Workhouse employees

[Frodo]

I have just looked at my Great Grandfather Thomas Smith (1864-1950) in the 1921 Census and he is listed as a Gardener (code 013/6) with his employer being the Fylde Board of Guardians (code 721) and his workplace Kirkham Union Workhouse (3887 10). His home address is Greenhalgh near Kirkham. I know the Boards of Guardians were set up under The Poor Law to oversee the Workhouses - would they have employed ordinary people in their professional capacity to work there or does this mean that Thomas was getting some form of assistance under The Poor Law without actually living in the Workhouse?