Housekeeper - Wotton Lawn
We love what we do and we think you will, too!
At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), we provide joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We run community hospitals and provide care and support in people’s own homes and in a range of other locations across the county.
We are on a mission to enable people to live the best life they can and we have a vision to work together to provide outstanding care. We put people at the heart of our services, focusing on personalised care by asking ‘what matters to you’.
We’re passionate about making sure that everyone can contribute to achieving our mission and we are continually working to support healthy and happy high-quality teams in all areas of the Trust.
Our application process aims to understand each candidates knowledge, skills and experience. We have found that candidates that use AI to generate their answers can lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description.
It is really important to personalise your application to convey your individual skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively and for us to understand why you are applying for this role with GHC. We discourage over reliance on AI-generated applications as it will lessen your chances of success in securing an interview with us .
Job overview
We have 3 opportunities to join our Facilities Team at Wotton Lawn Hospital.
Two full time posts and one 30 hour per week post.
If you are eager to learn and keen to deliver the highest standards, you could be the person we are looking for.
Our Facilities Team delivers Porter, Cleaning, Catering and Linen services within our in-patient units, from 8.00am – 6.30pm, seven days a week.
Main duties of the job
As a Housekeeper you will help maintain a safe, clean and relaxing environment for our patients to recover in.
If you give us your time and commitment, we will give you all the training necessary to be a part of this great Team.
For an informal chat or site visit please call the Facilities Manager named on this vacancy.
The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.
Working for our organisation
We have in excess of 5000 staff working over 50 sites, providing a diverse range of services. We strive to support an organisational culture that is welcoming, builds and celebrates inclusivity and diversity and provides a sense of belonging and trust.
The annual NHS Staff Survey gives our people the opportunity to tell us about their experience working at the Trust. For the 2023 survey just over 2800 colleagues gave us their views (58.5%). It was great to see from the results that colleagues are saying that:
- 89.7% believe they are making a positive difference to patients/service users;
- 73.3% would recommend the organisation as a place to work;
- 82.4% agree that care of patients and service users is the organisations priority;
- 76.7% would be happy with the standard of care for a friend or relative
Our results put us as 5th nationally as a Community, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Employer of Choice and 1st equal amongst all NHS Provider Trusts in the South West. However, we know we have more to do and will continue to drive forward our commitment to making GHC a Great Place to Work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Service Delivery – Cleanliness- Ensure the cleanliness of the environment in accordance with the National Specification of Cleanliness 2007 or equivalent and to the agreed work schedules. The post holder will clean all areas of the site using a range of methods e.g. High dusting, damp dusting, vacuuming and mopping, in line with the NHS Cleaning Manual.
- Be responsible for maintaining and replenishing stocks of consumable items used within the department, i.e.: paper hand towels, soap, in a safe and responsible manner.
- Adhere to all aspects of Infection Control in all areas of work, including the use of colour coded equipment to ensure there is no spread of infection.
- Follow local procedures for reporting areas cleaned and highlighting issues which have prevented duties being carried out.
- Undertake enhanced cleaning duties under the direction of the Facilities Supervisor.
- Distribute and store linen in a safe and responsible manner.
- Change curtains as required under the direction of the Facilities Supervisor /unit manager and in accordance with a curtain change programme.
- Assist with the removal of used linen and follow the rejected linen process.
- Receipt of chilled/frozen meals/stores, checking for quantity, quality and signing for all goods received, reporting of errors and unacceptable goods to the Facilities Supervisor.
- Responsible for the preparation of food service and the regeneration of chilled/frozen meals, according to guidelines/food safety instructions. Under Nursing supervision to plate up all meals, ensuring correct portioning and presentation of meals.
- Complete temperature control records to ensure compliance with food hygiene legislation, and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) requirements.
- Record and monitor food wastage, report discrepancies to the Facilities Supervisor.
- Cleaning of all Facilities equipment used for food preparation and during food service.
- Preparation, service and clearing up of inpatient beverage service, including the replenishment of water jugs, in accordance to the work schedule.
Person specification
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential criteria- Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate
- NVQ Level 1 in Cleaning & Support Services or equivalent qualification or experience
- GCSE’s or equivalent
- Good literacy skills
- NVQ Level 1 in Hospitality & Catering or equivalent
LENGTH AND / OR NATURE OF EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria- Previous experience of cleaning and catering duties within a similar working environment
- Previous experience of working in the NHS
- Previous experience of working within a mental health environment
PROFESSIONAL / MANAGERIAL / SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria- Basic understanding of cleaning and catering procedures
- Knowledge and understanding of the importance of food hygiene and safety
- Understanding of safe manual handling techniques and procedures
- Knowledge and understanding of COSHH (TRAINING GIVEN)
When joining us, as well as becoming part of a team that makes a difference, we also offer:
- Free car parking at many of our sites
- 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
- A broad range of training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships up to Level 7 qualification.
- A multi-professional preceptorship programme for all Newly Qualified; Nurses, Nursing Associates, Internationally Educated Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals and Return to Practice Practitioners.
- Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when if you work unsocial hours
- Flexible, family friendly and agile working opportunities
- Recognition and long service awards
- Fast Track physiotherapy
- Our Wellbeing line
- Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes; including Cycle to Work, Car scheme and discounts on travel, leisure and retailers.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.
For more information please see the attached 'Additional Information for Applicants' document.