Date as postmark

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your interest in the post of Langdon Lakes and Meadows Warden Abbotts Hall Farm (Part time) at Essex Wildlife Trust. Great Wigborough Colchester, Essex Please find enclosed with this letter a copy of the following information about the CO5 7RZ post and the Essex Wildlife Trust: Tel 01621 862960 Fax 01621 862990 E-mail  A Job Description for the post of Langdon Lakes and Meadows Warden [email protected]  Terms and Conditions of Employment Website  Our current staff structure www.essexwt.org.uk  An application form for the post

Essex Wildlife Trust was founded as a Charity and Limited Company in 1959 by Essex people who were determined to protect interesting wildlife and important habitats and countryside. Essex Wildlife Trust is a registered charity, protecting wildlife for the future and for the people of Essex. The Trust has 87 nature reserves, 8 Visitor Centres, over 32,000 members, around 100 staff and over 2,000 volunteers.

Essex Wildlife Trust manages Langdon Lake and Meadows Reserve (LL & M) through a partnership with The Land Trust. The Reserve covers 40 acres with a good mix of grassland, secondary woodland and wetland.

The Reserve is situated next to a large conurbation and provides an excellent opportunity to introduce countryside and wildlife issues to a large audience. This provides an excellent opportunity to influence people through good examples of conservation management.

The post is based at our neighbouring Langdon Visitor Centre. Our nature reserves and visitor centers are the public face of the Trust. It is therefore important that our nature reserves are well presented and reflect examples of good conservation management.

Langdon Lake and Meadows is well used by the public for informal recreation, including local dog walkers. Our policy on this site is to welcome the public and to undertake a great deal of educational community work. Unfortunately this trust is sometimes abused and we have to deal with some anti-social problems.

This is a great opportunity for the right person to apply their conservation knowledge and abilities to demonstrate and promote good conservation and wildlife issues to a wide audience. It is also an opportunity to encourage and motivate volunteers to work for the benefit of wildlife.

To apply for the post please return the application form together with your full CV Essex Wildlife Trust and a covering letter explaining why you think you are suited to the job. Your Company Registered application must reach the above address by 5.00 pm on 3rd April 2013. No 638666 England Registered Charity No 210065 Interviews will be held on 19th April 2013 at Langdon Visitor Centre. VAT Registered No 945 7459 77

Protecting Wildlife for the Future and for the People of Essex Due to the high number of applicants we normally receive we are not able to respond individually to all applications. If you are selected for interview, we will phone and confirm in writing so if you have not heard from us by the interview date you have not been successful and we take this opportunity to thank you for your application.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Trust and I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours faithfully

Lisa Smart Reserves Manager (South) ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST

JOB DESCRIPTION Warden, Langdon Lake & Meadows Overview Essex Wildlife Trust aims to protect wildlife for the future and for the people of Essex. It is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It is one of 47 Wildlife Trusts which form the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. The staff of Essex Wildlife Trust and its subsidiaries Essex Wildlife Sales Ltd, Essex Ecology Services Ltd, Chafford Gorges Ltd and Thameside Nature Park Ltd, work alongside large numbers of volunteers and work within the policies and budgets agreed by the Board of Trustees and set out in the Strategic Plan. We are a dynamic and fast growing organisation with many opportunities, both to maintain our existing activities and to take on important new initiatives.

Title of post: Warden, Langdon Lake & Meadows

Responsible to: Langdon Team Leader (Line Manager) and Reserves Manager (Line of Technical Expertise).

Main Aim of the Job: To undertake effective and appropriate management of the Langdon Lake and Meadows Nature Reserve, seeking to achieve a balance between nature conservation and recreation. To promote interest, understanding and enjoyment of the reserve and nature conservation and to encourage responsible use of the reserve.

Main Responsibilities: Conservation management

To increase the biodiversity and conservation value of wetland, woodland and grassland sites in Essex through: 1. Managing the Langdon Lakes & Meadows Nature Reserve constitutes the main duties of this post, through the Management Plan and annual action plan. Undertaking regular day to day practical management work on the reserve in accordance to their priority and taking all appropriate health and safety provisions. 2. Maintain machinery, vehicles and equipment (including, tractor and implements). Maintaining signs, fences, access bridges, footpaths and other visitor facilities 3. To work with the fishing club on site. 4. Ensure compliance to English Woodland Grant Scheme and Higher Level Entry Scheme. 5. Patrolling and monitoring the public use of the reserve and dealing with antisocial issues in an appropriate and timely manner. 6. Encouraging, grow and supporting network of volunteers to assist in all aspects of reserve management. Administration

