A British family of four living in West Berkshire (between Reading and Newbury) are looking for a happy and enthusiastic Part Time Gardener to join their family home and life. You must drive due to the countryside location of the family’s property. This is a live in or live out role. A car will be provided for work-related duties but not for personal use, so if you have your own car this would be ideal.
Package Offered
• £15 - £20 gross per hour, working 25 hours per week
• Option to live in if you wish, separate house (on grounds), private entrance, newly built and fully furnished, with bills included
• Full use of family car for work purposes
• If extra hours are worked each week then an overtime rate will be paid
Family Background
A family of four, mother, father, and two lovely and polite children aged 9 and 12. The family has four dogs (two Labradors and two miniature Dachshunds), one goldfish and a small gecko. They live in the beautiful countryside of West Berkshire. They lead a busy life, with the father working long hours and the mother at home, but busy with her personal projects. The two children attend a full-time private school. The house has 5 bedrooms and is situated on 7 acres of land (with a large field being part of the acres). They have a lovely swimming pool which is used by the family and any staff working for the family. The family travel during the school holidays and have a busy social schedule at the weekends. The property is semi-rural, and there is not easy public transport in walking distance. There is a village shop (which is accessible by a walk or bike ride).
Duties
The main part of your role will be gardening and looking after the external areas. This really involves mowing (both push and ride on), pruning, strimming, weeding, watering, lawn repair, planting vegetables outside in the spring and in a greenhouse, mending fences and cleaning the pool and adding chemicals each week in the summer. They also have a small gecko lizard who needs feeding a few times a week.
The house has an acre garden and has a six-acre field around it. It is also essential that you are a good, confident and experienced driver. Occasionally you may need to drive the children to school. You will be asked to drive to dinners and then pick up after. This will generally be a Friday or a Saturday but rarely both and appropriate notice will be given in advance – you will have use of the family’s car.
The goldfish tank will need cleaning from time to time. Finally, there will be walking the dogs most days, but the countryside is lovely around the family so this will be hopefully a pleasure.
Location/Accommodation
This is a live in or live out role. If you live in: a purpose-built separate house in the grounds with its own entrance is your private residence. Your house in the garden is really lovely and newly built a couple of years ago. The bedroom is big, with a double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers with a computer, TV and DVD. There is WiFi for the computer. There is a bathroom with bath, shower and loo with basin and a kitchen for cooking. There is a tumble dryer and washing machine. There is a TV and DVD in the sitting room and a microwave, fridge freezer and dishwasher.
Days/Hours
Working a 25 hour week, Monday – Friday
The family are very flexible as to when your duties are performed (as long as the main duties are adhered to and family schedule respected).
Languages
You must speak a good level of English to communicate with the family.
Special Skills
You must drive and ideally have your own car due to the countryside location of the property. (the family’s car can be used for work-related duties, but not in your spare time).
Interview/Start date
The family are looking for someone to start immediately - we are recruiting safely within the COVID-19 regulations.