Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Volunteer Gardner Green Parks House

The closing date is 05 February 2026

Job summary

To assist in the weekly care of a small garden by undertaking garden maintenance i.e. replanting, weeding, deadheading, caring for shrubs/plants mowing, strimming and general upkeep of the gardens. It is unlikely there will be any patient contact in the garden.

Main duties of the job

Under supervision and guidance from the placement supervisor(s) to perform the following tasks-

  • Help with general gardening duties, strimming, general tiding up of the garden, planting, weeding.

  • Chatting to patients and encourage them to do light duties in the garden.

  • Behaving at all times in a professional manner.

  • Be confident when communicating with persons who may have specific difficulties, such mental illness.

  • You must adhere to health and safety procedures around using gardening equipment, and monitor the use of tools by counting them out and back in at the end of the session

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.

We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

  • We're Kind
  • We're
  • We Listen
  • We Care

Details

Date posted

22 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Voluntary

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

277-7749764-VOL

Job locations

Green Parks House

Princes Royal University Hospital, Farnborough Common

Orpington, Kent

BR6 8NY


Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist in the weekly care of a small garden by undertaking garden maintenance i.e. replanting, weeding, deadheading, caring for shrubs/plants mowing, strimming and general upkeep of the gardens. It is unlikely there will be any patient contact in the garden.

Under supervision and guidance from the placement supervisor(s) to perform the following tasks-

  • Help with general gardening duties, strimming, general tiding up of the garden, planting, weeding.

  • Chatting to patients and encourage them to do light duties in the garden.

  • Behaving at all times in a professional manner.

  • Be confident when communicating with persons who may have specific difficulties, such mental illness.

  • You must adhere to health and safety procedures around using gardening equipment, and monitor the use of tools by counting them out and back in at the end of the session

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist in the weekly care of a small garden by undertaking garden maintenance i.e. replanting, weeding, deadheading, caring for shrubs/plants mowing, strimming and general upkeep of the gardens. It is unlikely there will be any patient contact in the garden.

Under supervision and guidance from the placement supervisor(s) to perform the following tasks-

  • Help with general gardening duties, strimming, general tiding up of the garden, planting, weeding.

  • Chatting to patients and encourage them to do light duties in the garden.

  • Behaving at all times in a professional manner.

  • Be confident when communicating with persons who may have specific difficulties, such mental illness.

  • You must adhere to health and safety procedures around using gardening equipment, and monitor the use of tools by counting them out and back in at the end of the session

Person Specification

communication

Essential

  • Excellent Communication Skills Required

Knowledge

Essential

  • Applicant must have a good understanding of gardening duties.

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of gardening would be ideal.
Person Specification

communication

Essential

  • Excellent Communication Skills Required

Knowledge

Essential

  • Applicant must have a good understanding of gardening duties.

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of gardening would be ideal.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Green Parks House

Princes Royal University Hospital, Farnborough Common

Orpington, Kent

BR6 8NY


Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Green Parks House

Princes Royal University Hospital, Farnborough Common

Orpington, Kent

BR6 8NY


Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Voluntary Services Co-ordinator

Paul Buckingham

paul.buckingham1@nhs.net

02088368510

Details

Date posted

22 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Voluntary

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

277-7749764-VOL

Job locations

Green Parks House

Princes Royal University Hospital, Farnborough Common

Orpington, Kent

BR6 8NY


Supporting documents

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