Horticultural therapist jobs

Horticultural therapists are professionals that treat people by using the therapeutic and mental health advantages of horticulture.

If you choose to become a horticultural therapist or a practitioner of social and therapeutic horticulture, you will use gardening, plants, and horticulture to assist individuals in developing personally and socially, as well as in gaining self-assurance, independence, and a general feeling of well-being.

You will collaborate with a diverse group of individuals who are unable to work due to age, situation, or physical or mental limitations. Persons who are recuperating from sickness, people who have learning and behavioral challenges, and people who struggle with mental health conditions such as depression might be among your customers.

Responsibilities

You'll need to be able to do the following to become a horticulture therapist:

work with individuals or small groups of people to conduct individualized social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) programs. STH stands for social horticulture and therapeutic horticulture.

Assist your customers in developing in all aspects of their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional lives.

By making use of the unobtrusive aspects of nature, you will be able to create degrees of sensory input and impact that will contribute to the achievement of beneficial results.

encourage good health and well-being, as well as outdoor activities and physical exercise, and do so in an environment that is encouraging.

Invest some time in job preparation and assessment.

collaborate with external statutory and volunteer services in order to deliver an approach that is interdisciplinary and person-centered.

Utilize assessment techniques and outcome measurement in order to record, monitor, and evaluate individual accomplishments. This may involve doing initial evaluations, organizing daily activities, and providing assistance to people, with the use of a diary system being commonplace.

evaluations, updates, and reviews should be carried out on a frequent one-on-one basis.

Keep daily documents, such as job sheets, time sheets, and individual portfolios including documentation of work done.

Individuals are instructed in horticultural activities such as planting seeds, preparing soil, laying out plants, planting plants, mowing the lawn, and trimming.

Informing customers on how to utilize equipment and supplies in a secure manner

Assist folks in keeping track of their actions and accomplishments by having them write basic summaries or draw images.

engage in conversation with others to help them build their self-esteem and confidence in their career.

Helping people enhance their ability to interact with others and their horticultural abilities

Encourage people to get enjoyment from their usage of the land.

Closely watch the people you care about to track their development.

evaluate the efficacy of each specific program, and make adjustments as required.

communicate with many additional specialists, such as social workers and psychologists

conduct research on the efficacy of horticulture treatment, most of the time in collaboration with academics

oversee both employees and volunteers.

develop and oversee the coordination of various activity programs, as well as finances

Obtain financial support and prepare comprehensive project proposals in order to create new endeavors.

Gardening and other forms of horticulture should be promoted to the general public as part of the Green Care initiative, which is a conceptual framework for using natural media for therapeutic purposes.

Salary

It may be quite challenging to find paid job, but there are many more chances for volunteer work than there are for paid positions.

If you are able to get a paid position, you can expect your beginning pay to be somewhere in the range of £17,000 to $20,000 at the very least.

It is possible to earn anything from £22,000 to £30,000 if you are senior level, have a lot of experience, and perhaps have line management duties.

There is a wide range of pay in each industry and company. There are no national scales, and in most cases, there are no supplemental benefits.

The monetary amounts listed are just meant to serve as a reference point.

Time spent working

The standard working hours may be supplemented by regular overtime on occasion. Work on the weekends or in the evenings can be required.

Work on a part-time basis and taking time off between careers are also options.

What may be anticipated

The majority of a therapist's day is spent in the garden and any adjacent outbuildings.

There is a small window of opportunity for self-employment and freelance work, but this window is often rather small.

In most parts of the nation, there are few openings available, yet there is still the possibility of finding work. Opportunities are limited in other countries, however there is a possibility of finding work in the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand.

In most cases, the function is performed as an integral component of a multidisciplinary care team or requires cooperative effort with a variety of different stakeholders. The task itself might be emotionally taxing at times but can also be quite gratifying. Expenditures are typically constrained, and it may be challenging to meet one's objectives.

Occasional travel takes place throughout the course of a business day. It is unusual for someone to be away from home throughout the night.

Qualifications

Despite the fact that this field of employment is available to all graduates, the following degrees and HNDs may improve your chances of getting a job in it:

plant science/biology

education

horticulture

landscape architecture/design

physiotherapy for occupations

labor social

psychology.

