Tynedale Horticultural Service, Minsteracres Retreat Centre, Consett DH8 9RT
Assistant manager
THS provides work experience in horticulture for adults with learning disabilities and operates within the large grounds of Minsteracres Retreat Centre. Work is carried out within greenhouses, polytunnel, woodshed, gardens and woodland. There is frequent contact with staff who work for Minsteracres Retreat Centre, members of the Minsteracres religious community and other agencies who share the site. THS has 5 permanent staff, including this post and provides a service for 10 people per day.
The role
You will provide day to day management for this service which provides training and support in horticulture and similar work for adults with learning disabilities, ensuring that the service maintains CQC standards and meets NCC performance objectives.
Main duties
- You will be required to manage a small team of care and admin staff, providing supervision and appraisal, managing leave, sickness absence, training, personal development and recruitment.
- You will oversee the provision of care and horticultural training to those who use the service, forming strong relationships with them and with their carers.
- You will assist the service manager in developing and maintaining the ethos of the service, with co-production an integral part of service delivery.
- You will assist the service manager in promoting and developing the service.
- You will liaise with others on the Minsteracres site, representing the interests of THS and NCC, and ensuring that excellent working relationships are maintained.
- You will ensure health and safety is well managed, in a manner which is risk aware rather than risk averse, ensuring that people who use the service can have opportunities to try new things.
- You will ensure that finance is well managed.
- You may also work as a keyworker for people who use the service, preparing care plans and risk assessments, keeping records of the work people do, and working closely with other members of the small staff team.
This is a permanent, part time 29.5 hours post, you will be working four days per week however, the four days are not specified.
For further information, please contact Clive Moon (07990793453) for an informal discussion.
We are offering:
- A starting salary of £26,329 - £29,219 (FTE £33,024 - £36,648)
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (or other pension scheme)
- A wide range of staff benefits including a competitive annual leave provision
- A range of salary sacrifice schemes are available
- A range of staff networks - run by staff for staff
Essential requirements:
You must have QCF 3 or above in care and good knowledge and experience of working with adults with learning disabilities. You must have recent managerial experience in a similar service. You must have excellent IT skills. You must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be a good organiser and problem solver. You will understand the need to respect confidentiality, privacy, dignity, independence, choice, rights and fulfilment of service users.
It would be an advantage if you have a good imagination and creative abilities, able to bring new ideas and to inspire others.
It would be very helpful if you have a passion for growing plants, with sound working knowledge and experience of horticulture, particularly glasshouse work, and that you are also happy to work outdoors and in a wide range of horticultural settings. It would be an advantage if you could drive the THS van.
Further information
The advert closes at Midnight on 8th August 2024. Please note, we aim to interview for this position on Tuesday 27th August.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you wish to notify us of your eligibility for this scheme, please email
hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk or ring 01670 623930 with your name and the job title you have applied for and one of the recruitment team will ensure this is factored into the shortlisting process and kept anonymous. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Alternative application format:
For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss:
Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930
Although we advertise on North East Jobs, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications