Blue Sky Services Grounds Maintenance Operative - Fixed Term Contract Until October 2025 - Denham

Job Description

Overview: We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change.

Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community. Do you enjoy working within green open spaces? Do you prefer to work outdoors? The Forward Trust are a leading charity which amongst other activities, owns and operates Blue Sky Services, a Grounds Maintenance social enterprise within our Employment Services Division. Blue Sky Services delivers grounds maintenance, facilities management and horticultural services on behalf of local authorities, social landlords and other partners. Blue Sky Services employs people with lived experience including ex-offenders, people in recovery and also the unemployed or NEET.

What you will be doing: As a Grounds Maintenance Operative, you will be working outdoors and in open spaces and will help your team members to:

1. Undertake Blue Sky Services operations whilst on designated client/customer sites in relation to ground maintenance, house clearance, pest control, waste management, car park maintenance and other services delivered by Blue Sky Services and their partners.
2. Operate equipment such as Strimmers, Mowers, Hedge Cutters etc. with training and close supervision required for the undertaking of ground maintenance, landscape, other horticultural activities, house clearance, pest control and waste management.
3. Comply and report any health and safety, equalities and complaints/complements, safeguarding/prevent and other incidents relating to the work of the Blue Sky Services to the Supervisor, General Manager.

What we are looking for: We are looking for people who are interested in working outdoors, with an interest in the environment and working as part of a team. The post holder will enjoy undertaking manual work in different types of weather and starting work early (often by 7.30am) and finishing by 3.30pm. The work can be hard but you will be working with an experienced team of colleagues and we work on different sites so every day is a bit different. We expect all staff to be at our Denham offices by 7.30am Monday to Friday and on time. This post is 37 hours per week. We encourage applications from either ex-offenders, those at risk of offending or have been in trouble with the police or in recovery unemployed. We would love to hear from candidates who live in Hillingdon area as part of our community work.

What we offer:

1. Training and development opportunities
2. Flexible working
3. Simply Health Cashback Scheme (Optional)
4. Season Ticket Loan Scheme
5. Cycle to work scheme
6. Crisis Loan Scheme
7. Electric Car Scheme
8. 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata for part time employees)
9. Access to Blue Light Card
10. 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
11. Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
12. Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
13. Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)

Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of socio-economic background, and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

Please note the closing date for this role is 14th March 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Person Specification: Below is a list of the qualities that we are looking for in applicants for this post. Please address each of these points in your application.

1. Essential: Able to undertake all the duties of the job, with or without the use of aids and adaptations, including the manual handling of heavy objects, (with training).
2. Able to work as a member of a team undertaking maintenance duties to contract specified standards, ensuring that the quality of service is maintained to meet client or customer requirements.
3. Able to undertake any administrative duties required, e.g. Completing any H & S forms and risk assessments, etc.
4. Awareness of the health and safety regulations that affect the work area and able to work in accordance with all health and safety policy requirements; e.g., Manual handling, Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE), etc.
5. To have a flexible and adaptable approach to work, including being willing and able to work as directed during the day, e.g. As relief and cover; to work unsociable hours, weekends and bank holidays if necessary to meet the demands of the service.

Desirable: Full UK Driving Licence including 3.5 ton.