Community Rural Gardens (CRG)

2 x Horticultural Therapists/Support Workers

(3 Year fixed term role)

Job Description

Title:Horticultural Therapist/Support Worker

Place or base of work:Based at,and managed from,Thrive’sBeech Hill offices in Reading, but operating offsite for majority of time at 5 rural garden locations around Hampshire and South Oxfordshire

Reports to:Project Manager

The Project:

The overall aim is to support 120 people per year over 3 years who are aged 55 years and over and who may have a range of mental health issues, physical or sensory disabilities. This will be done through forming 5 voluntary garden support groups in different rural locations and enabling participants to become part of the service delivery within their local community. Participants will gain new skills in gardening and volunteering to improve their life skills, activity levels, confidence and motivation. Each Horticultural Therapist/Support Worker will support 120 participants per year.

Note

Individuals are expected to carry out a range of duties to meet the aims and objectives of the project and within the overall context of Thrive’s aims. All Thrive Horticultural Therapists may be required, with appropriate training where necessary, to undertake any of the duties listed.

Main purpose of the Horticultural Therapist/Support Worker post

There are four closely inter-related functions within the overall framework of the post:

  • Working with people with a disability (participant programmes)
  • Using horticulture and other related knowledge to provide gardening and related activities(horticulture and community)
  • Promoting the training and social care aspects of horticulture with community groups and other organisations and individuals outside Thrive (outreach and promotion)
  • Assisting in the maintenance and organisation of the various locations. Operating as a member of the team and demonstrating leadership in the preparations and implementations of the project(infrastructure and leadership)

Functions and duties

Participant programmes

To develop and run individually tailored programmes, founded on horticulture and related activities, for people with a disability. This will include:

  • Conducting detailed interviews and assessments of participants, taking into account their individual needs, abilities, personal interests, physical/social skills development and their current care plan with their referring body.
  • Identifying each participant’s training and support needs and designing and implementing an Individual Action Plan for allparticipants.
  • Identifying suitable and convenient gardening groups most appropriate for the individuals to be placed in.
  • Meeting with the participants on a regular basis; weekly for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 8 months, and 6-monthly thereafter.
  • Recording the progress of participants, discussing their needs, resolving any issues, arrange new garden group placements if necessary and liaise with garden groups of wider scale if needed.
  • Developing and providing individually tailored training to participants, to pass on Horticultural and gardening knowledge and skills.
  • Recording and maintaining all participant activity and progress on the project database.
  • Completing necessary paperwork to agreed Thrive procedures and providing reports as requested.
  • Work with local Councils, Health Care professionals, Community Mental Health teams and local organisations (e.g. Help the Aged) in Hampshire and South Oxfordshire to ensure regular referrals for the project.
  • Supporting the facilitation of collecting empirical evidence on the impact of the project by collating findings and data.
  • Regular liaising with referral partners, support groups and local community gardening groups.
  • Carrying out Risk Assessments and risk analysis, making sure all Health and Safety requirements are adhered to.
  • Key working:

Liaising with other agencies/multidisciplinary working

Listening to and supporting participants
Managing participant agreements

Completing necessary paperwork to agreed Thrive procedures

  • Assessing progress with participants and with outside agencies against those needs, and arranging and conducting regular reviews.
  • Working with volunteers who support the project in a variety of ways
  • Programmes will entail some or all of the following:

Therapy and the general promotion of personal well-being and life skills

Horticulture-based training to support numeracy and literacy skills

Training associated with specialist groups such as elderly people and people with mental ill health.

Working with partner organisationsto deliver individually tailored programmes.

Horticulture and community

  • Working with participantsand volunteers on horticultural, gardening, garden maintenance and related types of activity within their local community.

Outreach and promotion

  • Undertaking participant programmes in locations and with other groups as required away from the base site for the majority of the time.
  • Promoting the use and application of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture as a tool and Thrive’s full range of services, to other projects, community groups, other voluntary organisations, schools and colleges, and the statutory services.

Infrastructure and leadership

  • To work in co-operation with:
  • Community leaders
  • Multi-Disciplinary Teams
  • Health/Social Care Community Teams
  • Project Manager
  • Other Thrive staff.
  • To carry out all of the functions within the spirit and detail of Thrive policies and procedures.
  • To participate in, and identify, personal training needs to meet the competency standard set for horticultural therapists.
  • To participate in other activities associated with Thrive, including staff seminars, national events and conferences.
  • To contribute to the general running and organisation of the project and/or outreach projects, including:

-Reviewing and maintaining tools and other equipment appropriate to meet the needs of the project.

-Assisting with the design and production of information and other leaflets associated directly with the project.

-Undertaking such other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time, given the nature of the project and of the overall functions of the Horticultural Therapist.

This list is not exhaustive. Amendments and additions may be required in the future, in line with policy and other changes

Successfulappointment to this post will be subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check

Person Specification

Area
Qualifications /
  • Recognised qualification in horticulture
  • Certificate or diploma in Horticultural Therapy
  • Relevant Health and Social Care qualification L2 or above

Experience /
  • Session Planning/individual learner plans
  • Working in partnership with voluntary and statutory agencies
  • Working with people with a wide range of disabilities, including Mental Health, and those aged 55 or over
  • Practical gardening/horticultural experience

Skills and Knowledge /
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong personal organisation and co-ordination skills
  • Good standard of IT and numeracy skills
  • Ability to work on own initiative
  • Able to work well with others
  • Ability to build rapport
  • Flexibility in the working environment

Other /
  • Hold a full driving licence
  • Hold a current First Aid qualification
  • Willing to undertake some out of hours work
  • Prepared to travel

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