Housekeeper - NHS
Choose Well - Choose WWL
Job overview
We wish to appoint a housekeeper to join the Division of Medicine, who has a 'can-do' approach, enthusiasm, high standards and understands the importance of a clean, well organised, equipped clinical area.
If you wish to be considered for the position available please click apply now to complete an application form. Throughout the application form, and particularly in the supporting information, please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria on the person specification.
Main duties of the job
The Housekeeper works as part of the Departmental Team responsible for the co-ordination of all the patient facilities in the ward area to ensure a clean, safe and comfortable environment is maintained as determined by the Department Manager.
They will ensure cleaning, catering, linen and minor maintenance standards meet the individual patient’s needs. They will need to report promptly to the person in charge of the department any deficiencies so that appropriate action can be taken.
Working for our organisation
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’.We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values.
WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.
At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key results from the job holder
Cleaning Task/Duties- Assists in monitoring and maintaining cleaning standards on the ward ensuring general and specialist equipment are cleaned as policy
- Ensure the ward is safe and tidy at all times by dealing swiftly with spillages and removing clutter. Checking that notices/boards are tidy and that signage meets the required standard.
- Maintain the upkeep of patients’ bed areas ensuring specialist cleaning of surfaces, furnishings and isolation nursing areas are cleaned appropriately.
- Ensure the areas where food and beverages are served are clean and pleasant
- Respect the privacy and dignity of patients whilst carrying out household duties and also maintaining the safety of patients property and belongings.
- Assist the patients to order food ensuring special requirements are taken into account so that dietary needs are met.
- Ensure that patients are given hand-washing facilities before serving food and beverages to them.
- Prepare and serve hot and cold drinks and food as requested co-ordinating extra requirements that may arise to offer a 24-hour snack service.
- Serve meals in conjunction with the Nursing Team ensuring patients intake is known and checking all food and beverages are served at the correct temperature according to food hygiene regulations.
- Ensure patients have any assistance they require to eat and drink monitoring intake and reporting to the Ward Nurse.
- Ensure patients whose fluid intake is not medically restricted have access to fresh water.
- Ensure the ward kitchen is clean at all times, checking refrigerated food is labelled and shelved as policy.
- Wash equipment/utensils used in preparation and serving of food and beverages.
- Evaluate the monitoring of the service delivery especially related to cleaning, food, linen and the environment at the agreed frequency informing the Ward Manager of outcomes so that action plans can be taken if needed.
- Liaise with Estates and Works Departments in respect of all maintenance issues.
- Plan the transport and disposal of clinical, domestic and confidential waste as per policy.
- Check the ward has sufficient stock to meet the patients and staff needs.
- Complete daily checking of equipment and returning of equipment no longer in use for reprocessing or storing safely in the correct place following decontamination, logging any defects.
- Maintain a cleaning and checking programme of all beds and mattresses in line with the policy.
- To communicate effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure safe and high quality care is provided to all patients
- Maintain effective working relationships with ward colleagues particularly those highlighted within the organisational chart above.
- Adhere to Trust Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
- Ensure compliance with Mandatory training requirements in accordance with Trust Policy
- Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
- Attend mandatory training as directed by Trust
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria- Work experience within the role of housekeeper or similar appropriate post
Skills
Essential criteria- Demonstrate good communication/team and interpersonal skills
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Demonstrate sound underpinning knowledge
- Additional
- Flexible and able to work on any ward and site within the Trust.
- Ability to work internal rotational shifts.
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Evidence of basic level qualifications or able to demonstrate relevant experience
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Recruitment Information for Candidates
Our Trust prefers candidates to submit applications online. Please contact the Recruitment Team on 01942 244000 if you have difficulty applying online.
The Trust reserves the right to close adverts earlier than the stated closing date if there is a high volume of applications.
We endeavour to inform all applicants of the outcome of their application by email or SMS text message.
Guidance on Completing Your Application
Applications are scored against the person specification, therefore we recommend that you use the supporting information section of your application form to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role, providing illustrative examples where possible.
On-Call
Please note that some roles may require you to participate in an on-call rota, if the role is predominantly operational.
Continuous Service
WWL has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. and will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester Local Authority or NHS organisation, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority; giving you access to our service-related benefits.