In most cases, horticultural treatment is pursued in addition to another line of work. Candidates often have prior experience in either social work or social care, education, occupational therapy, or nursing, among other fields. Others could have a prior education or work history in horticulture, or have prior experience participating in horticultural activities on a volunteer basis.

Although it is feasible to enter the field without a bachelor's degree or a higher-level diploma, companies are increasingly seeking multi-skilled workers who have a mix of work experience and a formal certification.

A variety of social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) courses, ranging from shorter courses lasting one or two days to lengthier recognized courses leading to a professional degree, are made available through the nonprofit organization Thrive.

Before you apply, make sure you've done your homework and checked that the courses offered match your professional development requirements. Look at postgraduate programs in the field of horticulture.

There is no need to have a pre-entry postgraduate qualification, although there are appropriate courses available, such as a master's degree in social and therapeutic horticulture.

If you are going to be working with children, you will also be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Skills

You'll need to make sure you have:

an intense passion for and natural ability in the field of gardening

superior abilities in both interpersonal and spoken communication

Possessing qualities such as patience, comprehension, and tolerance, as well as the capacity to collaborate with a diverse group of individuals

analytical capabilities as well as the capacity to provide precise evaluations

the capacity to inspire and encourage others around oneself

the ability to act on your own initiative and carry out tasks without supervision

excellent organising skills

a natural capacity for leadership as well as the ability to work well with others.

Practice in the workplace

Horticultural experience and a recognized certification, such as a national certificate in horticulture, a degree, or a foundation degree, are nearly always necessary to be considered for open positions that are advertised. You should make it a priority to build up work experience with children or people in care circumstances. This experience may be gained via volunteer work in special schools or hospitals.

If you live close to one of Thrive's gardens, such as the ones in Battersea Park in South London, Beech Hill in Reading, or Kings Heath Park in Birmingham, you may be able to volunteer for the organization. You may also get in touch with the organization to have access to a database of garden initiatives in the United Kingdom that might provide chances for volunteer work.

The Scottish nonprofit Trellis offers both information on the Scottish treatment for STH as well as a database of therapeutic gardens located around the nation.

Find out more information on the many types of work experience and internships that are currently offered.

Employers

Thrive employs horticultural therapists in order for its garden initiatives to be completed successfully.

You may also find employment in the following areas:

hospitals and residential treatment facilities

centers for daytime, adult, and continuing social education

specialized schools for students who have difficulties hearing or speaking due to a physical disability

residences and centers for senior living that are operated by social services

health regulatory agencies

philanthropic organizations and volunteer groups

prisons

institutions, in addition to specialized nurseries and schools

parks

gardens either for demonstration or community use and urban agriculture.

It's feasible to work as a freelance therapist on your own, but there aren't many prospects for this kind of job right now. It's likely that you might combine horticulture therapy with another related profession, like occupational therapy, if you wanted to.

Try looking for employment opportunities at:

Help for the Community

Create new positions and training opportunities.

Horticulture Jobs

Horticulture Week

Thrive

Openings available at Trellis in Scotland

When referring to horticulture therapy positions, job advertising may include a wide number of additional names, like technical teacher, project worker, or project manager, amongst others.

Since there is a lot of competition for employment and very few openings are announced, it may be worthwhile to submit applications just in case.

Improvement of one's profession

The amount and quality of training are mostly determined by the organization that is doing the hiring. The majority of training is done on the job and is tailored to your specific requirements.

Helping individuals who have learning difficulties, specific educational or mental health requirements, and dealing with older persons who have disorders such as dementia are just some of the topics that Thrive covers in its individualized training programs as well as its shorter, more concentrated courses.

Visit Trellis to learn more about the horticulture classes, news, and events that are happening in Scotland.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) provides a variety of horticulture credentials, ranging from courses for novices to qualifications for seasoned professionals. These qualifications may be obtained via the RHS. A Level 3 qualification in horticulture is required in addition to having at least four years of full-time work experience in a professional horticulture environment. At least one of those years must have been spent in a supervisory role or in a position of responsibility. In order to be eligible for the RHS Master of Horticulture award, also known as the MHort (RHS), you must meet all of these requirements.