This is a 12-month maternity cover post.

As England’s first community-owned farm, Fordhall has always been a dynamic and innovative organisation. We are forward thinking, environmentally conscious and with over 8,000 community shareholders, we are definitely community-focussed.

With experience and passion for organic growing and hard landscaping, you will support and empower adults with learning disabilities to achieve new heights, build their independence and their feeling of self-worth and well-being.

Working within a passionate and dedicated team you will actively contribute and develop the Care Farm offer at Fordhall, ensuring your own unique skills and strengths continue to be utilised for the benefit of those involved.

You will be growing organic vegetables, composting, nurturing the soil, companion planting, woodworking and completing conservation/ecology work. Nurturing these spaces, sharing knowledge as well as providing opportunities for an individual’s progression will be a key aspect of your role. As a result, you will be adaptable to working with the seasons and delivering outdoor sessions appropriate to the time of year.

Key results from your role:

• volunteer workers on our Care Farm increase their practical skills and confidence.

• appropriate certificates are awarded to support a clear progression path, with different opportunities being provided to each individual appropriate to their needs. This may include tool use, maintenance skills, conservation tasks, independence and life skills, or gardening.

• growing spaces are productive, nurture our resident wildlife, and opportunities are grasped and developed as your enthusiasm for growing and the soil are shared with the team and visitors to site.

• working spaces evolve and continually improve for the benefit of volunteer workers, the wider community and nature. You will work in collaboration with the Care Farm Manager and other team members to implement our collective vision, using your practical knowledge and nurturing approach to help shape the service and increase the potential of what we can offer. As a member of the team, you will be committed to challenging yourself and committed to bringing the best part of ‘you’ to the role.

Deadline: ASAP, for September start. We are interviewing on a rolling basis.

To download an application form for submission, please visit www.fordhallfarm.com/jobs

Start date: Immediate

Hours: Average of 19.5 or hours per week over 3 days (9-3.30pm) with options for overtime The Care Farm operates Monday to Thursday year-round, with a compulsory close over Christmas. This position will include Mondays with flexibility on how the other two days are split Tues-Thurs.

Sickness: Sickness pay is in place and is activated following six months’ continual service.

Holidays: Equivalent to 5.6 weeks per annum pro rata

Application: Please read the job description on our website and our organisational values, then complete the application form and email it to the Care Farm Manager, [email protected] or call us in the office for an informal chat on 01630 638696. Please ask to speak to Phil, or our General Manager, Charlotte Hollins.