At a Glance
- Tasks: Keep our new SEND Secondary School sparkling clean and welcoming for students and staff.
- Company: Join a growing education group dedicated to supporting neurodivergent young people.
- Benefits: Enjoy perks like discounts through Perkbox, competitive pay, and enhanced annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while working in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience as a cleaner or housekeeper is essential; empathy and communication skills are a must.
- Other info: Flexible hours, full-time role, and opportunities for training and development await you!
Location: Horsham, West Sussex
Contract Type: Permanent, full-time, term time only
Hours: 40 hours per week
Actual Annual Salary: £22,710.22 - £23,621.48 depending on experience
Start Date: As soon as possible
The School: As part of our growth strategy, a well-established Education group is pleased to be opening a brand new SEND Secondary School in 2025 in the heart of Horsham, West Sussex for young neurodivergent people aged 11-16. Most of our students are coming to us from mainstream education to have access to an adapted National Curriculum delivered in small classes with a focus on meeting their sensory needs and support for their emotional wellbeing.
The Role: Reporting to the School Business Manager, you will be expected to work collaboratively, professionally and effectively as part of our team. Along with staff, you may liaise with our young people, parents and carers and visitors, so it is essential to have excellent communication skills and display empathy, patience and kindness.
Key Accountabilities:
- Prioritising safeguarding in all work.
- To be responsible for cleaning and to use cleaning materials as directed by the product details and to operate cleaning machinery in cleaning soft and hard surfaces, e.g. vacuum cleaners.
- To respond to incidents during the school day, to ensure cleanliness is maintained throughout.
- To use and abide by a daily, weekly and monthly check lists to ensure a thorough cleaning is carried out.
- All members of staff are part of a team. We expect everyone to work collaboratively and positively in the interests of our young people.
- As an employee your absolute priority is to safeguard the young people in our care. You must work professionally, effectively, and sensitively to ensure that all young people are safe and feel safe with any concerns listened to and acted upon appropriately.
- We expect all employees to accurately, factually, and professionally report any incidents involving our young people, including safeguarding and prevent, to the appropriate person (Team Leader/Designated Safeguarding Officer/Safeguarding Team). We expect all reporting incidents to take place within 24 hours of the incident.
Candidates must:
- Proven experience as a Cleaner or Housekeeper
- Ability to work with little supervision and maintain a high level of performance
- Customer-oriented and friendly
- Prioritisation and time management skills
- Working quickly without compromising quality
- Experience in supporting in the care or education industry
- An understanding of working with people with a disability (desirable)
- Be committed to being neuro-informed and neuro-affirmative as expected by all our staff and be able to communicate effectively with our young people and their families
What’s on offer?
- Training and Development - We strongly believe that learning and development should not be limited to just the children and young people we support. We offer a wide range of programmes and opportunities to all our employees to improve your skills and further your career.
- Save money on your bills!! - With the cost of living rising we have a fantastic benefit through Perkbox to help with cutting costs and help make your money go further. Perkbox is a free app for you to use on the go wherever you are. You can get deals and discounts to save money on things like your weekly food bill, phone plans, internet, eating out, gym memberships, insurance and more. You can also use Perkbox for our cycle to work scheme and car scheme.
- Competitive Pay and Reward - Every year we compare the market rates of pay and rewards to ensure they are comparable or better to other similar organisations. We also offer Enhanced Annual Leave, Company Sick Pay, Enhanced Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
- UK Health Cash Plan - This plan can help cover your day to day healthcare expenditure such as optician and dental bills. You and your children are covered on this plan and you can also choose to upgrade and add a partner to enjoy the benefits with you.
- Employee Assistance Programme - Your health and wellbeing is very important to us and we have support available on a wide variety of issues, helping you with online tools, information and via a freephone counselling service available 24/7.
- Refer a friend for £1,000 - We’ll reward you for recommending friends and family to come and join the company (*terms apply).
Housekeeper employer: Blackstone Recruitment Limited
Contact Detail:
Blackstone Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Housekeeper
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals. Understanding their unique requirements will not only help you in your role but also demonstrate your commitment to the school's mission during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in cleaning and housekeeping, especially in educational or care settings. Be ready to share examples of how you've maintained high standards of cleanliness while being mindful of the environment and the people around you.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your communication skills and how you can effectively interact with young people, parents, and staff. Think of specific instances where your empathy and patience made a difference in a challenging situation.
✨Tip Number 4
Show your enthusiasm for ongoing training and development. The school values personal growth, so be ready to express your eagerness to learn new skills and improve your performance in the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Housekeeper
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Cleaner or Housekeeper. Emphasise any roles where you worked with young people or in educational settings, showcasing your ability to maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your understanding of the role and the importance of safeguarding. Mention your communication skills and your commitment to working collaboratively within a team, as these are key attributes for this position.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, clearly outline your time management skills and ability to work independently. Provide examples of how you've maintained quality while working quickly, as this is crucial for the role.
Show Your Commitment to Inclusivity: If you have experience working with individuals with disabilities or in neuro-informed environments, make sure to include this in your application. This will demonstrate your suitability for the role and your alignment with the school's values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blackstone Recruitment Limited
✨Show Your Cleaning Experience
Be ready to discuss your previous experience as a cleaner or housekeeper. Highlight specific tasks you've handled, especially in educational or care settings, to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
✨Emphasise Communication Skills
Since you'll be interacting with young people, parents, and staff, it's crucial to showcase your communication skills. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated in past roles, particularly in sensitive situations.
✨Demonstrate Empathy and Patience
The role requires a compassionate approach, especially when working with neurodivergent students. Think of instances where you've shown empathy and patience, and be ready to share these during the interview.
✨Understand Safeguarding Principles
Familiarise yourself with safeguarding practices, as this is a top priority for the school. Be prepared to discuss how you would handle incidents and ensure the safety and wellbeing of the students.