Volunteer Gardener/Horticulturist 

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust are seeking a Volunteer Gardener / Horticulturist at Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit, Musgrave Park Hospital, Stockman’s Lane, Belfast, BT97JB. 

This role is a part time volunteer role to work two or three mornings or afternoons Monday to Friday to work with an existing volunteer gardener. We can be flexible around times that suits applicants.  There are three positions available where the posts are all year round, however it would not be as busy in the winter months.

The role involves general maintenance of the garden and courtyard area and developing this space to meet to needs of our service users. This involves planting flowers, trees, enhancing the sensory experience for our service user’s and ensuring there is a safe space for our service users and family to utilise. We have also developed a garden project in which our service users complete garden and outdoor tasks with Occupational Therapy staff and our volunteer gardener. This is part of their goal orientated rehabilitation to assist them to achieve their goals but also to learn new skills or enhance existing skills as well as assist with interacting with other service users, improve confidence and be involved in meaningful activity. Service users have been involved in potting plants, in painting, watering plants etc. We would like to try to celebrate the seasons in the outdoor space and this would be another role for the volunteer to assist us with. 

Desirable Criteria

Passionate about gardening and the positive impact it can have on general health and well being, good communication skills, kind and patient person, hard working and shows initiative, able to take direction from existing volunteer gardener and OT staff, able to work independently and understands the importance of confidentiality.

Contact details

Loretta Goudy, Occupational Therapist
loretta.goudy@belfasttrust.hscni.net
02896155603 / 02896152762