7. Undertaking risk assessments for Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves and activities on these reserves and undertake an annual Site audit. 8. Prepare detailed quarterly reports for LT 9. To record and monitor the biodiversity of the site and in particular to ensure that all protected species are appropriately considered in the management. 10. Prepare annual budgets for EWT and LT and once approved ensure that they are strictly adhered to and respond promptly to correspondence and invoices. 11. Identify key projects for Langdon Lake and Meadows and work with the EWT and LT Fundraising teams to gain funding. Once funds have been successfully identified, work towards delivering the project within a given time frame, budget and job specification and ensure grant monies are correctly claimed 12. Ensuring that any contracts are issued or consent has been sought for conservation management projects

People and Wildlife

13. Together with the centre team, help raise awareness and understanding of how personal action can contribute to the conservation of wildlife, contribute to interpretation and help organise and deliver on-site activities for a wide range of audiences at Langdon Lake & Meadows in ways that support the activities organised by the Trust people and wildlife staff. ` 14. Maintaining good relations with partners: 15. Essex Wildlife Trust - Staff Meetings, Reserves Staff Meetings and The Land Trust Managing Agents Conference. 16. Land Trust – Liaise with the Estates Manager, Communications Executive. 17. Liaise with external bodies that may include - Local Communities, Statutory Bodies, Local Councils, Government agencies, Voluntary organisations, Recreational user groups, Landowners and land managers, Funders and funding partners. The Press and Media to be referred to LT where appropriate. Visitor Centre

18. To work with the centre staff team and volunteers to ensure that the Trust facilities are maintained to a high standard and visitors are received and served in a timely manner and as appropriate both inside the Visitor Centre and out on the reserve. 19. We will expect the post holder to cover the Visitor Centre at least 2 days per month and to provide holiday cover as needed. Other Responsibilities:

20. Work with contractors to ensure that work on major projects is properly co- ordinated and carried out effectively and within EWT health and safety guidelines. 21. To undertake other comparable duties under the direction of your Line Manager which are bound to occur in a busy organisation. 22. To ensure that opportunities are taken by the Reserves staff to celebrate successes on Trust sites and promote these in ways which support the Trust brand. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Name of Employer: Essex Wildlife Trust

Title of Post: Warden, Langdon Lake and Meadows

A detailed job description is available but this does not form part of the terms of employment.

Responsible to: Centre Manager and Team Leader Langdon who is Line Manager for this post.

Place of Work: Langdon Lake and Meadows Nature Reserve, based at Langdon Visitor Centre

Hours of Work: 22.5 hours per week, normally 7.5 per day excluding lunch breaks and other breaks. Normal office hours are 9 am to 5 pm, however, work will be required outside these hours, including some work at evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays for which time may be taken off in lieu. Guidance and procedures on claiming time off in lieu are included in the Staff Handbook, located on SharePoint.

Itinerary: You must complete a staff itinerary in advance for each week for your Line Manager to read, this must show the days you are working, the hours you intend to work and indicate key jobs you are undertaking. This is held on Microsoft Outlook Calendar. Instructions are in the Staff Handbook.

Salary: Starting at a salary of up to £13,432 per annum depending on experience and qualifications and subject to review with your Line Manager. Salary is paid monthly in arrears. If for some reason it is clear that the Trust has over paid or under paid on one month it will adjust this by deduction or addition on the next month. Rates of pay are reviewed in November each year. Details of salary during Probationary period will be set out in your letter of appointment.

Travelling: When using your own vehicle on Trust business (excluding ordinary commuting) a mileage allowance may be payable (full details and current rates are available in the Staff Handbook). When you make a travel claim you will be asked to confirm that your private vehicle is appropriately insured, taxed and has an MOT (where applicable).

Travel at the beginning or end of the working day to/from your normal place of work is within your own time. It is not classed as working time and you are therefore not entitled to record time off in lieu for these journeys. If an employee travels from their place of work to another work related location or temporary place of work, this is normally in work time. If an employee’s role requires them to travel from home to a temporary place of work at the start of the day it would be reasonable for an employee to spend the first 30 minutes of the journey in their own time. The same would apply at the end of the day if an employee travels from a temporary place of work to home in that it would be reasonable for 30 minutes of that journey to be in their own time. Full guidance can be found in the Staff Handbook on SharePoint. Specific exceptions to this can be agreed by your Line Manager for going on a particular visit or training outside of Essex, where the length of the journey is more than a normal journey time you would do within Essex.

