Job description - Warden Couple
About Swiss Farm
Swiss Farm is a family-run holiday and touring park on the edge of Henley-on-Thames. We have touring pitches, static caravan hires, glamping units, a swimming pool, a fishing lake, a café and a shop. Guests range from families to mature couples.
The park has been under the same management since 1946. We are not a corporate park. Decisions are made on site, by people who care about how the place runs.
Our Ethos – What matters here:
Customer satisfaction
Reviews and repeat bookings drive the business. Every guest interaction matters.
Warmth
Guests should feel welcomed, not processed. The same goes for our permanent residents.
Teamwork
Wardens, reception, café, grounds and management work as one team. Nobody refuses a job because it sits outside their role.
Honesty
Things go wrong on busy parks. When they do, we own it, explain it and put it right.
Pride in the place
A holiday park is a 7-day operation throughout the year. We need people who take pride in it and notice the small things.
The Role
We are looking for a warden couple to join us for the rest of the 2026 season and beyond. The two of you will work together as a team, each working 40+ hours per week. The role splits broadly as follows, though the best warden couples back each other up wherever needed.
Partner A — Grounds, Maintenance, Customer Service and Admin
This side of the role covers practical, outdoor work and on-call response.
Grounds
Mowing, strimming, edging and general grass care across pitches, communal areas and verges
Hedge cutting, weeding, leaf clearance, litter picking
Keeping roadways, pitches and entrance areas tidy and presentable
Seasonal jobs: gritting, snow clearance, storm clean-up
Maintenance
General repair work: fencing, gates, signage, picnic benches, hardstandings
Basic plumbing: blocked drains, leaking taps, toilet block fixes
Basic electrics: changing bulbs, resetting trips, checking electric hook-up posts
Pool plant room operation and checks (training given)
Servicing and turnaround prep on static caravans and glamping units between hires
Painting, decorating and minor carpentry
General waste and recycling area management
Vehicle and machinery care: ride-on mower, tractor, park vehicles
Liaising with external contractors when they are on site
Gas bottle changes.
Customer Service
Helping touring guests pitch up safely and find their hook-up
Site inductions for new arrivals
Dealing with day-to-day guest queries on the ground
On-Call (2 nights per week)
Partner A acts as first responder for out-of-hours issues, including:
Electrical hook-up faults, water leaks, blocked drains, barrier problems
Noise complaints and guest welfare
Paid £20 per on-call night, plus paid callouts for any work actually undertaken.
Admin
Daily checks and log books (water, refuse, plant rooms, etc.)
Compliance paperwork — keeping the records that satisfy our licence and H&S obligations
Reporting faults and issues clearly to management
Occasional Housekeeping Cover
We have a dedicated cleaning team. From time to time cover will be needed — a sick day, a busy changeover Saturday, or a stretch of peak demand. A willingness to step in is essential, but cleaning is not the day-to-day focus of this side of the role.
Partner B — Reception, Meet and Greet, and Guest Welcome
This side of the role covers reception, guest welcome and front-of-house.
Reception
Welcoming arrivals: check-in, paperwork, taking payments.
Check-out and pitch inspections
Answering the phone, dealing with enquiries and taking bookings
Operating the booking system (training given)
Selling shop items and basic supplies at reception
Cash handling, end-of-day reconciliation
Liaising with the office on bookings, pitch allocation and queries
Meet and Greet / Guest Care
First point of contact for new arrivals
Showing guests to pitches and explaining the site
Answering questions about Henley, the river, local attractions, the café
Handling first-line guest complaints calmly and escalating when needed
Looking out for vulnerable or elderly guests
Keeping reception and immediate communal areas presentable through the day
Occasional Housekeeping Cover
As with Partner A, a willingness to step in and help with cleaning when required is essential, but it is not the day-to-day focus of this side of the role.
Shared Responsibilities
Cover team members during breaks, days off and busier periods
Both jump in when needed — there will be moments when one partner needs the other outside their usual remit. Fair additional compensation will be given for any genuine extra demand outside normal hours.
Daytime emergency response: fire alarm, water leaks, guest welfare, security
Site presentation: both keep an eye on standards across the park
Communication with management: daily handover where needed
What We Are Looking For
A couple who enjoy holiday park life and like meeting people
Reliable, hands-on and self-motivated — happy to spot a job and get on with it
Calm under pressure, polite with guests, prepared to deal with the occasional difficult situation
One of you confident with practical, outdoor and maintenance work; the other confident with reception and guest welcome
Both committed to the standards of cleanliness and presentation that earn good reviews
Own touring caravan or motorhome in good condition
Right to work in the UK
References available
Previous holiday park, hospitality or grounds experience is an advantage but not essential — what matters most is attitude, reliability and the willingness to work as a team.
To Apply
Please send a short note about the two of you, your relevant experience and the date you could start to:
Joseph Borlase
We will respond to all enquiries and arrange a site visit and interview for shortlisted couples.
Accommodation
ACCOMMODATION AND PACKAGE
The Warden’s Pitch
You will live on site in your own touring caravan or motorhome on a dedicated warden’s pitch. The pitch is provided as part of your employment package for the duration of the season.
• Dedicated warden’s pitch for your own unit
• Electricity included (fair usage)
• Gas allowance included (Fair usage)
Requirements for Your Unit
You will need to bring your own touring caravan or motorhome. The unit should:
• Be in good condition and roadworthy
• Be suitable for year-round or extended season use
If you have any questions about whether your unit is suitable before applying, please get in touch.
Pay and Package
Basic Pay
National Minimum Wage for hours worked, based on the applicable age band. Hours and pay reviewed regularly.
Both partners are paid for hours worked – 40+ hours per week
On-Call Pay (Partner A)
• £20 per on-call night
• Partner A covers 2 on-call nights per week as part of the role
• Paid callouts on top: any work actually undertaken during on-call hours is paid separately
• On-call is for out-of-hours response only during quieter periods. Active security patrols during busy times.
Additional Hours
Both partners may occasionally be needed beyond their contracted hours during busy periods or to cover for each other. Fair additional compensation is paid for any genuine extra demand outside normal hours.
Season and Contract
• Start date: immediate (roles available now for the 2026 season)
• Contract is for until February in the first instance. Date TBC
• Continuation into future seasons by mutual agreement
Further Information
If you would like to discuss the role, the pitch, or any other practical details before applying, please contact:
Joseph Borlase
Holiday Park Description
Swiss Farm is located within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Just a short walk from the Centre of Henley, the river Thames and with direct access to the Oxfordshire Way historic path. We are set back from the road in beautiful countryside, part of which is made up of Capability Brown landscaped parkland, once owned by the grand Fawley estate.