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Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Gardener

The closing date is 24 October 2025

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Job summary

A gardener in the NHS plays a vital role in maintaining the outdoor spaces of hospitals and healthcare facilities, helping to create calm, welcoming environments for patients, staff, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

  • Mowing lawns, trimming hedges, and maintaining flower beds

  • Planting, weeding, and seasonal landscaping

  • Sweeping paths, clearing snow/ice, and ensuring safe walkways

  • Designing and creating therapeutic garden areas for patient wellbeing

  • Occasionally combining duties with caretaking or estates maintenance

Skills & Qualities Needed

  • Interest in horticulture and working outdoors in all weather

  • Physical fitness for manual tasks like digging and lifting

  • Ability to use hand and power tools safely

  • Good communication and teamwork skills

  • An eye for design and attention to detail

Main duties of the job

  • To assist in grounds maintenance operations on the Torbay Hospital site and community sites; the sites provide diverse landscape which includes hard surfaced areas grass and woodland areas and a wide range of mixed borders and flower beds
  • Provide top quality grounds maintenance service based on the principals of sound horticultural practise
  • Provide a litter picking and litter bin emptying service where the grounds maintenance specification for individual sites requires it and in addition be prepared to pressure wash external areas on request
  • Undertake regular maintenance to support the site safety requirements in line with health and safety policies
  • Fencing

About us

Why Work With Us

Working with colleagues in and friendly and supportive team, where everyone has the opportunity to be the best they can be and ensures our diverse experiences are valued and respected.

Supporting our patients, staff and visitors in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all.

Details

Date posted

13 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

388-7460139-CORP

Job locations

Torbay And South Devon Trust

Newton Road, Torquay

Torquay

TQ2 7AA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Daily contact with:

oSenior Gardener

oGardens Departmental Staff

oSite Services Manager

oMembers of the public/patients

oFrequency of contact weekly

oStaff including works department staff, cleaners, porters and transport departmental staff

oClients (mental health)

Monthly contact with:

oHospital League of Friends

oMedical and ward staff

oSustainability and Site Services LEAD

Annual contact with:

External contractors working for the department

Job description

Job responsibilities

Daily contact with:

oSenior Gardener

oGardens Departmental Staff

oSite Services Manager

oMembers of the public/patients

oFrequency of contact weekly

oStaff including works department staff, cleaners, porters and transport departmental staff

oClients (mental health)

Monthly contact with:

oHospital League of Friends

oMedical and ward staff

oSustainability and Site Services LEAD

Annual contact with:

External contractors working for the department

Person Specification

Application Form Scoring

Essential

  • Full Driving License
  • Experience working in a team
  • Good communication Skills
  • Capable of pushing and lifting reasonable weights

Desirable

  • Tractor License
  • Weed Spraying
Person Specification

Application Form Scoring

Essential

  • Full Driving License
  • Experience working in a team
  • Good communication Skills
  • Capable of pushing and lifting reasonable weights

Desirable

  • Tractor License
  • Weed Spraying

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

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Torbay And South Devon Trust

Newton Road, Torquay

Torquay

TQ2 7AA


Employer's website

https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Torbay And South Devon Trust

Newton Road, Torquay

Torquay

TQ2 7AA


Employer's website

https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Environment and Waste Operations Manager

John Hawkins

j.hawkins6@nhs.net

07917957586

Details

Date posted

13 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

388-7460139-CORP

Job locations

Torbay And South Devon Trust

Newton Road, Torquay

Torquay

TQ2 7AA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)