Annual Leave: Our holiday year runs from 1st January to 31st December. For a complete holiday year full-time staff are entitled to 23 working days in addition to days in lieu of statutory bank holidays rising to 25 days after 5 years’ service. This will be pro rata for part-time staff and given the role is 3 days per week; this will translate to 14 days’ holiday per year.

Holidays must be taken in consultation with other staff and with the agreement of your Line Manager. If you commence work part way through the holiday year, you need to base your entitlement on the remaining complete months in that holiday year.

You will not normally be able to take more than 3 consecutive weeks as holiday and at least three working days must be taken between November 1st and March 1st. Annual leave must normally be taken in the calendar year it is due, but some days can be carried over with agreement of the Line Manager providing they are taken by 31st March of the following year.

If you leave your employment your holiday entitlement will need to be recalculated for the completed months that you have worked in that holiday year. Discuss any over taken holidays with your Line Manager.

Bank and Customary Holidays: your entitlement to time off for bank holidays is pro rata for part time staff and given the role is 3 days per week, you will receive a fifth of your weekly contracted hours for each Bank and Customary that remains in this holiday year.

Probationary Period: 6 months during which time the employer or the employee may terminate the employment upon one week's notice.

Length of Contract: Permanent

Other Expenses: Other legitimate claims for expenses on Trust business can be made on the appropriate claim form providing these have been agreed in advance by the appropriate Budget Head.

Pension: Membership of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme is available if requested after successful probation or alternatively 4% of gross salary will be paid as a contribution to a Personal Pension Plan approved by the Trust providing the member of staff also contributes 3% to that plan.

Notice: After the probationary period, one month's notice of termination of employment is required by either side. The Employer is required to give one additional week of notice for each completed year of continuous employment exceeding 4 completed years to a maximum of 12 weeks’ notice. The Trust may direct a staff member to take any outstanding holiday during the period of notice.

Disciplinary, Grievance and Appeals Procedures: Clear procedures for dealing with any Disciplinary matter or Grievance or Appeal are set out in a separate document as part of the Staff Handbook that may need to be updated from time to time and does not, therefore, form part of these terms of employment.

An employee should take any Grievance or Appeal in the first instance to the Line Manager to whom he/she is responsible. Any Disciplinary matter will, in the first instance, be raised by an Employee's Line Manager.

Retirement Age: The Trust does not operate a compulsory retirement age for its employees. Sickness and Sick Pay: A member of staff who is not able to attend work must notify their Line Manager as soon as possible on the first day of the absence. This notification should be before 10.00 a.m. except in exceptional circumstances.

A friend or relative may make contact on behalf of the member of staff, but the member of staff retains responsibility and must personally make contact with her/his Line Manager as soon as s/he is able.

The Line Manager must be informed of the reason for absence, the possible length and likely return date and any medical advice that has been given which relates to the return to work.

If it is not possible to give a return date, the member of staff should make contact at least every three days and must submit any relevant documentation as soon as possible.

Failure to follow the notification procedure given above may result in the absence being recorded as unauthorised.

On return to work the individual should participate with the Line Manager in a conversation to discuss the absence and the reason for it. One of the purposes of this conversation will be to establish whether the Line Manager can provide any support to the employee which could facilitate attendance at work in the future.

The individual should agree on request to be interviewed and/or examined by an occupational doctor nominated by the Trust, and the Trust will meet all related expenses.

If a member of staff is absent for 1 – 3 calendar days inclusive they should complete Part A of the Appendix 2 Form Statement of Sick Absence and forward this to their Line Manager and the CEO’s PA for confidential filing. Appendix 2 Statement of Sick Absence Form is available from Trust Main Offices, from the Computer U Drive under Staff Information – Forms, or SharePoint.

If a member of staff is absent for 4 - 7 calendar days inclusive, they should complete and submit both part A and part B of Appendix 2 Form Statement of Sick Absence as a self- certification form to their Line Manager on return to work. The form will then be forwarded to the CEO’s PA for confidential filing.

If a member of staff is absent for 8 or more calendar days, a Statement of Fitness for Work (provided by the GP) is required covering them from the 8th day of absence and should be sent promptly to the Line Manager who will pass it to the CEO’s PA for confidential filing. If the absence continues beyond the period covered further statements are required until a return to work.

