This Horticulture Instructor Mayo role offers a rewarding opportunity to combine horticultural expertise with therapeutic engagement in a mental health setting. Based at the Rural Training Centre in Castlebar, you will support service users through structured horticulture and life-skills activities that promote recovery, confidence, and personal development.
This is a Permanent Wholetime post within HSE West and North West and is internal to the public health sector.
Key Responsibilities
• Deliver practical horticulture training with emphasis on plant propagation, cultivation, and harvesting
• Supervise and instruct service users in workshop and outdoor horticultural activities
• Apply principles of social and therapeutic horticulture within a mental health recovery framework
• Support service users to develop life skills, confidence, and work-related competencies
• Maintain a safe, structured, and inclusive workshop environment
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary mental health teams
• Contribute to individual recovery plans through meaningful activity-based engagement
Required Skills & Qualifications
• Demonstrated depth and breadth of experience in a horticultural setting
• Strong practical knowledge of plant propagation, cultivation, and harvesting
• Experience or capacity to work therapeutically with people experiencing mental health difficulties
• Understanding of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture principles
• Ability to support skill development in a structured healthcare environment
• Excellent communication, supervision, and interpersonal skills
Salary, Benefits & Working Hours
• Grade: Workshop Supervisor / Instructor (6425)
• Salary: In line with HSE consolidated public sector pay scales (effective 1 August 2025)
• Contract: Permanent Wholetime
• Benefits:
• Public service pension scheme
• Annual leave and sick leave entitlements
• Structured career progression within the HSE
• Ongoing training and professional development
Location & Employer Information
Location:
Rural Training Centre, Humbert Way, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Employer:
Health Service Executive (HSE) – West and North West Region
The HSE is Ireland’s national public health service provider, delivering community, mental health, and acute services nationwide. This role sits within a supportive social-therapeutic healthcare environment focused on recovery and inclusion.
Application Details
• Application Method: Online application via Rezoomo only (CVs not accepted)
• Closing Date: 6 January 2026 at 12:00
• Proposed Interview Date: TBC
Informal Enquiries:
Hugh Rainey, Centre Manager
Rural Training Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
📞 086 8100302
✉️ hugh.rainey@hse.ie
Important: This competition is restricted to employees of the HSE, TUSLA, Section 38 agencies, or statutory health agencies under WRC Agreement 161867.
