Job Description
Post Title:
Skilled Gardener Cemeteries
Post No:
E70041
Directorate:
Grade:
5
People and Places
Section:
Green Spaces
Responsible
to:
Bereavement Services
Officer
Responsible
for:
Gardeners - Cemeteries
Location:
Fleetwood & Poulton
Cemeteries
Overall Job Purpose:
To oversee the day to day maintenance of the borough’s cemeteries and the undertaking of
grave excavations.
Key Tasks & Responsibilities:
1.
To undertake all horticultural and maintenance duties within the cemeteries to provide
a safe and welcoming facility for visitors.
2.
Work effectively with other members of the Green Spaces team to ensure standards
are met for the council burial service in line with the charter for the bereaved.
3.
The safe and effective use of equipment, including vehicles, 360 excavator, portable
appliances, hand tools, mowers, grave shoring equipment.
4.
Complete grave preparation, excavation, shoring, dressing and backfill working to safe
codes of working practice in line with current risk assessments.
5.
Provide day to day on site supervision of Cemetery staff.
6.
To deal respectfully, sensitively and professionally with bereaved families, funeral
directors, the clergy, monumental masons while within the cemeteries visiting or
attending for burials or interments of cremated remains and authorisation of memorial
works.
Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Cont’d):
7.
In the absence of the Bereavement Services Officer or Bereavement Services
Assistant on site at the time of interments to act in an official capacity and take
paperwork from funeral directors, advise them of location of grave and access and
discreetly check the nameplate on the coffin at the time of interments as required.
8.
Assist with the management of safe buildings, facilities, grounds and systems of work
in respect of the public, contractors and visitors within the Cemeteries, reporting any
damage to appropriate officers.
9.
To be aware of new policies relating to the management of the cemeteries and
provision of suitable information to members of the public as required.
10.
To ensure appropriate health and safety in all matters that affect the service, including
the inspection of headstones.
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To assist the bereavement services officer in compliance with the Local Authorities
Cemeteries Order 1977.
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To undertake any other duties commensurate with the post.
Corporate Responsibilities:
The postholder will be expected: To adopt a flexible approach to changing patterns of work and undertake such other
duties as are consistent with the job purpose and grade of post.
 To promote best practice in meeting the requirements of Health and Safety legislation and
Council policy, and comply with other relevant statutory legislation.
 To carry out duties in accordance with the Council’s policy on equality and diversity.
 To accept that everyone has a right to their distinct identity, treating everyone with dignity
and respect and ensuring that what our customers tell us is valued by reporting it back into
the organisation.
 To provide quality services that are what our customers want and need, giving customers
the opportunity to comment or complain if they need to, working with them to identify what
needs to be done to meet their needs and informing managers about what customers say
in relation to the services delivered.
 To develop oneself and others making every effort to access development opportunities
and contribute effectively by participating in the Council’s performance management
scheme.
 To be responsible for Data Quality.
 To demonstrate a high standard of probity in the use of council resources and where a
nominated budget holder manage spending within available resources.
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Special Conditions:
(e.g. week-end work, shift allowance, car/telephone allowance)
 The council operates a strict non-smoking policy.
 The normal working arrangements are 41.5 hours per week in summer for 26 weeks and
32.5 hours per week in winter for 26 weeks
 Flexibility to accommodate occasional weekend or evening working
This Job Description is current at the date shown below. In consultation with you it is
liable to variation by management to reflect, or anticipate changes in, or to, the job.
Prepared by: M. Billington
Date: Oct 2011
Post Holder Signature:
Date:
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