Sick pay entitlements increase in relation to the time that a member of staff has been in continuous employment with the Trust or its subsidiaries. The following are the total amounts of sick pay that a member of staff is entitled to receive during any 12 month period as a result of sick absence which has been properly notified to the Trust. (For these purposes the 12 month period is a rolling period of 12 consecutive months calculated from the first day of absence). Up to one year of continuous service Two weeks’ full pay, two weeks’ half pay After one year of continuous service One month’s full pay, one month’s half pay After three years’ of continuous service Two months’ full pay, two months’ half pay After five years’ continuous service Three months’ full pay, three months’ half pay

It should be noted that Company Sick Pay is discretionary and each situation will be subject to review and dealt with on an individual basis.

If statutory sick pay (SSP) is for a longer period than any of the above then SSP will be paid to the end of that longer statutory period. In order to qualify for sick pay then staff must follow the procedure set out in their contract and in this policy. If there are exceptional circumstances then the Trust will use discretion and this would involve the Line Manager discussing the circumstances with the CEO who would come to a decision.

Full details relating to sickness and sick pay are found in the Staff Handbook.

Contact outside office hours: The Trust or its officers may need to contact you outside office hours for important Trust business.

Redundancy: The Trust will, of course, observe any statutory requirements with regard to redundancy. The details are available on request but as these are complicated and are changed from time to time, the details cannot form part of these terms of employment.

Statement of Health and Safety Policy: The Trust provides a copy of this statement for all staff and expects its staff to comply with this statement. This policy has to be reviewed regularly and therefore the detail is not part of the terms of employment.

Staff Handbook: A Staff Handbook is available for all Trust staff on the Intranet. It must be understood that this handbook and the details in it form clear guidance to staff, but do not form part of a contract of employment. It is to be found on the Intranet, or a member of staff can request a copy if they do not have access to the Intranet.

Copyright: Copyright material created during employment is the property of the Trust.

Confidentiality: You shall not use or disclose to any person either during or at any time after your employment with the Trust any confidential information about the business affairs of the Trust, or about any other matters which may come to your knowledge in the course of your employment. For the purposes of this clause, confidential information means any information or matter which is not in the public domain and which relates to the affairs of the Trust.

The restriction in this clause does not apply to: (a) prevent you from making a protected disclosure within the meaning of section 43A of the Employment Rights Act 1996; or (b) use or disclosure that has been authorised by the Company, is required by law or by your employment Right to Change Terms of Employment: We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to any of your terms of employment. You will be notified in writing of any change as soon as possible and in any event within one month of the change.

Third Party Rights: The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 shall not apply to this agreement. No persons other than you and the Trust have any rights under this agreement and this agreement shall not be enforceable by any person than you and the Trust.

References: The Trust must receive references that it considers satisfactory. At least one of these must be from your current or most recent employer.

Qualifications: The Trust must receive evidence that you hold the qualifications relevant to the post.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks: Note that if this post is within Education or you are required to have the qualification of a Chartered or Certified Accountant you will be subject to CRB background checks. Convictions affecting your ability to work in these posts may result in termination of the post. A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to working with the Trust. BOARD OF TRUSTEES

TRUST FORUM & TRUST MAIN COMMITTEES CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHICH REPORT TO THE BOARD. Personal Assistant OFFICER HUMAN RESOURCES, FINANCE, ACCESS HEALTH & SAFETY, LIVING LANDSCAPES, LIVING SEAS, LEADERS & AMBASSADORS

FUNDRAISING & EECOS MANAGER CONSERVATION SENIOR RESERVES SALES COMPANY PEOPLE & WILDLIFE MARKETING FINANCE & MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER SERVICES MANAGER MANAGER

