Location
Wathwood Hospital, Rotherham, Nottinghamshire

Hours
Part-time, 30 hours per week including weekends and bank holidays on a rotational basis

Salary
£25,760 - £27,476 per year

About the Role
We are seeking a technical instructor for our horticulture department based at Wathwood Hospital, set within beautiful grounds overlooking South Yorkshire. The department includes large polytunnels, animal enclosures, and a café which supports patient care. This role supports patients' reintegration into the community as part of their mental health rehabilitation and recovery.

As a horticulture technical instructor, you will support patients in group and individual sessions engaging in gardening-related activities, animal care, and other practical, creative, and social activities within the horticulture department, the wider hospital, and the community. The café is open to the public on weekends, so the role includes some food handling and regular public liaison.

Main responsibilities include facilitating therapeutic horticultural activities, maintaining horticulture areas such as polytunnels, allotments, fields, and greenhouses, and overseeing animal husbandry including feeding and housing maintenance. You will promote recovery and wellbeing by utilising green spaces and providing hospital-based gardening activities for patients unable to access external areas.

Additional duties involve risk assessment and management within the horticulture department, writing and reviewing activity-based risk assessments, producing protocols and patient guidelines, and conducting patient and staff inductions. You will also assist in running the café on weekends alongside staff and volunteers, including some catering duties.

This role contributes to the therapy provision at Wathwood Hospital under the direction of senior occupational therapy staff and requires food hygiene training to support café duties. DBS checks are mandatory, with associated costs deducted from salary over the first two months of employment.

Experience
Experience in horticulture, animal husbandry, or therapeutic activities is desirable. Experience working with individuals with mental health needs or in a healthcare setting is advantageous.

About you
You will be compassionate, patient, and motivated to support individuals in their recovery journey. You should be able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills. A commitment to health and safety, risk management, and food hygiene is essential. Flexibility to work weekends and bank holidays on a rotational basis is required.

Qualifications
Relevant horticulture or animal care qualifications are preferred. Food hygiene training is required and will be supported. You must be willing to undergo a DBS check and enrol in the DBS Update Service if applicable.