Grounds Operative (Grade C)

ROLE PROFILE

ROLE TITLE:           Commercial Grounds Maintenance Operative

POST ID:                 OPWSABER43 (Abergavenny)

GRADE:                    BAND C      SCP 5 £13.26  - SCP 8 £13.90

HOURS:                   37 per week basic (However, there will be a requirement to work 43 hours per week from March — October, with the additional 6 hours being accumulated as flexi which can be taken back from November to March).

WORK PATTERN:     Monday to Friday (see above)

LOCATION:              Abergavenny (Llanfoist) Depot

Which may change in the future if the service location needs to relocate. Relocation or disturbance allowance will not be paid if this happens.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE (DBS) CHECK: Appointment to this post is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to the following DBS check:         No DBS Required for this post

RESPONSIBLE TO:  Contract and Systems Officer

WELSH LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT: Welsh language skills are desirable.

Grounds and Cleansing… Who are we? The Grounds and Cleansing Section forms part of the Neighbourhood Services Department, which includes some of the most high-profile services that the Council provides – Recycling & Waste, Street Cleaning, Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance.

SAFEGUARDING: Child and Adult Safeguarding are key priorities for the Council. We aim to support children and adults at risk to be as safe as they can and to fulfil their potential. All Council employees and volunteers are responsible for playing their part in the well-being, safety and protection of children and adults at risk. All employees and volunteers will be trained to the appropriate level of safeguarding and have a duty to fulfil their personal responsibilities for safeguarding.

Our Purpose:

“To provide a safe, clean & sustainable environment.”

Specific to the Commercial and Operations section we want:

Our residents to have an environment which is safe, clean and sustainable. Specifically we will undertake to keep streets and green spaces clean and tidy whilst ensuring we are able to maintain in the most sustainable manner available to us, creating a sense of pride and safety in our communities.

To work and support our residents as they become more sustainable and reduce their impact on the environment. We will do this by depositing less into landfill and recycling as much as is possible.

To promote the creation of our Pollinator Policy and to establish more environmentally sustainable habitats on land owned and maintained by us.

To provide a high-quality, cost-effective service on behalf of the Council for our external clients, whilst ensuring financial benefit to the Council.

To have a more flexible and multi-trained workforce.

To provide all our staff with the level of training that would be expected from us.

The Purpose of this Role:

This is a very important post within the Grounds and Cleansing Section of the Neighbourhood Services. The officer will work closely with the Commercial and Operations Manager, also a range of colleagues to enable them to deliver high-quality, very visible, commercial services to predominantly external clients however, there will also be a requirement to engage with internal clients. Key areas include being the first point of contact to our external clients, inclusive of Monmouthshire Housing Association, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Heddlu Gwent Police, and various other clients.

Grounds maintenance provides an essential service in ensuring the County delivers its aspirations of providing an environment which is safe, clean and sustainable.  Grounds maintenance operatives, either working individually or as a team, will maintain public open spaces, verges, planting, schools and contracted sites to provide a quality green and sustainable environment.

The majority of the time the officer will be undertaking grounds maintenance activities.  However, you will be required at times to work as part of a street services team, maintaining local environmental quality which includes litter picking, responding to fly-tipping etc.

Expectation and Outcomes of this Role: This role will actively support the organisation in shaping the culture and workforce of Monmouthshire.

You will be required to:

Maintain safe working practices for self and others in accordance with the Council’s safe working practices and Health and Safety Policy

Comply with the relevant legislation in relation to Health and Safety

Carry out your role in a polite and orderly manner

Undertake other duties commensurate with the grade of post if the relevant training has been provided.

Clean and current driving licence (and HGV licence if applicable)

Complete any training that is required to undertake your role safely and effectively.

Abide by the principles and practices of Equal Opportunities as laid down within the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.

Work within the Annualised Hours Scheme: working 43 hours per week from March to October and 37 hours per week November to March. Hours accumulated to be taken as leave between November and March.

Work outside normal working hours:

Responding to emergencies (including evenings, weekends and bank holidays) - staff will be expected to be able to assist the Council in its response to emergencies on instruction from management.  This includes instances such as flooding (sandbagging), snow (town centre clearances), storms (tree removal).  Staff would be placed on a stand-by rota.

