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Head Gardener HMP High Down

Employer
The Clink Charity
Location
Multiple Locations
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
20 Sep 2019

View more

Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time

The Clink Charity

A little bit about our work

The aim of The Clink Charity is to reduce re-offending rates of ex-offenders by training and placing graduates upon their release into the horticulture & hospitality industry. The charity represents a genuine opportunity for change, offering prisoners the chance to gain NVQ qualifications as well as experience within fully operational kitchen gardens and in-depth guidance to find full-time employment within the horticulture industry upon release. 

The Clink Charity operates the Clink Restaurant at HMP High Down, HMP Cardiff, HMP Brixton, HMP Styal, the Clink Gardens at HMP Send, HMP High Down and HMP Styal and the Clink Events training kitchen at HMP Downview in partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service. The Clink also operates the Clink Café in Manchester city centre.

Available Opportunities

We have the following opportunities available:

  • Head Gardener Trainer HMP High Down, Sutton. Surrey.

Working hours are Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm.  The role is a full-time position, 39 hours per week.

What we offer

  • Salary Banding: 

Head Gardener Trainer -£28K - £30K

  • 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays
  • Company pension scheme
  • Free meals and tea/coffee in the Clink Restaurant
  • Free parking
  • Pension scheme
  • Leave early on a Friday (less 1 hour for lunch)

With our horticulture team you will be responsible for: 

Training our Prison Learners

  • Ensuring we recruit up to 15 Prison Learners at a time in each garden who all have 6-18 months left of their sentence to serve and 5 Lifers
  • Ensuring that The Clink’s Five Step Programme is implemented, and make certain that all our Prison Learners are following the programme
  • Delivering high quality training to the Prison Learners in line with City & Guild NVQ qualification expectations/standards for Level 2 Work Based Horticulture.  I also train and support my team, along with the IQA, in gaining and upholding their TAQA qualifications
  • Ensuring that all of the Prison Learners work is up to date, logged in line with City & Guild NVQ expectations by my direct reports, and that all training is logged with the Training Administration Team and is ready for audit by the IQA.
  • Leading by example in delivering training with innovation, creativity and flair, and ensure that the Prison Learners are taught and inspired by new techniques and industry trends
  • Delivering training & coaching with passion and sharing my love for plants and knowledge of commercial crop production with the Prison Learners.

Running the Clink Gardens

  • Ensuring that the entire garden operation is run on a commercial basis, in order for the prisoners in training to gain valuable experience whilst gaining academic qualifications
  • Acting as a Clink Brand Ambassador, leading by example and challenging all our Prison Learners to maintain a professional work ethic
  • Responsibility for the overall strategic planning, development and success of the garden/s in collaboration with the team, the Director of Operations and the CEO of The Clink Restaurant
  • Managing the garden operation as to optimise and sustain our production of crops; whilst ensuring efficient use of resources and a continuous supply of crops to The Clink Restaurants
  • Building and maintaining effective relationships across all internal departments, The Clink Restaurants, HM Prison Service Gardener and the local community, acting as a figurehead for the garden and driving improved productivity
  • Working closely with the Head Chef Trainers in our restaurants to identify and implement business opportunities and new on-trend seasonal fresh culinary crops
  • Managing relevant reporting and analysis within all allocated budgets to ensure cost effective goals are being met and surpassed, and that all associated administration has been completed correctly
  • Organising guest industry visits by our suppliers and key horticulturalists, and ensure that their needs are met by myself and my team
  • Working closely with the Prison Van Driver & Head Chef Trainers to ensure product is delivered in a timely manner to the restaurants
  • Responsible for the husbandry and welfare of The Clink chickens

A little bit about you

This is a really fabulous opportunity for someone who has horticulture skills to support our vision and the continued growth and development of Clink Gardens.  You will already have proven experience within the Horticulture arena and therefore will have the following skills, knowledge & experience:

Technical Competency

  • Ideally you will have a TAQA (assessing qualification) or equivalent and have experience of delivering training in the workplace; or:
  • Training Techniques and/or Craft Trainer Award V1 Assessor would be desirable; and:
  • A diploma or degree in Horticulture accredited by either Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) or NVQ Level 3 is desirable but not essential
  • If not, we can support your training to obtain your assessor qualifications.

Skills & Experience

  • Previous experience as a Head Gardener, running a commercial kitchen garden
  • Strong working knowledge and experience of growing a wide range of fresh seasonal produce
  • Strong personality with confidence to manage the planning and execution of strategy
  • Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of commercial horticulture
  • A good understanding of managing, budgets and driving crop production for use in fine dining restaurants
  • Previous experience of delivering training and successfully developing a team is essential
  • Strong leadership skills managing a number of reports and accountabilities is essential
  • Able to work as part of a team and work on own initiative
  • Proven experience running a kitchen garden and ability to grow a wide range of produce

The recruitment process

All applications and the recruitment process are being managed by our HR Consultants at Solution22.

Closing date for applications will be in September.  All applications will be acknowledged on receipt, however please note that candidates will be only be notified if they have been successfully invited for interview, or otherwise, after the closing date.

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