Land Based Activities - Skilled Delivery (SD): Ground Maintenance - HMP Kirkham

HM Prison & Probation Service

Land Based Activities - Skilled Delivery (SD): Ground Maintenance - HMP Kirkham

£27116

HM Prison & Probation Service, Nog Tow, Preston

  • Full time
  • Permanent
  • Onsite working

Posted 3 weeks ago, 23 May | Get your application in now before you miss out!

Closing date: Closing date not specified

job Ref: 2db3fea27fea42ed91d02bea38bf265a

Full Job Description

Responsible for Grounds Maintenance at a prison, you will enjoy a wide range of responsibilities. We will look to you to help maintain and improve grounds and amenity areas - from gardens and lawns, to ponds, water features and woodland.

But your impact in this unique environment will go beyond landscaping, mowing and maintenance. You will carry out projects including soft and hard landscape redevelopment. You will also maintain soil husbandry and growing crops, ensuring optimum development.

Perhaps your most important contribution to development here will be your work supervising prisoners. Leading a team, you will oversee their work with an eye for quality control. This is not always easy, but the difference you can help to make in terms of self-esteem and employability is hugely rewarding., The job holder will be responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the grounds and amenity areas within the estate.

This is a non-operational job with no line management or supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Carry out soft landscaping - turf laying and hard landscaping - laying patio stones

  • Maintain establishment's grounds and amenity areas including maintenance of lawns, ponds, water features and external grounds to the establishment including woodland

  • Work inside/outside establishment grounds: cutting, mowing and maintaining areas in accordance with accepted practice

  • Maintain sports fields, as per agreed plan, with both the Land based Activities Manager and PE Department

  • Carry out pest control preventative measures across area of responsibility

  • Undertake small project work as advised/requested: including soft and hard landscape development and erection of horticultural support structures where the situation warrants

  • Maintain correct soil husbandry, ensuring all stages of crop development are followed in accordance with good horticultural practice

  • Maintain the growing plant/crop to ensure optimum development and/or cropping, ensuring that the plants needs are fully met

  • Provide safe access and exits to the estate

  • Supervise prisoners parties and undertake quality control over their work, as agreed within the Service Delivery Agreement (SDA)


  • Undertake other trades tasks to:
  • Ensure allocated planned maintenance and small repairs are carried out, undertaking service requests raised by computer aided facilities management system

  • Undertake survey inspections in confined spaces and at height, recording all work and completing associated registers/logs

  • Carry out project work as required

  • Advise on sufficient levels of stock and request procurement of goods and services, and ensure all materials used are logged and are fit for purpose.

  • Escort technical contractors as required, working with and supervising them in accordance with Local Security Strategy (LSS)

  • Maintain regular communications via radio net in accordance with the LSS.

  • Undertake the role of banksman, directing the operation of plant equipment and/or machinery

  • Be responsible for all tools and plant machinery, carrying out checks at regular intervals and completing all relevant documentation in accordance with the LSS and National Security Framework (NSF)

  • Comply with all Health and Safety policies, procedures and legislation to ensure statutory and mandatory compliance.

  • Drive estates vehicles and operate plant equipment

  • Carry out locking duties as required

  • Operate within command mode in line with local contingency plans

  • Undertake incidental and emergency or urgent tasks and assignments as per Service Delivery Agreement timescales, in a safe manner

  • Assemble products on site as required

  • Contribute to prisoner reports, including parole and sentence planning.


  • The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder., This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
    https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

    Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.,
  • UK nationals

  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland

  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)

  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

    What is more, with the chance to enter our annual competition for best kept prison garden, judged by the Royal Horticultural Society, you might find a lot more to be proud of. Whether or not your work wins RHS acclaim, we can certainty offer nationwide opportunities to develop a great career. Ideally, you will bring to the role a relevant vocational qualification or equivalent suitable experience. Naturally, demonstrable skills and experience in grounds maintenance are essential.


  • Committed to quality in everything you do, you are comfortable working at a fast pace. Strong communication skills are important too - from leading, to persuading and influencing. We expect you to be committed to achieving a safe and secure environment. Please note you may be required to work some evenings and weekends., An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
  • Delivering at Pace

  • Managing a Quality Service


  • Technical skills, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
    People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

    Alongside your salary of £25,752, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £6,978 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
  • Access to learning and development

  • A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance

  • A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity

  • A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

  • Annual Leave

  • Public Holidays

  • Season Ticket Advance