Recreation Craftsperson - Forest of Dean

at  Forestry Commission

JOB SUMMARY

West England Forest District is responsible for the sustainable management of over 36,500ha of the nation’s forests in the west and south-west of England.
The District is managed from the District Office at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean. This post sits within the Recreation and Engagement team which consists of three forest centre teams; namely, The Forest of Dean, the Southern Hub sites (Haldon Forest & Cardinham) and the Northern hub sites (Wyre & Haughmond Hill) and specialist functions such as community engagement, learning, volunteering, marketing and communication. The post holder will report to the Recreation Managers within the Forest of Dean.
The Forest of Dean attracts over 1 million visits annually across a range of visitor sites; the sites are split between two Recreation Managers who lead a team of 4 recreation rangers, 2 visitor services officers and 2 crafts persons working cohesively to deliver high quality experiences and facilities that are safe and enjoyable.
Facilities include a network of walking, running and cycling trails, adventurous activities, play, cafés, toilets and bike hire making for very busy and popular destinations.
The Recreation Craftsperson role provides vital support to the wider team across the Forest of Dean being responsible primarily for keeping visitor sites and carparks clean, tidy and well maintained. This will involve collection and disposal of rubbish from bins on a daily basis, litter picking and general maintenance tasks. The other core duty for the Craftsperson team is the unlocking of site gates and barriers each morning, on a varying schedule through the year.
Working as part of a seven-day rota to include alternate weekends, regular public holidays and occasional out-of-hours events, the post holder will support the recreation team to ensure visitors receive a high-quality experience and that the facilities remain fit for purpose and safe.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Work Areas

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

PROVIDE A BUILT ESTATE THAT IS FIT FOR PURPOSE FOR ALL USERS

• Focus on site presentation through litter collection duties: litter picking, bin emptying and removal of all types of waste for disposal of at our depots. Recyclable waste must be segregated from non-recyclable waste streams.
• Minor Maintenance tasks: to include the installation, repair and painting of signs, fence repairs, replenishing fall-protection materials in a play area or closing off individual pieces of play equipment after identifying a suspected fault.
• Vegetation control: Seasonal strimming and mowing of vegetation on recreation sites, gateways and around forest furniture. This may include occasional chemical spraying after appropriate training and certification of the individual.
• Public toilets: Inspect and carry out duties such as replacing toilet rolls or unblocking toilets or mopping floors after flooding/misuse prior to the appropriate tradesperson or cleaner carrying out full repairs.
• Site Security: Unlocking main public entrances and buildings on recreation sites and car parks in line with site opening times.
• Carry out facility and trail inspections and ensure that defects are properly recorded and rectified in a timely manner.
• Tree safety inspections.
• Assist in the maintenance of recreation facilities including, but not limited to, litter picking, bin emptying, dealing with fly tipping, replenishing toilet consumables, installation and maintenance of signs, vegetation management.