APPLICATION FORM

CONFIDENTIAL APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

The Royal Parks is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services. Recruitment and selection decisions are made purely on merit as the result of fair and open competition. We are committed to equality of opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and do not discriminate against any person because of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or responsibility for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.

PLEASE NOTE: The Royal Parks (TRP) and the charity The Royal Parks Foundation have agreed they should become a new single organisation to fundraise for and manage the capital's eight Royal Parks. Both organisations plan to join within a new charitable public corporation.  A detailed plan has been worked up, and work is ongoing but it is hoped the new organisation will be established from 1 March 2017. The new organisation will be a charitable public corporation with increased freedoms and flexibilities to manage the parks more efficiently.

If the above takes effect from the proposed date, staff joining TRP before 1 March 2017 will be civil servants but after that date their status will change as TRP will be moving out of the civil service to a new charitable status.  Staff terms and conditions will be protected on transfer.

The closing date for this application is Monday, 7th November 2016.

Tip: You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move between fields. Once completed, please email your form to vacancies@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk with the job title as the subject, we don’t require a hard copy as well.

1. JOB POSITION

Position applied for: Head Gardener/Technical Officer

Grade: II (Hort)

Vacancy reference: HGTO1016

2. PERSONAL DETAILS

Title: Please select:1

Surname:      

Forename(s):      

Address:      

Postcode:      

Daytime telephone(s):      

Email Address:      

Do you have a full current driving licence? (If required by the job description)

Please select:

Are you currently a Civil Servant? Please select:

Have you ever been a Civil Servant? Please select:

At what stage are you applying? Please select:

3. EDUCATION

A) Secondary Education

School name/address From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Examinations (subject/result, etc.)

                       

(Tip: Tables will automatically expand as you type if extra space is needed)

B) Further Education and Training

University/college name From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Type of

Course

Subjects Qualifications or class of degree

                                   

C) Occupational Qualifications/Institute Membership/Membership of Professional Organisations

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College/Institute

or other name

From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Qualification/level

                       

4. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Please provide details over the last 10 years, including any unpaid or voluntary work, listing present or most recent employer first. Any gaps in employment dates should be explained. If you have any particularly relevant experience dating beyond the last 10 years please include this.

Current salary and benefits or salary when last employed:

£      Notice required:

     

Name and address of employer and type of

business

From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Job title and main duties

Reason for leaving

                             

                             

                             

                             

                             

                             

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5. REASON FOR APPLICATION – Skills, Qualities and Experience

In this part we want you to highlight your skills, qualities and experience. The competencies relevant to the post you are applying for are listed in the Person Specification on the job description enclosed below. For those competencies listed below, please give specific examples in no more than 200 words for each heading about a time either at work, volunteering or in your personal life that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria required to do the job. You must ensure that your answers provide clear evidence of the given competency.

Collaborating and Partnering: Ability to develop and support teams and encourage inter-team working/interaction.     

Leading and Communicating: Ability to lead by example, demonstrating professionalism and competency in dealing with public and TRP enquiries.

     

Achieving Commercial Outcomes: Ensure value for money in all activities and make effective use of available resources.

     

Managing a Quality Service: Experience of building relationships with TRP staff, stakeholders, contractors and suppliers.

     

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Making Effective Decisions: A good knowledge and experience of carrying out Health & Safety Risk Assessments.     

6. PERSONAL STATEMENT

This is your opportunity to tell us why you think we should select you and why you want the job. Here you can demonstrate how your experience meets the other role competencies in the person specification attached. You may also include personal interests which are relevant and meet the requirements of the post. You must use no more than 350 words.

     

7. ATTENDANCE RECORD

If you wish to comment on any extended absences from the office, please do so here.

     

8. PART TIME

If you are part time, please state the number of hours that you are able to work and also please confirm if you would consider job share.

9. REFEREES

Please provide the contact details of referees from your employment over the past 3 years.

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Please note that your present employer and other referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.

Referee 1 Referee 2Name:       Name:      Address:       Address:      Postcode:       Postcode:      Occupation:       Occupation:      Email:       Email:      Telephone No:

      Telephone No:      

Referee 3 Referee 4Name:       Name:      Address:       Address:      Postcode:       Postcode:      Occupation:       Occupation:      Email:       Email:      Telephone No:

      Telephone No:      

10. DECLARATION

By submission of your form, you agree to the following:

I confirm that the information given on this form is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and accurate. I understand that if I have given misleading information on this form, this will be sufficient grounds for terminating my employment. I have personally completed the application form.

