Maintenance Craftsperson (Mechanical)

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full time : 37.5 hours per week

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Estates Department would like to appoint a Maintenance Craftsperson (Mechanical).

You will work predominantly days, based on site at The Countess of Chester Hospital. There will be the opportunity to work overtime, which will attract enhanced rates of pay. You will also be part of a team providing on call cover (after a probationary period) and again this will attract additional payment of approximately £2,500 per year plus any additional hours worked and mileage reimbursement.

This role receives an additional recruitment and retention payment of £3277 per annum. The Trust offers a generous benefits package including a career average pension scheme and annual leave entitlement commencing at 27 days increasing to a maximum of 33 days per annum plus bank holidays with service.

The Estates Department values the importance of enabling their team to personally grow and develop within the Trust. The team is very flexible and supportive and work together collaboratively internally and externally to achieve its goals, so it is exciting time to join them.

You will become an active member of the team working to promote good working practice, minimise downtime and assist in improving standards. You will be capable of interacting with staff at all levels on a day-to-day basis and will need to possess excellent communication skills.

1. You will diagnose and repair complex faults in buildings services engineering, electrical, mechanical and plumbing installations, plant and equipment, to deal with new situations as they arise and to pass on complex knowledge to other staff, patients and visitors.
2. As a maintenance craftsperson you will perform a wide range of work for other building and engineering service disciplines. You will therefore be required to undertake multi-skilling tasks i.e. carry out minor works of other non-core trades such as mechanical, plumbing, building trades etc.
3. You will carry out a range of basic testing/sampling, inspection, plant operation, instrumentation readings and completion of various logbooks i.e. routine testing of water samples, boiler and plant

1. You will collect, collate and assimilate technical information to support performance monitoring of maintenance activities.

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £27.50 (standard) or £55.50 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

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.

Person specification

Qualifications

• C&G Diploma Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• C&G 1 day Boiler Operator Training Course

• BTEC ONC in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
• HNC in recognised trade or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Experience

• 2 years responsible mechanical/electrical engineering experience and 4 years formal training
• Experience in a multidiscipline organisation
• Knowledge of Low pressure hot water systems and Steam raising plant & associate equipment

• Experience working in an acute hospital environment
• Previous supervisory experience within a similar environment

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application is £27.50 (standard) or £54.50 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Overseas Candidates

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a new publication to support overseas candidates looking to work in health and care in the UK.

The new guidance provides information on the recruitment process that candidates should expect when applying for work in the UK. Please follow the below link: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a CoS for the post by assessing their circumstances against criteria specified on the Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.