Background
Depden Care Farm is a day service run by Millennium Farm Trust. On a six-acre smallholding set in the beautiful Suffolk countryside, it has an excellent reputation for working with vulnerable adults and young people to help improve their lives through farm-based activities.
At the heart of our approach is the unwavering belief that everyone regardless of their abilities, deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and make a meaningful contribution to their community.
As a proven leader in your field, you will not just manage but lead, inspire, and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team that shares your passion for making a difference. Your role extends beyond managing day-to-day operations. You will be actively supporting people with a range of challenging additional needs, nurturing their potential, boosting their confidence and developing their skills within our unique day service whilst ensuring that every step taken aligns with our commitment to creating a caring, supportive, and flourishing community.
This is a rare opportunity to join a small, but respected, third sector organisation. Help us in creating a sanctuary where each day brings new possibilities and where the seeds of positive change are sown and nurtured.
Job Purpose
1. To organise, lead and manage the day-to-day operations and procedures of Depden Care Farm including caring for a wide range of farm animals and pets and growing fruit and vegetables for sale in our market gardens.
2. To lead the staff and volunteer team in delivering a productive and meaningful programme of activities on the farm for our customers.
3. To maintain farm records and the support plans and files of our customers.
Responsible to the Director.
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
Farm Management
- Responsible for planning, organising and running the daily activities at the farm ensuring that the activities for the day are appropriate for those attending, safe for everyone involved and that the animal’s welfare is managed appropriately.
- Responsible for maintaining the farm site, ensuring it is tidy and safe to use. Working with the farm Health and Safety Officer ensuring all areas are risk assessed and maintained to a high degree of safety.
- Responsible for the day to day management of all farm stock, our small animals and pets ensuring that welfare standards are maintained.
- Managing and maintaining the veg garden and other growing areas on the farm. Maximising production and sale of garden produce whilst also providing meaningful opportunities for the engagement and contribution from our customers.
- Working with the staff team to develop a range of appropriate activities throughout the year which might include agriculture, horticulture, environmental projects, working in our woodworking workshop or with our small contract team off site.
Staff Management
- To lead and manage the staff and volunteer team to deliver the day’s activities in a way that empowers your team, encourages collaboration, builds trust and celebrates individual strengths. On any one day, there may be up to four staff members, two volunteers and additional support workers assigned to specific customers who collectively will be delivering activities to up to 15 customers.
- Ensure all farm helpers, staff and volunteers work within the appropriate policies, procedures.
- Providing line management for staff; supporting and coaching them through appraisals, team meetings and ensuring that appropriate training is available to them. Providing induction to new staff and volunteers.
- Undertake your own training and continuous professional development in accordance with the needs of the service and the people we support.
Operational
- You will be the service Safeguarding Lead and as such be responsible for managing all safe guarding issues and ensure correct procedures are followed.
- Ensure all new attendees to the farm are properly inducted into the farm’s policies and procedures, that their goals are understood and that a programme is in place to support delivery of their goals.
- Work with the Director and staff team to ensure that appropriate records and information are up to date, provide any information and documentation required and prepare regular reports on the day’s activities.
- Liaise and communicate with families and support staff as appropriate.
- Working directly with farm helpers, delivering a person-centred approach; supporting them to ensure they are safe and are able to carry out the activities they do the best of their abilities.
- To work with empathy and understanding to support, guide and encourage our participants to achieve their potential and improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Your Skills and Attributes
Essential:
- Proven track record of leading and managing diverse teams to deliver agreed outcomes, ideally at a senior level.
- Significant practical experience in farming, horticulture or similar outside environment.
- Experience of working with vulnerable people or those with additional needs.
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage and deliver multiple activities, prioritising workload. Able to take on tasks from conception to completion.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a track record of advocacy and service promotion.
- Competent use of Microsoft Office (Word/excel/email) and social media.
- Flexible approach and motivated attitude
- A caring attitude, empathetic and understanding nature.
Desirable:
- A qualification in agriculture or horticulture (HND or higher)
- A qualification in social care (eg Level 3 or higher) or related discipline (eg teaching)
- Thorough understanding of successfully growing fruit and vegetables on a domestic or semi-commercial scale.
- Demonstrable experience of working in an animal care environment, ideally on a farm or small holding with a wide range of stock.
- Working knowledge of risk management, Health and Safety and safeguarding.
- Commercially astute and understands what customers and service commissioners value and require.
Millennium Farm Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. We follow safer recruitment practices and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this role will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including satisfactory references, identity and right-to-work checks, verification of relevant qualifications and an enhanced DBS check, including barred-list checks where appropriate.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Application question(s):
- This role requires three distinct areas of experience: (1) leading and managing people, (2) significant practical experience in farming, horticulture or a similar outdoor environment, and (3) working with young people, vulnerable adults or people with additional needs. Please briefly describe how your experience in these three areas prepares you for this role.
- Our Farm Operations Manager is both a manager and a hands-on member of the farm team. What appeals to you about working in this kind of practical, people-focused management role?
Work Location: In person
