Farm Assistant (2 days per week)/Acting Up Interim Assistant Farm Manager (3 days per week)

Salary: £26,904 Scale 1B Inner London (Points 6/7)

Allowances: Acting up Allowance for Acting up Interim Assistant Farm Manager 3 days per week (£1,503.60 Per annum), Responsibility allowance for lambing (£2,600 Per annum)

Hours:  36 hours per week all year round (Wednesday to Sunday) 8.30 am to 4.30 pm

Location: Nightingale Community Academy, Tooting

Nightingale Community Academy is a special school in Wandsworth for 120 boys aged 5 to 19 with social emotional and mental health needs.

Primary pupils benefit from a purpose-built classroom hub and outdoor adventure playground and access to weekly music lessons and a comprehensive therapy service. Secondary and post-16 students are offered a broad curriculum including vocational courses such as motor vehicle studies, construction, horticulture and hospitality. All pupils benefit from regular animal therapy at Tom’s Farm, which is located on the spacious school site.

Staff at Nightingale Community Academy take pride in the development of young people in a safe and stimulating environment and are offered a rewarding and varied career in return. To find out more about us visit www.nightingaleca.org

Tom’s Farm is a small inner-city farm that offers unique learning opportunities to children at Nightingale Community Academy and the surrounding community. The farm is currently managed seven days a week so that schools have access to learning Monday to Friday and community access can be delivered at weekends. Nightingale Community Academy caters for children with Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs and the farm provides opportunities for therapeutic intervention alongside a curriculum in animal care. At weekends a number of teenage volunteers - many of whom are engaged in The Duke of Edinburgh Award - help us to look after the animals and tidy the site. We hope that the local community will use the wonderful facilities to teach children about the animals we routinely grow for food and those that children in London would not have routine opportunities to see and handle in local settings.

We are looking for someone with drive, creativity and a passion to join our team and contribute to our fast-improving school. Academy Status brings new opportunities, and we are looking for new team member who can add value by delivering ‘quality first’ learning experiences that challenge and engage. We expect you to have a minimum of 2 years full time experience within the animal sector and preferably an accredited animal care qualification.

The job is ‘hands-on’ and involves daily cleaning of all the animals, therefore a keen eye for detail is imperative. The farm features a menagerie of animals from hoof stock through to reptiles; so, a base knowledge of a variety of species is crucial. The successful candidate would also have a significant amount of responsibility in regards to both pupils and animals; the right person would need an understanding of health and safety and farm risk assessments.

Nightingale Community Academy is committed to a multi-disciplinary approach to meeting learners’ needs and promotes high quality professional development for all staff. Here at Tom’s farm we can offer the right candidate a platform to express ideas and influence positive change in the day-to-day lives of our pupils and animals.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.

Nightingale Community Academy is part of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, an established family of specialist academies and college centres that provide for over 1500 pupils and students with a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit https://www.ohcat.org/work-for-us/

It is strongly advised that you contact the school to arrange a visit. To arrange, or to discuss the post further with the Principal or Farm Manager please email info@nightingaleca.org or phone 020 8874 9096 to make an appointment.

To apply for the role please use the quick apply option to submit an application. If you have any queries, please contact info@nightingaleca.org.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.

Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.       

Closing Date: 21st April 2024 by 8am

Interviews:   w/c 22nd April 2024

Nightingale Community Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment