Gardening jobs in Royal Tunbridge Wells

Gardening and Maintenance Operative - NOTE: During the spring and summer, your main focus will be gardening and grounds maintenance, keeping outdoor spaces tidy, accessible and welcoming. You will also carry out general property maintenance and minor repairs as required throughout the year, with a greater emphasis on these tasks during the quieter gardening months.

Please demonstrate general maintenance experience as well as gardening.

About Us

Zetetick Housing is a registered charity and supported housing organisation providing safe, high-quality homes for adults with learning disabilities, autism and other additional needs. We work closely with care providers, local authorities and families to help tenants live with dignity and independence.

Operating across South London, Sussex, Surrey and Kent, we are looking for someone who shares our commitment to caring for tenants’ homes, inside and out.

Role Purpose

We are seeking a practical and reliable Gardening and Maintenance Operative to join our Maintenance Team, based in Uckfield and travelling across the South East.

During the spring and summer, your main focus will be gardening and grounds maintenance, keeping outdoor spaces tidy, accessible and welcoming. You will also carry out general property maintenance and minor repairs as required throughout the year, with a greater emphasis on these tasks during the quieter gardening months.

You will work in and around occupied homes, treating tenants, their belongings and their privacy with care and respect.

Key Responsibilities

Gardening and grounds maintenance

• Maintain lawns through regular mowing, edging and strimming.
• Weed and maintain flower beds, borders and planted areas.
• Trim hedges and carry out routine pruning within your training and competence.
• Clear leaves, litter and garden waste, leaving outdoor spaces tidy.
• Keep paths, entrances and communal outdoor areas clear and accessible.
• Identify and report damaged fencing, uneven surfaces and other outdoor hazards.
• Plan seasonal gardening visits with the Property Supervisor.
• Use, transport and store gardening tools and equipment safely.

General maintenance, as required

• Carry out minor repairs and maintenance, including adjusting doors, replacing tiles, unblocking sinks and minor plumbing tasks.
• Undertake painting, decorating and small repairs to fixtures and fittings.
• Assemble furniture and help prepare empty properties for new tenants.
• Identify additional maintenance needs and report work requiring specialist attention.
• Collect supplies and transport the tools and materials needed for each task.

Planning, communication and safe working

• Organise appointments and manage daily schedules, adapting to seasonal priorities and weather conditions.
• Record completed work accurately using our mobile repairs system.
• Liaise with the Property Supervisor and Housing team to prioritise tasks.
• Communicate courteously with tenants and care providers, keeping disruption to a minimum.
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety, and safe manual-handling procedures.
• Participate in the out-of-hours emergency on-call rota, with additional pay and door-to-door hours.

Person Specification

Essential

• Practical experience of gardening and grounds maintenance, including mowing, strimming, hedge trimming and routine plant care.
• Experience of general property maintenance and minor repairs.
• Ability to use gardening equipment and hand tools safely.
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, following safe working arrangements.
• Ability to carry out the practical duties safely, using appropriate equipment, assistance and reasonable adjustments where needed.
• Ability to work independently, organise tasks and recognise when specialist help is required.
• A respectful and considerate approach to tenants with additional needs.
• Good communication, written and numerical skills, IT skills.
• Confidence using a mobile tablet device to receive jobs and record completed work.
• Confidence using a laptop.
• Full UK driving licence; a work van is provided.
• Willingness to complete the DBS check appropriate to the role.

Desirable

• A relevant gardening, horticultural or trade qualification or time served experience.
• Experience of planning seasonal garden maintenance.
• Skills in decorating, basic plumbing, joinery or other property repairs.
• Experience working in supported housing, social housing or occupied residential properties.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From £31,800.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking

Application question(s):

• General maintenance experience
• Gardening experience
• Teamwork
• Within commutable distance of Uckfield
• Right to work UK

Work Location: In person