our ref
your ref
please ask for
direct dial 01473 433402
Dear Applicant
Grounds Maintenance Apprentice – 2 posts
Thank you for your interest in the above post. Please find enclosed in this application pack the following documents:
· Job Description
· Person Specification
· Structure Chart
· Service Overview
Application Form:
The application form plays a key part in our selection process. We use the information you provide to shortlist for interview.
You are urged to ensure that all the information contained in your application is relevant and that you demonstrate how you meet the criteria on the person specification. Please use the person specification for guidance when filling in the application form.
References: If successful at interview, Ipswich Borough Council will seek to obtain two employment references. Wherever possible the name of your first referee must be from current employment/education and the second from either current or former employment/education. If you cannot provide an “employment” reference please contact the HR Team at Ipswich Borough Council for further assistance.
If you have any recruitment queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01473 433402. Please leave your name, number and brief details of your question and a member of the recruitment team will call you back.
Ipswich Borough Council
Job Description X12
APPRENTICE
Parks and Cemeteries - Grounds maintenance
MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB
To work as part of the Parks and Cemeteries grounds maintenance team, whilst gaining the skills and experience required towards achieving a recognised Level 2 Horticulture Apprenticeship.
.
MAIN DUTIES
1. To assist with the delivery of the Grounds Maintenance service based at one of the councils three hub areas Christchurch, Holywells and Chantry Park.
2. Develop a working knowledge of Health & Safely and the operational practices within the broader workplace
3. Undertake a range of Gardening and land management duties
4. To work towards your Apprenticeship qualification with due diligence
Such variations as may be required from time to time without changing the general charter of the duties shown above or the level of responsibility entailed.
/ Job Title: Apprentice (Grounds Maintenance)Person Specification
ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Qualifications / 3 GCSEs at grade C or above (including Maths and English Language at Grade C or above/ Grade 4 or above) / An A level in any subject / Application Form/Certificates
Relevant experience / Experience of gardening, this could be at home or volunteering / Experience of working in a garden maintenance environment / Application Form/Interview
Specialist knowledge / Understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace / Application Form/Interview
Personal skills / Motivation and commitment to completing the Apprenticeship programme.
Keen interest in the practical, hands–on aspects of horticulture and grounds maintenance work
Able to bend, stretch and lift/hold heavy objects.
Ability to travel to and attend place of work on time, and manage work tasks effectively.
Good communication skills, with a polite and friendly manner to build positive working relationships.
Team skills to work productively with a wide range of people. / Application Form/Interview
Assessment
Special working conditions / Working outside in all weathers. Early morning starts. Some out of hours working will be required. / Interview
Ipswich Borough Council
PARKS & CEMETERIES
Vision Statement for Parks
Vision Statement for Cemeteries
‘To provide and administer a dignified and professional service for the disposal of the dead through burial and cremation in accordance with legal requirements, both in its enforcement powers and provider of regulated activities.
To develop a more commercial approach for the service by refreshing and enhancing the range of memorials; including cleaning, repair and the production of new memorials.
To provide public health funerals for those who die within the Borough and have no funds or next of kin to take responsibility for the service’
The ability to provide the Council with a ‘one stop shop’ for all parks and open space related functions, offers considerable benefits, these include; being able to respond quickly to instructions and requests, especially important when dealing with emergency situations; the capacity to prioritise at short notice in order to meet changing circumstances, without necessarily incurring additional expense, and having a range of in-house skills and knowledge available at all times in order to be able to defend and safeguard the Council’s interests.
The desire to continuously raise performance and efficiency is firmly embedded within the culture of the service area. National and inter-national accreditation to ISO 9001, (Management process), ISO 14001 (Environmental process) and ISO 18001 (Health & Safety process) bears witness to this fact.
The Parks and Cemeteries Service maintains 650 Hectares of open space but is directly responsible for 530.7 Hectares including 1 Special Protection Area, 2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 2 English Heritage listed Parks and Gardens, 4 Conservation Areas 19 County Wildlife sites and 8 Local Nature Reserves as follows:
· 12 (153.5 Hectares)Parks and Gardens sites including major historic parks at Chantry, Christchurch and Holywells and number of other large or important historical parks such Bourne Park, Gippeswyk Park, Alexandra Park and Landseer Park.
· 4 managed cemetery grounds
· 50 (62.2 Hectares) Amenity Green Spaces such as Dumbarton Road Recreation Ground, St Augustine’s Green, Murray Park, Brunswick Road Recreation Ground, Bramford Lane Recreation Ground.
· 36 (202.2 Hectares) Natural and Semi Natural
· 95 Play Areas.
