Horticultural Therapist
What is the work like?
As a horticultural therapist, you would use gardening as a means of improving your clients' health and well-being. You could work with a wide range of clients, including:
- people with physical disabilities, mental health problems and learning difficulties
- elderly people
- offenders and ex-offenders
- people recovering from drug or alcohol abuse, major injuries or illnesses.
Your work would vary depending on your client-group, but could include:
- developing clients’ practical or social skills, confidence or self-esteem
- adapting projects to the needs of individual clients
- helping clients to learn or re-learn basic skills, including numeracy and literacy
- providing supportive outdoor activity and exercise to restore strength and mobility after an accident or illness
- supporting and encouraging clients, and monitoring their progress in meeting their objectives
- supporting clients in gaining horticultural qualifications or going on to open or supported employment
- working closely with other professionals like psychologists and social workers.
Your work would also include managing staff and volunteers, drawing up proposals for projects, and applying for funding.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
If you have qualifications and experience in horticulture or in jobs such as social work, occupational therapy, nursing or teaching, you can gain skills in horticultural therapy by:
- attending short courses and volunteering on social and therapeutic horticulture projects, or
- completing a course leading to a qualification in social and therapeutic horticulture – available at a small number of colleges.
Short courses
You can attend a variety of short courses run by the national charity, Thrive. You can do Thrive courses both as a new entrant and once you have experience.
Volunteering
Voluntary opportunities are available with Thrive if you live within travelling distance of their gardens in Hackney (North London), Battersea (South London), Beech Hill (near Reading), Perth (Scotland) and Rotherham (South Yorkshire). Thrive also keeps details of other projects around the UK.
Contact Thrive for information on courses, volunteering opportunities and working in social and therapeutic horticulture.
You can find out about other volunteering opportunities in your area from Volunteering England.
Qualifications
Courses leading to qualifications in social and therapeutic horticulture include:
- Professional Development Certificate and Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture at Coventry University
- Professional Development Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture at Askham Bryan College, York
- Social and Therapeutic Horticulture foundation degree at Writtle College
- BSc (Hons) in Horticulture and Environmental Management at the University of Reading – includes a unit in Horticultural Therapy
- MSc in Horticulture at the University of Reading – with the option to specialise in social and therapeutic horticulture.
You may be accepted on some of these courses without qualifications in horticulture or social care, health care or teaching if you have experience in one of these areas, perhaps gained through volunteering. Please check with individual colleges or universities for details of entry requirements.
As you will be working with vulnerable people, you will need CRB clearance before you start a course or job.
See the Thrive website for information on courses.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you are employed as a horticultural therapist you may receive on-the-job training.
You could also develop your skills by attending short courses (such as those run by Thrive), or by working towards qualifications in horticulture, such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Diploma in Horticulture. Visit the Thrive and RHS websites to find out about courses and qualifications.
Where can I go for more information?
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
London
SW1X 8PS
Beech Hill
Reading
RG7 2AT
Tel:0118 988 5688
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Horticultural therapists can earn between £17,000 and £25,000 a year.
There are no national salary scales, and salaries vary between employers.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your working hours would be variable, and could include weekends and evenings. There could be opportunities for part-time work.
You would work mainly outdoors and in buildings like greenhouses.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a keen interest in horticulture
- patience, tolerance and understanding
- the ability to relate positively and respectfully to all clients
- an enthusiastic, encouraging and motivational approach
- the ability to teach a wide range of skills
- awareness of health and safety issues
- the ability to make the most of limited budgets.
What opportunities are there?
As horticultural therapy is a fairly new area, you will find relatively few jobs advertised. Some organisations may offer relevant jobs under different titles such as project manager or horticultural trainer. Thrive employs therapists in four gardens around the UK.
You could find work on organised projects for particular client groups (such as offenders and ex-offenders), or use horticultural therapy as part of a wider role, such as occupational therapy. You could work for a number of different organisations, including:
- day services or community-based projects
- rehabilitation units
- hospitals
- prisons
- charitable and voluntary organisations
- schools and specialist colleges.
Contact an adviser
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