University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Grounds & Gardens Supervisor
The closing date is 15 July 2026
The core duty of the role is to supervise grounds & gardens team members and contractors, provide practical instruction to staff and contractors and to act mentor for team members and apprentices to assist in their development and to compile and monitor training programmes. Ensure the grounds of the hospital are tidy and welcoming to patients and visitors.
Maintain operate & review the pre-planned maintenance programs to review & revises procedures and working practices where required.
The post holder will maintain good communications and working relationships with;
- Members of Trust staff at all levels including nursing staff,
- All Estates and Facilities staff across all disciplines.
Carry out work in accordance with current legislation, codes of practice and best practice guidance.
Work safely observing the Trust and departments Health and Safety Policies and procedures.
Work efficiently using technology to work within Service Level agreements and Key performance Indicators.
Carry out tasks and communicate failures and non-conformities to line manager.
To act in a professional manner when undertaking tasks and duties in contact with Patients, Visitors, contractors and staff.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of this role is:
- to lead a team of staff to ensure the grounds and gardens of the Leicester Royal Infirmary are kept clean and presentable
- to proactively make improvements to the garden areas developing layouts and planting selection
- organise seasonal plant and shrub ordering and procurement
- planning machine and equipment maintenance schedules
- ensure the staff are working in a safe manner and support them with any training requirements
Job responsibilities
Carry out all the supervisory tasks associated with the gardening department. This will include aspects such as, direct supervision of the in-house gardening team, raising and allocating works, creating a site wide PPM schedule, managing holidays, training, tools and machinery maintenance etc. Liaising with contractors regarding contracted works, tree surveys, tree felling, winter gritting etc, everything associated with running and supervising the gardening department. Carry out routine gardening and grounds maintenance activities unsupervised to include, grass cutting and hedges.
Person Specification
Communication and relationship skills
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability and confidence to liaise with all services and grades
- Ability to handle sensitive information with the confidentiality
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills at all levels internally and externally.
- Be Able to deal with complaints and queries in a professional and informative manner
Experience
- Experience of working within the NHS environment in Operational Estates
- Experience of Supervising Gardening Team with the minimum 3 Years’ Experience
- Experience of supervising staff and allocating work load and ensuring safe operation of equipment
- Experience of developing systems and processes to improve on our KPI’s and implement changes for the benefit of the department
- Knowledge of Health & Safety in connection with the Construction Industry
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in gardening and landscaping
- Extensive knowledge of Gardening equipment and maintenance
- Extensive Knowledge of developing risk assessment’s
- Keep Accurate Records of Tree Surveys and arrange the visits
- To keep the Gardening Departments COSHH Register up to date.
- To ensure all machinery is maintained and in good working order
- To ensure your teams statutory and mandatory training along with appraisals are kept up to date
- Ensuring all relevant health & safety standards are met in relation yours, your staff and the general public, conducting and reviewing risk assessments of yours, your staff and contractors.
- Being responsible for the proper use, maintenance and safe storage of all plant, machinery, tools and equipment.
- Carry out driving duties, if able, as requested to collect or deliver plant and equipment to supplier or manufacturers agents. Current British driving licence preferred
Training & Qualifications
- GCSE Grade 3 or Equivalent or above in English
- GCSE Grade 3 or Equivalent or above in Maths
- Qualification in Gardening/landscaping eg NVQ level 3 or equivalent
- Certificate in competence in PA 1 & PA 6 Pesticide Control Qualification
- Chainsaw License
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s Values and Behaviours
Analytical and Judgement skills
- Must be able to use own initiative without direct supervision
- Must be able to multitask and deal with frequent interruptions when carrying out complex tasks
- Must have excellent attention to detail with a high level of precision and accuracy
- Must be able to Diagnose a wide range of faults and come up with a solution
- Must be able to solve technical issues relating to the gardening machinery or plant
Planning and organisation skills
- Excellent organisational and planning skills with the ability to manage difficult situations and prioritise workloads.
- Ability to forward plan and delegate tasks and have the confidence to do so.
- Be Able to Manager other Gardner’s within the team and arrange workloads.
- Organise Tree Surveys and provide accurate reports with action plans
Physical Skills
- Ability to do the job with enthusiasm and vigour
- Be flexible with working hours when incidents occur that could have impact on service delivery
- Be able to Operate fine tools and equipment
Other Requirements
- Must have a driving licence and be able to travel between sites at short notice
- Must be willing to undertake highly unpleasant condition’s at times working in inclement weather and clearing of sewage after drains have over flowed.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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