· 35 Youth Areas.
· 19 (59.4 Hectares) Allotment fields.
· Outdoor Sports areas such as Whitton and Gainsborough Sports and Community Centre outdoor playing pitches.
The above spaces receive an estimated 6 Million visits each year and are the venue for up to 50 events each year ranging from civic events such as Remembrance Day, major concerts, festivals and sporting events to, charity and fundraising events and smaller community events. E.g. Ipswich Music Day, Tour of Britain Cycling, Annual Fireworks, Park Runs.
The process of reaching out to and engaging with local communities and relevant user groups is widely accepted as one of the cornerstones of effective and sustainable management of urban green space. The Service encourages community ownership, is able to provide expertise and offer appropriate support to individuals and groups that show an interest in either improving or managing their local open space.
A well trained and competent workforce is essential to the success of any organisation and in this regard the Parks and Cemeteries Service is no different. Continuous staff development remains a priority for the service and natural progression through the career structure is encouraged.
Current Management Arrangements
The Council’s Parks and Cemeteries Service offers a ‘One Stop Shop’ for a diverse range of operational services; see diagram below:
Parks / FTE / Head countParks & Open Spaces Mgt (2.5) + Tech Support (4.7) / 7.2 / 11
Grounds Maintenance / 50 / 50
Park Patrol (8.93) Play Area Inspection (1) / 9.93 / 19
Landscape Consultancy Design and Construction / 4 / 4
Allotments / 0.5 / 1
Arboricultural Advice, Consultancy & Tree Surgery / 5 / 5
Wildlife Ranger Service & Greenways / 5 / 6
Total / 81.63 / 96
Cemeteries / FTE / Head count
Office staff / 4.5 / 7
Crematorium staff / 3 / 3
Stonemason / 2.5 / 4
Total / 10 / 14
The Service supports the Council’s underlying principle for the citizens of Ipswich as set out in the new Corporate Plan.
In general this includes:
· Improving the health and well-being of the people of Ipswich
· Reducing the levels of crime in the town
· Improving the quality of life of the people of Ipswich
· Enhancing the self-esteem of the people of Ipswich
· Giving the people of Ipswich the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of cultural and sporting activities
The Parks and Cemeteries ‘Operational Plan’ will contribute directly to these principles.
Cemeteries
Ipswich Cemeteries & Crematorium is located to the North of the town centre and comprises of approximately 100 acres of managed burial grounds with a Crematorium nestled in the centre of the cemeteries.
The Cemeteries were established in 1855 by the town, and later became a Burial Authority. The town was growing fast and a place for the deceased to be laid to rest was required, churchyards were at capacity so Ipswich Cemetery was created.
In 1928 the Crematorium was established, this was a new process and initially did not sit well with people all over the country, Crematoriums were used sparingly as burials were far more popular. Today cremation is the most common with burials second.
In 1999 a new cemetery was opened on Tuddenham Road in Ipswich and was named The Millennium Cemetery, this will supply the town with adequate burial space for approximately 40 years and also has adequate space for the disposal of cremated remains.
The office staff manage the daily operation of the Cemetery & Crematorium; this includes all statutory paperwork for Cremations and Burials which take place on weekdays. The office also has a reception area open to the public for all enquires related to the deceased, this can include: family research, memorials, self-arranged funerals, grave purchase and general queries and questions about death and all its mysteries.
The crematorium staff takes care of the complex and its daily functions, this includes operation of the state of the art cremators that were installed in 2012 and meet all the requirements of a modern crematorium. The West Chapel which can have eight services a day and in these modern times a funeral can now take a much different form than in say the Victorian era. It is now common to have live performances, modern music and large attendances for this once taboo form of disposal of the deceased.
The crematorium staff also maintains and care for the very unique Temple of Remembrance which houses Niche Caskets containing loved ones ashes, these are a very unique form of memorial. The walls of the Temple are made up of Panels & Tablets; these hand cut memorials are very traditional and have existed in the building since the 1930’s. Finally the Temple houses the Book of Remembrance, a hand drawn book with inscription and drawings chosen by individual families.
The final team are the Stonemason and his assistants, this team act as Caretakers for the Cemeteries performing general repairs and maintenance where possible. The main role for them is to provide masonry services to the public; this includes cleaning and renovation of existing memorials within the Cemetery which could be Victorian through to a modern memorial. They have a very varied role and also a very good knowledge of all the plots and locations within the Cemetery.
The grounds are maintained by the Grounds maintenance team who care for the grass, trees and general appearance of the 100 acres we manage, they also undertake all grave digging duties with a small but dedicated team.