Support Services Manager in Frome

Support Services Manager

The Support Services Manager is responsible for overseeing the maintenance, catering, and housekeeping teams across multiple school sites. The role ensures that all aspects of facilities management comply with the independent school standards for premises and health and safety regulations.

The postholder will identify compliance shortfalls, liaise with the proprietorial estates team and governance structures, and work collaboratively with headteachers to maintain high standards of safety, efficiency, and operational effectiveness. Additionally, the role requires strong leadership to ensure a cohesive vision and common goals across all support service teams.

Please note that a car will b provided.

Our benefits include:

• Exclusive access to reward and discount scheme
• Comprehensive induction
• Blue Light Card
• Commitment to your ongoing training and career progression
• Teacher pension scheme
• Paid for enhanced PVG/DBS
• Wellbeing support
• Cycle to work scheme and more!

About the schools:

Fromefield Manor School is a new SEN school (opened September 2024) located in central Frome, Somerset and is a special school for up to 30 pupils, aged 11-19 who have a diagnosis of autism with associated complex needs. With a total communication approach and bespoke timetables we are able to ensure our students receive the care, attention, time and dedication to enable them to access education and reach their individual goals and aspirations.

Newbury Manor School is a specialist school for young people aged 6 to 19 who have autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Our tailored approach means we are able to support young people with a wide range of needs, from those who are broadly average in their ability to others, who have more severe learning difficulties.

Set in its own grounds close to Frome town centre, North Hill House is an independent specialist day school for children and young people aged 6 to 19 years with high functioning autistic spectrum disorders, including Asperger’s Syndrome and associated difficulties.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Lead and manage the maintenance, catering, and housekeeping teams, ensuring a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide professional leadership, ensuring all team members understand their roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations.
• Monitor and evaluate team effectiveness, implementing training and development programmes where required.
• Promote a positive working environment that supports staff well-being and professional growth.

Premises and Maintenance Management

• Oversee the maintenance of school buildings, grounds, and facilities to ensure they are safe, well-maintained, and fit for purpose.
• Develop and implement a planned preventative maintenance schedule to minimise disruption to school operations.
• Manage contractors and external service providers, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality service delivery.
• To act as a liaison with our central estates team.
• Ensure all statutory inspections, testing, and servicing are completed within required timescales.
• Oversee grounds maintenance and ensure external areas remain safe and presentable.

Catering Services Management

• Manage the school's catering operation by supporting each school’s school cook to deliver high-quality, nutritious, and cost-effective meals.
• Ensure catering services meet health and safety regulations, nutritional standards, and student dietary requirements.
• Develop and implement quality assurance measures for catering teams, ensuring consistently high standards.

Housekeeping and Cleaning Management

• Manage all cleaning operations across the school site.
• Monitor housekeeping standards across all sites, ensuring cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control measures are met.
• Develop cleaning schedules and monitor performance against agreed standards.
• Respond effectively to emergency cleaning requirements.

Stakeholder engagement and liaison

• Act as the key point of contact between support services, headteachers, governance and the proprietorial estates team.
• Provide reports and updates on compliance, maintenance schedules, and operational challenges to senior leadership and governance bodies.
• Work closely with external agencies, regulatory bodies, and service providers to ensure best practice is maintained.

Shared Responsibilities

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Act as a key member of the school's health and safety management team.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation and school policies.
• Maintain accurate records relating to statutory compliance.
• Ensure effective emergency procedures are in place and regularly tested.
• Support fire safety management, including fire drills, equipment inspections, and evacuation procedures.

Contractor and Facilities Management

• Support local maintenance teams to manage external contractors and service providers.
• Ensure contractors comply with safeguarding, health and safety, and site procedures.
• Oversee facilities hire arrangements where applicable, ensuring premises are available, safe, and appropriately serviced.

Safeguarding

• Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure that all site activities and contractor operations comply with safeguarding requirements.
• Report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with school procedures.

General Responsibilities

• Support the ethos, values, and strategic objectives of the school.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection requirements.
• Participate in relevant training and professional development.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and nature of the post as reasonably required by the School Business Manager or Headteacher.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant facilities, premises, estates, or operational management experience.
• Experience of managing staff and multiple service teams.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation and compliance requirements.
• Experience of contractor management and procurement.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• IOSH or NEBOSH qualification.
• Facilities Management qualification.
• Food Safety qualification.
• Experience working within an educational environment.
• Project management experience.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Ability to work under pressure and respond effectively to emergencies.

As part of Aspris Children’s Services, we are immensely proud of the career pathway and training we can offer you. We ask that you can demonstrate the values needed for a role, transferable skills and life experience and in return we will give you all the training and support you need to progress.

Aspris is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants must be willing to undergo safeguarding screening appropriate to the post, including checks with Disclosure & Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland and at least 2 references which cover the last 3 years; for all our services we will request references from where you have worked with either Children or Vulnerable Adults. Please be advised that references may be requested prior to interview for roles within our Schools.

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