Job summary
- Main area
- Estates & Facilities
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 358-6865381-E&F
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £24,071 - £25,674 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/03/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Gardener - Groundsperson
NHS AfC: Band 3
AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include.
But they shouldn’t replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.
Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success, because automatically generated answers:
- might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
- often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
- could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience
We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Grounds person to join University Hospitals of Leicester.
The role of the Gardener - Grounds person is to provide a comprehensive Healthcare maintenance service to all wards and departments within a multidisciplinary environment, ensuring compliance with Trust safety standards and procedures.
You will liaise with the Grounds Supervisor ensuring the efficient operations of the grounds and gardens, winter gritting and clearing snow at The University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) hospital sites.
Main duties of the job
- To carry out planned and reactive maintenance task to a high standard that is commensurate with the skills and experience for the role.
- The post holder will be reporting, on a day to day basis, to the Estates Supervisor and maintenance managers.
- To liaise with the Estates team in order to facilitate implementation of the grounds and gardening maintenance work programme.
- Bring to the attention of the Grounds Supervisor and/or Team Leader any day to day personnel or management issues that could impinge on the efficiency of the grounds and gardening services.
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To contribute to the continual improvement of gardens and grounds on all UHL and sites as required.
- Control of garden machinery in a safe manner, reporting any faults to the estates management teams and not attempting to self-rectify until assessed or instructed to do so.
- To comply with Health and Safety requirements to ensure personal safety and the safety of colleagues.
- To undertake the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds and gardens including mowing grass, sweeping roads/paths, weeding and spraying, watering bedding plants etc.
- Trim and prune flowers, trees and shrubs in accordance with good gardening practice and to prevent foliage overhanging paths, roadways, drainage gullies and manholes etc.
- To ensure drainage and road gullies are clear of rubbish.
- Carry out minor repairs and preparatory works to hard landscaping e.g. concreting, slab laying, fencing if requested.
- To empty rubbish bins and cigarette bins, to sweep and remove litter from hard and soft landscaped areas.
- To safety check vehicles and equipment are fit for purpose prior to use. Drive, operate, clean, lubricate and carry out minor maintenance operations on all grounds and garden vehicles and equipment, and to record details in maintenance log.
Person specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Suitable experience in grounds maintenance
Desirable criteria
- Formal qualifications in grounds maintenance
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive working experience in the area of grounds maintenance
- Experience of working within a large industrial/ commercial environment.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in an Acute or Non-Acute Hospital Environment.
- Working knowledge of Health and Safety legislation
Skills
Essential criteria
- Good organisational skills and ability to address and develop solutions to problems.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- Ability to work flexibly as needs arise
Desirable criteria
- Responsive to learning new skills with further training.
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rob Connolly
- Job title
- Regional Estates Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07500 784876
List jobs with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in Support Services or all sectors