Name:       Date: Click here to enter a date.

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11. LINE MANAGER’S ASSESSMENT OF SUITABILITY (or Countersigning Officer if Line Manager not available)

If you are currently employed as a Civil Servant you will be required to complete this section in full. Candidates must attach their entire completed application, with section 11 for their line managers to complete. Please also attach your last 2 years' appraisal reports.

External candidates should proceed directly to Section 12.

1) I consider this applicant to be:

Highly suitable Suitable Unsuitable I am unable to judge

Please comment on your assessment drawing attention to the applicant’s experience/special qualities for the post. If you are unable to judge the applicant’s suitability, please give reasons:

     

To be completed only if applicant is applying for trawled post on promotion.

2) Do you consider the applicant to have the skills and experience to perform at the higher grade they have applied for?

Yes No

Please comment on your promotion assessment:

     

Name:       Grade:       Date: Click here to enter a date.

Line Manager/Countersigning Officer for Please select: years and Please select: months

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12. DIVERSITY FORM (this will be detached from your application by the HR Dept)

Section A: Your Details

Title: Please select:

Forename(s):      

Surname:      

Date Of Birth:      

Male Female

Gender Identity (optional): If you identify as transsexual or transgender (in that you have effected a permanent change of gender identity) or as inter-sex, which group do you identify with?      

How did you learn of this vacancy? Please select:

If ‘Other internet site’, ‘Recruitment Agency’ or ‘Other’, please specify here:      

Section B: Disability

The Royal Parks wish to encourage suitably qualified people with disabilities to apply for jobs. All information will be treated in strictest confidence.

Do you consider that you have a disability? Yes No Prefer not to say

What is the nature of your disability?      

Please give details of any special needs or requirements that you may need us to make if you are invited to interview/offered employment:      

Section C: Religion or Belief and Sexual Orientation

Which religion or belief do you most associate with? Please tick one box only.

No religion Buddhist Christian Hindu Jewish

Muslim Sikh Any other religion Prefer not to say

Which sexual orientation do you most associate with? Please tick one box only.

Bisexual Gay Man Gay Woman/Lesbian Heterosexual/straight

Other Prefer not to say

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Section D: National Identity

Which National Identity do you most identify with? Please tick one box only.

British English Northern Irish Scottish

Welsh Other (please specify if you wish)       Prefer not to say

Section E: Ethnic Identity

Which Ethnic Background do you most identify with? Please tick one box only.

ASIAN OR ASIAN BRITISH:

Bangladeshi Indian Pakistani

Any Other Asian Background (please specify if you wish)      

BLACK OR BLACK BRITISH:

African Caribbean Any Other Black Background (please specify if you wish)      

CHINESE:

Any Chinese Background (please specify if you wish)      

MIXED ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Mixed White and Asian Mixed White and Black African Mixed White and Black Caribbean

Any Other Mixed Background (please specify if you wish)      

WHITE:

Any White Background (please specify if you wish)      

OTHER ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Any Other Ethnic Background (please specify if you wish)      

Prefer not to say

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Thank you for completing these forms, please now email your final application and diversity form to vacancies@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk with the job title as the subject

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Technical Officer/Head GardenerLocation: Bushy ParkGrade and Salary: Grade II (Hort), £25,340 - 30,880

Main purpose of the job:

To manage day to day the Woodland Gardens in Bushy Park with responsibility for managing all landscape maintenance and horticultural operations directing the (ring fenced) team of contract gardeners. In addition directly manage a team of gardening volunteers directly, recruit, interview and induct.

Organise the maintenance and ongoing restoration of the Woodland Gardens as described in the woodlands technical management plan for the site.

Develop and plan all horticultural projects arising from the management plan including planting plans.

Source all plant material ensuring sound provenance.

Be responsible for the management of the woodland nursery and all the associated buildings and horticultural operations.

Manage/Monitor any events that take place in the Woodlands, to ensure the smooth delivery. Order the spring and summer bedding for the Gate Lodges and other sites.

Be the main Bushy Park point of contact for the horticultural apprenticeship scheme.