Senior Ecologist Conservation Officer Reserves Manager NW Sen Schools Outreach pt Env. Projects Programme Management Accountant Senior Ecologist Wildlife Sites Officer Reserves Officer Reserves with Centres Schools Outreach Manager Finance Officer pt Ecologist Records Officer Roding Valley Warden Education & Community Env. Projects Manager Asst. Bookkeeper Abberton Hanningfield Asst. Ecologist Living Landscapes Co-Asst. Ranger Officer pt Env. Projects Manager SouthendAsst. Bookkeeper Sen Warden & Team Leader Centre Manager & Team ordinator Asst. Bookkeeper pt Centre Manager Leader Living Seas Officer Reserves Manager NE Sen Forest Schools pt Media & Marketing Off Education Officer Education Officer Water for Wildlife Off Reserves Officer Forest Schools pt Media & Marketing Asst. pt Finance Projects Officer pt Seasonal Educ. Officer Warden Biodiversity Coordin. Colne Point Warden pt Warden Asst. Centre Manager pt Biodiversity Off Abbotts Hall Farm Manager Seasonal Education OfficersMembership Officer Trust Secretary South Essex Project Tiptree Heath Warden pt Asst. Memb Secretary pt Asst. Secretary Bedfords Langdon Officer Centre Assistants Head Recruiter Asst. Secretary Education Officer & Team Centre Manager & Team Reserves Manager/PO Asst. Secretary pt Leader Leader Tollesbury Warden Legacy Officer pt Cleaner pt Centre Manager Education Officer pt Lt Haven Warden Asst. Centre Manager pt Warden Shoebury Ranger Fundraising Officer IT Manager Asst. Educ. Officer pt Chafford Lake/Meadows Off pt HR Officer Reserves Manager S pt Centre Manager & Team Haven Asst. Manager pt Corporate Manager Volunteers Coordinator pt Reserves Officer Leader Fundraising Asst pt Blue House Warden Community Wildlife Off Thorndon (Centre only) Corporate Coms pt Blue House Asst. Warden Warden Centre Manager Corporate Officers pt Seasonal Educ. Officer pt Asst. Centre Manager pt Centre Asst. pt Ingrebourne PM (seconded) Fingringhoe Seasonal Educ. Officers pt Centre Manager & Team Leader Thurrock Thameside Education Officer Site Manager & Team Leader Warden Centre Manager Education Officer Belfairs Warden Centre Manager & Team Leader Woodland Ranger Education & Community Officer

+ New Reserves with Centres APPLICATION FORM

APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF …Langdon lake and Meadows Warden (This information will be confidential to the Interview Panel and the line manager)

APPLICANT'S FULL NAME:

HOME ADDRESS: TEL NO: DAYTIME ______TEL NO: EVENING ______EMAIL ADDRESS______

ESSENTIAL SKILLS Please outline what experience you have to meet the following Essential skills for this post. Please feel free to expand the reply boxes or use a separate sheet if you wish to give us further information. (Max 120 words per box)

1. Formal education or qualifications in conservation or land based industry.

2. Proven experience of practical land management in particular grassland and woodland

3. Proven experience of leading conservation volunteers

4. Proven ability to communicate with the public 5.Proven training and experience of using and maintaining powered equipment, which should include chainsaw, brushcutter and tractor.

6. Full clean driving licence

7.Proven ability to use computers e.g. emails, word processing, spread sheets etc.

8. Proven experience of how you have used safe working practices

9. Proven experience of undertaking physically demanding duties e.g. coppicing/hay making

CONVICTIONS 1. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence? If so please give details of any unspent convictions. Spent convictions do not have to be declared as the job is not one covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974(Exceptions) Order 1975)

QUALIFICATIONS If you are invited for an interview we will require evidence of the qualifications you have referred to in your application.

REFEREES We will contact you before we take in references, but please give the name, address, telephone number and email of two referees, stating how long you have known them and in what capacity. One should be your current or most recent employer who is giving a reference on behalf of that company.

REFEREE 1 REFEREE 2 Name: Name:

Job Title: Job Title:

Address: Address:

Telephone Number: Telephone Number:

Email address: Email address:

How long you have known them: How long you have known them:

In what capacity you have known them: In what capacity you have known them:

DATA PROTECTION I hereby give my consent to Essex Wildlife Trust and its subsidiaries processing the data supplied in this application form for the purpose of recruitment and selection. In addition please prepare: A FULL CURRICULUM VITAE INCLUDING YOUR EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND CAREER HISTORY, A COVERING LETTER EXPLAINING WHY YOU THINK YOU ARE SUITABLE FOR THE POST. Thank you.

DECLARATION I declare that the above information together with my CV and covering letter are to the best of my knowledge complete and correct. Please note: Any false, incomplete or misleading statement may lead to dismissal from the Trust. Signed by the Applicant: Date:

To assist us with adverts please tell us where you saw this advert

______Please return to: Essex Wildlife Trust, The Joan Elliot Visitor Centre, Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough Colchester, Essex, CO5 7RZ or e-mail to [email protected]