Scheduling for working stand-by on bank holidays, weekends etc. will be based on principles of fairness and equality with Single Status Agreement applying.

Your responsibilities are to:

Grass cutting activities using both hand-held and ride-on equipment to open spaces, schools etc.

Assist with grave digging and cemetery-related tasks when suitable training has been provided, e.g. machine operator, manual handling.

To maintain horticultural features including shrub beds and areas of annual bedding.

To carry out the marking and maintenance of various sports facilities.

To undertake landscaping of open spaces.

Arboricultural work.

To empty litter bins and carry out litter picking to open spaces, verges and hard surfaces (reactive or proactive/scheduled).

Respond to fly-tipping service requests ensuring the correct process is followed for evidence collation.

To ensure that vehicles are kept clean and that daily safety inspections are carried out.

To ensure that all plant and machinery is used in accordance with manufacture`s advice and instructions.

To carry out other duties and work to provide services for the Authority and commensurate with the terms and conditions.

To abide by all Health and Safety legislation and codes of practice to ensure your own safety and that of your colleagues

Demonstrate a commitment to delivering high-quality services and maintaining positive interactions with the public.

Work effectively as part of a team and assist colleagues when required to ensure service delivery.

Here’s what we can provide you with:

· Employee Benefits: Access to a comprehensive range of Council employee benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance · Training and Development: Full training provided to ensure you can carry out your duties safely, effectively, and confidently. This includes any role-specific or safety-related instruction. · Welsh Language Development: Opportunities to develop and enhance your Welsh language skills through supported learning and practical use. · Equipment and clothing: Provision of all necessary personal protective Equipment (PPE) and workwear to support safe and professional working practices. · Team Culture: The opportunity to be part of a flexible, forward-thinking team that is committed to delivering high-quality services to both Monmouthshire residents and external clients. · Career Development: Opportunities for progression within the Grounds and Cleansing department or wider Council departments, supported by structured development plans. · Employee Well-being Support: Access to wellbeing initiatives, including mental health support, counselling services, and employee assistance programmes. · Pension Scheme: Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), offering financial security and benefits for the future. · Community Impact: The opportunity to make a visible and meaningful difference to the local environment and contribute to the quality of life in Monmouthshire. · Inclusive Workplace: A welcoming and inclusive working environment that values diversity and promotes equality. · Sustainable Practices: Be part of a team contributing to Monmouthshire`s sustainability goals, including reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental stewardship.

What else you need to know… Our values: Our purpose is underpinned by a clear sense of who we are as an organisation.  We expect people who work with us to share a strong value set and expect that these are evident in the ways in which we work and engage with our communities. Teamwork:  We will work with you and our partners to support and inspire everyone to get involved.  We will make the best of the ideas and resources available to make sure we do the things that most positively impact our people and places. Openness:  We are  open and honest.  People have the chance to be involved and tell us what matters. Flexibility:  We are flexible, enabling delivery of the most effective and efficient services.  This means a genuine commitment to working with everyone to embrace new ways of working. Fairness:    We provide opportunities for people and communities to thrive.  We will always try to treat everyone fairly and consistently. Kindness:    We will show kindness to all those we work with, putting the importance of relationships and the connections we have with one another at the heart of all interactions. This role will work with Monmouthshire to achieve these.

In addition: All employees are responsible for ensuring that they act at all times in a way that is consistent with Monmouthshire’s Equal Opportunities Policy in their own area of responsibility and in their general conduct.

The Authority operates a Smoke-Free Workplace Policy which all employees are required to abide by.

Person Specification

How will we know if you are the right person for the role? As the successful candidate you will have demonstrated:

Criteria Essential / Desirable Assessment Method

Current clean UK full driving licence (ability to tow up to 3.5 tonnes preferable)

   Essential

Application

Experience of grounds maintenance activities or similar environment

Essential

Interview

Ability to abide by the Authority’s agreed policies and procedures.

Essential

Application / Interview

Experience of working as part of a team Desirable Application / Interview

Commitment to high-quality work and pride in public space appearance

Essential

Interview

Ability to self-motivate and work without close supervision

Essential

Interview

Willingness to undertake relevant training Essential Interview

Flexibility to work outside core hours, including bank holidays and emergencies

Essential Interview