responsibilities

Communicate professionally with young people, adults, families, colleagues, and professionals.

Provide consistent, person-centred support to young people with challenging behaviour and additional needs during farm-based sessions.

Use inclusive communication methods such as PECS, visual aids, sign language, and technology.

Facilitate outdoor learning activities, ensuring they are engaging, accessible and tailored to individual needs and support plans.

Encourage social interaction, teamwork and communication through structured and unstructured activities.

Deliver activities to individual needs as well as skills, ensuring purposeful and positive outcomes.

Encourage young people and adults to try new experiences.

Support young people in practical tasks such as planting, harvesting and cooking using farm-grown produce to build independence and life skills.

Be a positive role model, demonstrating professionalism, respect, and consistency.

Administer medication, provide basic medical aid, and maintain safety across all settings.

Work collaboratively with the wider UET team to create meaningful, therapeutic experiences that enhance well-being and connection to nature.

Deliver personal and intimate care with dignity, privacy, and respect.

Promote positive behaviour through clear boundaries, de-escalation strategies and trauma-informed practice.

Maintain a safe environment by following risk assessments, safeguarding procedures and health & safety standards at all times.

Supervise and assist young people in caring for farm animals (including chickens, ducks and horses) in a safe, calm and therapeutic manner.

Complete delegated tasks to support farm goals.

Uphold UET values, undertake relevant training, and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all.

Observe, record and report progress, achievements and concerns, contributing to personalised plans and reviews.

Essential skills and requirements

Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with young people, colleagues, and external professionals. Remain calm when dealing with challenging behaviour.

Experience of working with young people and/or adults with additional needs, demonstrating empathy, patience, and adaptability.

Proficient IT skills, including use of email, digital records, and basic office software (e.g., Word, Excel, Teams).

Full, clean UK driving licence, with the ability to travel between sites on a daily basis.

Desirable Skills and Requirements

Experience working within a SEND or alternative provision setting, particularly supporting young people who display social, emotional or behavioural challenges, or those with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), ideally within outdoor or nature-based environments.

Knowledge of positive behaviour support strategies, including Team Teach or equivalent training, and confidence applying these within a practical, outdoor farm setting.

Strong understanding of safeguarding, safer working practices and risk management relevant to supporting young people and adults with additional needs in outdoor, animal-care and workshop environments.

Willingness to undertake training such as PECS, and any farm-specific safety training required.

A creative and proactive approach to problem-solving, with the ability to adapt activities to changing conditions, individual needs and farm routines.

Commitment to continuous professional development (CPD), reflective practice and developing specialist skills in outdoor learning, therapeutic environments and animal-assisted activities.

A genuine passion for empowering young people and adults to achieve meaningful outcomes, develop life skills and participate confidently in farm and community life.

What We Offer

- A rewarding opportunity to make a genuine impact in the lives of young people.

- A supportive and passionate team environment.

- Opportunities for ongoing training and development.

The organisation is based over several sites in and around the Swindon area however this role is required to report to Stratton Road to collect the allocated young people, drive to the farm for the day and then return the young people to Stratton Road.

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description. The duties and responsibilities attached to posts may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and would not themselves justify the re-valuation of a post.

The Trustee body retains the right to implement changes to this job description to reflect changes in the demands of the post and this will be done in consultation with the post holder

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 22,500.00-25,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person