To take part in the out of hours ‘on call’ rota on a regular basis covering Richmond and Bushy Parks.

Main duties/responsibilities:

Manage all day to day aspects of the Woodland Garden’s presentation and cyclic maintenance.

Responsible for the ongoing review and development of the Woodland Garden’s technical management plan.

Maximise visitor enjoyment by ensuring excellent horticultural standards of presentation are maintained.

Manage a team of 6 contract gardeners through their charge hand. Co-ordinate and organise garden volunteers to undertake tasks to fit

their abilities and needs and requirements of the Woodland Garden’s. 10

Manage the nursery facility. Provide sufficient tools and equipment and arrange for necessary

maintenance. Responsible for Health and Safety. Interview prospective volunteers. Induct Volunteers prior to their starting. Organise the ‘Friends’ of Bushy & Home Park’s annual planting morning. Liaise with the Tree Officer for any work that is required to trees within

the woodlands. Liaise with the Ecology team on a regular frequency regarding the

garden’s habitats. Plan the removal of Rhododendron ponticum as part of the woodlands

ongoing restoration. Plan and organise the winter planting of trees and shrubs for the

woodlands. Plan and organise the spring and summer bedding for Bushy Park. Represent Bushy Park on the central Health and Safety Committee. Obtain quotations for works, arrange for works to take place and certify

works on completion. Source suppliers, obtain quotations and prices for plant material and

other horticultural materials. Place orders and approve payments in line with organisational practise.

Attend meetings; Bushy Park landscape maintenance, works and events.

Organise and chair local Health and Safety meetings. Deal with enquiries and complaints from the public. Report defects observed in the Woodlands and the wider Park. Use a variety of computer software such as; Confirm, Excel, Word and

Outlook.

Key functional relationships:Park Manger, Assistant Park Managers, Wildlife Officers, Richmond and Bushy Parks, Office staff, Police, Landscape Maintenance Contractor, Catering Concessionaires, Gate locking Contractor, Cleaning/Toilet Contractors, Tree Contractors. Tree officers, Ecology officers and other Technical Officers as and when required.Nursery contractors, Filming and Events department as required. Facilities management contractors and their staff.

Representation on TRP internal groups:Health and safety Committee

Key external relationships:Natural EnglandThe Friends of Bushy and Home Park The Bushy Park Wildlife GroupHistoric Royal PalacesLBRUTHorticultural Colleges, Placement officers, Lecturers/assessors and senior management

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Horticultural suppliers, Plants and Materials. Sub contractors

Personal specification:(Please refer to the competency framework)

COMPETENCIES / SELECTION CRITERIA Essential/Desirable

PEOPLE CLUSTER – ENGAGING PEOPLETeam WorkingAbility to develop and support teams and encourage inter-team working/interaction. E

CommunicationGood communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills and the ability to communicate well at all levels both within and outside of the Royal Parks.

E

People LeadershipAbility to lead by example, demonstrating professionalism and competency in dealing with public and TRP enquiries.

E

PERFORMANCE CLUSTER – DELIVERING RESULTSCommercial AwarenessA good understanding of contract management including ability to write and review specifications, ordering and supervision of work and handling general contract issues.

E

Ensure value for money in all activities and make effective use of available resources. E

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Customer FocusExperience of building relationships with TRP staff, stakeholders, contractors and suppliers. E

Results FocusBe organised, self-motivated and able to work to deadlines. Able to show good time management skills and plan and prioritise work accordingly. Able to organise and support meetings and visits.

E

Delivering at PaceA qualification at HND level or equivalent professional qualifications in horticulture / Park Management and/or related subjects combined with extensive knowledge and experience of public green space and amenity and environmental horticulture.

E

A good knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and technical matters relating to parks and to amenity horticulture.

E

Hold a valid UK Driving Licence. DSTRATEGIC CLUSTER – SETTING DIRECTION

Seeing the Big PictureKnowledge and experience of working at events. DChanging and ImprovingGood working knowledge of the Microsoft suite of

programmes. DExperience of Confirm Software (as used by TRP to manage the landscape maintenance contracts). D

Making Effective DecisionsA good knowledge and experience of carrying out Health & Safety Risk Assessments. E

D= Desirable, E= Essential

See the Civil Service competency framework for further information on civil service competencies.

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