Senior Social and Therapeutic Horticultural (STH) Practitioner

Job Description

Location:

Reports to:

Thrive, London, Battersea Park

Regional Centre Manager

Direct reports:

STH Practitioners

Hours:

Contract:

Salary

Main purpose

35 hours

Permanent

£32,000

To manage the delivery of high quality and effective Social and Therapeutic
Horticulture (STH) programmes in London for adults.

Providing line management to the Thrive’s London team of STH Practitioners and
support them to deliver Thrive STH programs working with plants and people to
improve an individual’s physical and psychological health, communication and/or
thinking skills.

Be responsible for the horticultural aspects of the gardens, delivery spaces and kiosk,
planning to ensure appropriate resource, for seasonal STH activities and plant sales.

Working in line with Thrive’s aims and objectives to maximise the impact of services
which improve lives. Support revenue raising initiatives, such as corporate
volunteering opportunities.

Relationships

•  Reporting to the Regional Centre Manager
•  Managing and working as part of the team of STH Practitioners to deliver Thrive

programmes

•  Liaise with the Centre Manager and Client Services Coordinators to enable

smooth operations

•  Work with and support Thrive’s volunteers who form a key part of the delivery

team.

•  Colleagues at Thrive’s other centres, to support the development of Thrive’s

practice.

Key Responsibilities

Client Services Delivery

•  Supporting practitioners with planning and delivering sessions for Client

Gardeners, using gardening tasks to enable Client Gardeners to achieve their
aims. Complete necessary paperwork, including the recording and monitoring
of client behaviours and achievements.

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•  Oversee the delivery of STH programmes (onsite and outreach), ensuring the
application of good practice to maximise the benefit each client derives from
Thrive programmes.
Input to the development of new STH programmes (on site and outreach)

•
•  Ensure that all new clients have an assessment of personal goals
•  Ensure effective data recording to demonstrate client progression and

achievements, and implementation of internal & external M&E processes.

•  Support with issues relating to existing clients in London as part of a

collaborative team escalating to the Regional Centre Manager or Client Service
Manager where necessary. Liaising with and coaching practitioner in
supporting client gardeners.

•  Ensure that Thrive’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures are properly

implemented and adhered to, reporting incidents/allegations to the Regional
Centre Manager or Client Service Manager where necessary

•  Train, coach and assess clients undertaking City & Guilds or other qualifications

in accordance with Thrive’s standardised documentation.

•  Work in conjunction with the Regional Centre Manager, Thrive’s Training and

Education department and IQA to ensure that City & Guilds and other
qualifications are delivered according to plan and specifications

•  Available for occasional client STH delivery cover due to staff absences

Gardens and Horticultural Resources

•  Oversee, prepare and implement horticultural plans for the gardens managed
by Thrive, ensuring that they are compliant with the landlord/funder’s planting
and maintenance plans (if applicable).

•  Ensure that sufficient and appropriate horticultural resources are available and

that expected horticultural standards are maintained.

•  Manage the procurement of horticultural materials and equipment, ensuring

running costs remain within agreed budget.

•  Produce work schedule/activities for corporate volunteering days.
•  Keep plant sales areas stocked to optimise sales opportunities.

Management

•  Provide line management to the STH Practitioners, identifying training, CPD and

equipment requirements to deliver effective STH programmes.
•  Available on a day to day basis to provide support and guidance to

Practitioners, complete regular 121’s, Annual Reviews, manage absences and
HR issues.

•  Work with the Regional Centre Manager on the horticultural and equipment
budget requirements. Ensure necessary tools and equipment are available.
•  Support Garden Maintenance Volunteer(s) as needed regarding the upkeep and

repairs to horticultural tools and infrastructure.

Corporate Days

•

Identify and plan suitable tasks for corporate groups to undertake in the gardens

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•  Enthuse corporate volunteers regarding the work of Thrive and share

information about our work with those participating.

•  As needed, lead groups of corporates in the garden, ensuring a positive and

professional experience

•  Work coherently with other garden users, such that the works completed by the

corporate groups supports our delivery.

Quality STH Delivery

•  Actively participate in the Professional Body for STH, conforming to the code of

conduct.

•  Commitment to personal CPD and the CPD of your colleagues
•  Keep abreast of latest research and developments in Social and Therapeutic
Horticulture (STH) and incorporate appropriate elements into clients’ work
programmes

•  To uphold and model Thrive’s Quality Standards for STH delivery, identifying

areas for development as needed.

•  Taking responsibility for ensuring the quality of monitoring and evaluation of
client progress within the team and instigating Monitoring & Evaluation
activities in line with the annual plan.

General Responsibilities

•  Work in co-operation with local and national teams
•  Work in accordance with Thrive policies and procedures at all times
•  Attend other activities associated with Thrive, including team meetings, national

events and staff conferences

•  Take joint responsibility on a day-to-day basis for the project buildings and

gardens so that they remain clean, tidy, attractive, and safe

•  Support the review and maintenance of tools and other equipment to meet the

needs of the project.

•  Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time,
given the nature of the project and of the overall functions of the Senior STH
Practitioner.

This list is not exhaustive. Amendments and additions may be required in the future, in
line with policy and other changes.

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Area

Skills and
Knowledge

Person Specification

Essential

Desirable/Useful

•  Thorough understanding of the practice of

•  Up to date digital skills

Social & Therapeutic Horticulture

•  Good horticultural knowledge and

experience with a recognised qualification
(such as RHS level 2)

•  Ability to manage service delivery in a

variety of different settings

•  Ability to coach staff and volunteers to
adopt best practice in STH delivery

•  Ability to handle sensitive issues with

compassion and impartiality

•

Interpersonal and communication skills
and the ability to build rapport with a
diverse range of people

•  Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational
Achievement (for delivering City & Guilds
qualifications) or willingness to undertake
training

including use of MS Teams
and CRM systems to manage
work and reporting;
comfortable with MS Office
tools.

•  Understanding of adult social
care, social prescribing,
safeguarding and health and
social care commissioning.

•  Ability to manage service
delivery to ensure the
Safeguarding of Adults at risk.

•

Experience

•  Application of risk management to service

•  Monitoring and evaluation of

health or social care
outcomes.

Personal
Attributes

delivery

•  Line Management of a small team

•  Management and motivation of volunteers

•  Effective cost management

•  Ability to manage and motivate self and

others

•  A clear thinker with good analytical skills

•  Strong verbal and written communication

•  Strong personal organisation and co-

ordination

•  Ability to work on own initiative and as

part of a national team

Other

•  Committed to the aims of Thrive

•  Committed to developing self and others

•  Willing to undertake some out of hours

work

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