Recreation Craftsperson - Bristol & Savernake

Forestry England is part of the Forestry Commission. 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 extends from woodlands just to the north of Shrewsbury, southwards to the majestic oak and beech woods of Savernake Forest in Wiltshire and south-west as far as Idless Woods near Truro in Cornwall. The District is managed from the District Office at Coleford, in the Forest of Dean, supported by local Forest Beat or Recreation Hub delivery teams dispersed across the Forest District. These local teams are responsible for the delivery of agreed work programmes.
The Bristol & Savernake beat is diverse in composition and setting, from conifer plantations in the Mendips to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated ancient woodland in Savernake and Bristol. The beat includes a range of facilities, from small carparks with desire lines to established recreation areas with ANPR. The high public access at many of these sites presents challenges and opportunities in the delivery of multifunctional forestry. The team are based in the Leigh Woods office in Bristol. The Beat is led by a Beat Forester, supported by 2 works supervisors, a community ranger, and the recreation craftsperson, who together, are responsible for all aspects of woodland management, including timber sales, tree safety, community engagement and wildlife management.
An average week will vary through the seasons but could include working in multiple locations across the beat carrying out tasks such as weeding and vegetation control as directed by the works supervisor. Other work will include general maintenance tasks, stimming on restock sites and pathways, tree safety and recreation inspections as needed. There will be a requirement for regular driving between sites, and working in all weathers., We are looking for an individual who is self-motivated and resourceful, with good communication and planning skills, and the ability to work safely and productively both independently and as part of a team.
Key Work Areas:
+ Minor Maintenance tasks: to include the installation, repair and painting of signs, fence repairs, and the closing off any faulty infrastructure such as woodland seats or picnic tables, until it is made safe for public use.
+ Vegetation control: Seasonal strimming around trails, gateways, around forest furniture and safety signage. This may include chemical spraying after appropriate training and certification of the individual.
+ Focus on site presentation through monitoring of our litter collection contract, litter picking of key sites, reporting and organising of fly tip and occasional emptying of bins.
+ Provide face to face customer service giving advice and information to visitors.
+ Monitor car parking machines to ensure they are fully working.
Health & Safety:
+ Ensure personal safety at all times by following job risk assessments, using lone working systems and by carrying out PPE and safety checks, in compliance with policy guidance.
+ Record incidents and accidents into Airsweb, collating all relevant information.
+ Safety Inspections: A range of visual inspections of paths, structures or trees to maintain the site in a safe condition, ensuring that defects are properly recorded and rectified in a timely manner.
+ Support the forest establishment work, by hand planting, tree guarding, fence repairs and maintaining newly planted areas by controlling competing vegetation by machine or by hand.
+ Support the work of the team to ensure harvesting sites are compliant and safe, by erecting signage, relocating of herras fencing, carrying out banksman duties and traffic management.
+ Tree safety inspections.
+ Undertaking stocking surveys.
Other duties may include:
+ Tariffing and chainsaw or brushcutter work in the future, as required to support the team., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together, As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows:
1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.
The anticipated shortlisting and interview timetable is noted below. Please note that these dates are subject to change.
Application Sift: From W/C 14th October 2024
Interviews will likely be in the week commencing: W/C 21th October 2024.
Interview
Candidates who progress past the sift stage will be offered an interview date.
Interviews will be face-to-face at the Leigh Woods office and will involve you being assessed against Behaviours, Experiences, and Strengths listed in the advert.
Should you wish to discuss the role in more detail please contact: Nikki Morgans on nikki.morgans@forestryengland.uk
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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

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)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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+ Excellent communication skills.
+ Excellent team working skills.
+ Competence with IT such as MS Office and using social media.
+ A good understanding of relevant health and safety best practice.
+ Full driving license.
Desirable
+ Background in practical facility maintenance.
+ A qualification in First Aid at work.
+ Practical or vocational qualifications.

Alongside your salary of £24,323, Forestry Commission contributes £7,046 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%