NHS

Volunteer Horticulture Support


PayCompetitive
LocationExeter/England
Employment typeOther

This job is now closed

  • Job Description

      Req#: C9369-25-0464?language=en&page=56&sort=publicationDateDesc

      Job summary

      Days/Times:Ideally Wednesday mornings to support the gardening group, but flexible depending on availability.

      Main Purpose:Support the creation and upkeep of a healing garden as part of the NHS Culture of Care Programme and Quality Improvement (QI) initiative. Working with the Occupational Therapy (OT) team, the volunteer will help maintain a therapeutic outdoor space to enhance recovery and wellbeing for service users.

      About the Cedars:Coombehaven Ward is a mixed-gender, locked unit offering a secure environment for mental health assessments and tailored treatment. The enclosed garden is a key therapeutic space aiding recovery.

      About the Project:The Healing Garden is a new green space developed through the Culture of Care Programme. Led by Rebecca from the OT team, it aims to provide a calming, inclusive environment. The volunteer will support the gardening group, promoting meaningful activity and social inclusion.

      About the NHS Culture of Care Programme:A national initiative to transform inpatient services by prioritising safety, dignity, and inclusion. It includes 12 core commitments, such as:

      • Ensuring patients feel safe, valued, and included
      • Supporting staff wellbeing
      • Promoting equity and trauma-informed care
      • Involving patients in decisions and daily activities
      • Designing environments that support recovery

      Main duties of the job

      Key Tasks:

      • Support practical gardening tasks under supervision in the ward garden
      • Assist the OT team and service users in planning and delivering gardening activities
      • Take part in planting, weeding, watering, and general maintenance
      • Help co-facilitate weekly sessions and encourage engagement
      • Share ideas to develop the garden space
      • Promote a safe, inclusive, recovery-focused environment

      Ideal Candidate:

      • Interest or basic knowledge in gardening/horticulture
      • Enjoys working outdoors in all weather
      • Good communication and interpersonal skills
      • Team player with sensitivity to mental health needs
      • Reliable and open to learning

      Additional Info:

      • Must be 18+
      • Subject to references and DBS check
      • Completion of Trust induction, mandatory/statutory training, and refreshers required
      • Log weekly hours via Better Impact system
      • Maintain regular contact with line manager and report concerns
      • Follow health and safety procedures
      • Travel expenses reimbursed (policy applies)
      • References available after 6 months
      • Voluntary role with no employment relationship implied

      About us

      About Devon Partnership Trust

      We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

      We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

      Our values

      We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

      We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

      Details

      Date posted

      06 June 2025

      Pay scheme

      Other

      Salary

      Depending on experience

      Contract

      Voluntary

      Duration

      1 days

      Working pattern

      Flexible working

      Reference number

      C9369-25-0464

      Job locations

      Wonford House Hospital

      Dryden Road

      Exeter

      EX2 5AF


      Job description

      Job responsibilities

      Contribute to planning of daily activities and creating tasks linked to peoples individual goals

      To participate in practical tasks around the nursery, allotment and orchard e.g. filling pots with compost, pricking out, potting on, dead-heading, watering and general plant husbandry

      Contribute to development of horticulture at New Leaf

      To work alongside colleagues and service users during the day

      To be aware of health and safety and contribute to the maintenance of a safe working environment.

      Job description

      Job responsibilities

      Contribute to planning of daily activities and creating tasks linked to peoples individual goals

      To participate in practical tasks around the nursery, allotment and orchard e.g. filling pots with compost, pricking out, potting on, dead-heading, watering and general plant husbandry

      Contribute to development of horticulture at New Leaf

      To work alongside colleagues and service users during the day

      To be aware of health and safety and contribute to the maintenance of a safe working environment.

      Person Specification

      Experience

      Essential

      • People who are happy volunteering outside in all the different weather conditions.
      • Basic knowledge /interest in gardening, horticulture
      • Manual handling experience (not essential)
      • Commitment to the ethos and values of DPT
      • Adaptability, flexibility and creativity
      • Good interpersonal skills and experience of working in a team
      Person Specification

      Experience

      Essential

      • People who are happy volunteering outside in all the different weather conditions.
      • Basic knowledge /interest in gardening, horticulture
      • Manual handling experience (not essential)
      • Commitment to the ethos and values of DPT
      • Adaptability, flexibility and creativity
      • Good interpersonal skills and experience of working in a team

      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.

      Employer details

      Employer name

      Devon Partnership NHS Trust

      Address

      Wonford House Hospital

      Dryden Road

      Exeter

      EX2 5AF


      Employer's website

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

      Employer details

      Employer name

      Devon Partnership NHS Trust

      Address

      Wonford House Hospital

      Dryden Road

      Exeter

      EX2 5AF


      Employer's website

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

  • About the company

      National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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