The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

Gardener

The closing date is 28 September 2025

Job summary

We're looking full-time for a dedicated and skilled Gardener to join our Estates and Grounds team at the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.

In this varied role, you'll be instrumental in maintaining our hospital grounds, ensuring they are not only well-cared for but also a welcoming environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

What you'll do:

Perform a wide range of gardening tasks, including mowing, trimming, planting, and maintaining flower displays.

Keep our grounds neat and tidy by clearing litter, sweeping paths, and removing weeds.

Maintain and carry out minor repairs on grounds equipment and infrastructure like fencing and signposts.

Take part in our Winter Call-Out rota to assist with snow clearing and gritting, ensuring access is always available during bad weather.

Monday - Friday

Main duties of the job

Grounds Maintenance: Performing various gardening tasks such as mowing, hedge cutting, planting, and applying fertilisers.
Safety and Repairs: Conducting daily safety checks on machinery, and carrying out minor repairs to fences, signs, and other grounds infrastructure.
Grounds Cleaning: Keeping the hospital grounds clean by picking up litter, emptying bins, and cleaning roads and car parks.
Winter Gritting and Snow Clearing: Participating in a 24/7 winter on-call rota to ensure paths and roads are safe during snowy or icy conditions.
General Maintenance: Assisting with servicing equipment, clearing fallen trees, cleaning gutters, and refuelling emergency generators

About us

The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust (TRFT) is a combined acute and community Trust serving our local population of around 270,000 people. Our vision is to always act the right way and be proud to provide exceptional healthcare to the communities of Rotherham

As a Trust we are on a journey to excellence and our people and culture are at the heart of everything we do for patients. In the latest NHS Staff Survey, we are the second most improved Trust in England for would you recommend the Trust as a place to work?, and were one of the most improved for staff engagement overall

But don't just take our word for it each year hundreds of colleagues receive nominations for our Excellence and Proud awards, showcasing our brilliant people and recognising their achievements. Our people make a difference to the lives of patients every day and we are proud of the improvements we are making

All of our colleagues are key to our journey, and we are continuing to improve our services by upholding the Trusts values of Ambitious, Caring and Together. If you are passionate about making a difference, then please apply to join us on our journey to excellence

Certificates of Sponsorship

For individuals who may require sponsorship under the skilled worker or health & care visa route please use the link below to check your eligibility. Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) band 2 and band 3 roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship.

Date posted

18 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Pro rata/per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9165-25-08-118

Job locations

The Rotherham Nhs Foundation Trust

Moorgate Road

Rotherham

South Yorkshire

S60 2UD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for the full details about the role and the responsibilities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for the full details about the role and the responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Apprentice trained, with relevant NVQ level 2, and appropriate training courses to tasks performed and machinery used. (Applicants may be considered if their experience and knowledge is considered to be equivalent to NVQ level 2.)

Desirable

PA1 and PA6A certificates in pesticides and an ADR licence for transporting diesel is required, applicants without these qualifications will be considered, but if appointed must successfully complete this training.
Formal qualification in one or more aspect of gardening or horticulture.
Familiar with the safe use of all powered gardening machinery and tractors preferably with a certificate of attendance on a recognised course.
Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently between TRFT sites and for patient visits in the Rotherham area and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Knowledge

Essential

Have a good understanding of the basic working practices of grounds maintenance as relevant to the tasks to be carried out in this role.
Have a good understanding of the relevant health and safety issues related to grounds maintenance

Experience

Essential

A relevant experience of grounds maintenance functions working on a large and varied estate

Desirable

Experience in a similar role in a health care or similar environment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Apprentice trained, with relevant NVQ level 2, and appropriate training courses to tasks performed and machinery used. (Applicants may be considered if their experience and knowledge is considered to be equivalent to NVQ level 2.)

Desirable

PA1 and PA6A certificates in pesticides and an ADR licence for transporting diesel is required, applicants without these qualifications will be considered, but if appointed must successfully complete this training.
Formal qualification in one or more aspect of gardening or horticulture.
Familiar with the safe use of all powered gardening machinery and tractors preferably with a certificate of attendance on a recognised course.
Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently between TRFT sites and for patient visits in the Rotherham area and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Knowledge

Essential

Have a good understanding of the basic working practices of grounds maintenance as relevant to the tasks to be carried out in this role.
Have a good understanding of the relevant health and safety issues related to grounds maintenance

Experience

Essential

A relevant experience of grounds maintenance functions working on a large and varied estate

Desirable

Experience in a similar role in a health care or similar environment.

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.