Domestic Assistant

Synchronicity Care Limited (SCL) are a wholly owned subsidiary company of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT). SCL provides a range of non-clinical Estates, Facilities and Procurement services to CDDFT. An excellent opportunity has arisen within SCL for an enthusiastic, self-motivated and committed individual to influence and contribute as part of the Domestic Services Team at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Domestic Assistants are important members of the team who assist with maintaining a clean and welcoming environment over a 24/7 period for patients, staff and visitors within a busy acute hospital. The successful applicant should preferably have previous cleaning experience in a healthcare environment; however full training will be provided and all successful postholders will be expected to work towards gaining an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning and Support Services. Successful post holders will be expected to work a shift pattern which includes weekends. All post holders will be subject to a 6-month probationary period.

Main duties of the job

• Carry out specific cleaning and other related duties following set procedures and standards to maintain the levels of cleanliness throughout the environment.
• Work as part of a team and have the ability to use a degree of initiative to prioritise and organise daily duties.
• Maintain communication channels between appropriate staff, visitors and patient groups regarding departmental cleaning hygiene.
• Be flexible to the needs of the service ensuring continuity of service while adhering to all relevant policies and procedures.
• Work unsupervised, be caring, flexible and reliable, and maintain good levels of personal hygiene.

Job responsibilities

• Undertake cleaning duties as detailed within the domestic method statements, following cleaning schedules and COSHH guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with all aspects of Health & Safety legislations and correct use of PPE.
• Maintain the hospital environment as laid down in the National standards of Cleanliness.
• Undertake rectifications from the cleaning audit action plans and show continual improvement.
• Assist with beverage service as required and agreed.
• Thorough and hygienic cleaning of all domestic equipment and storage areas.
• Attend Trust required training courses that are relevant to the post as a domestic.
• Request and replenish all cleaning products through effective stock ordering.
• Maintain a high level of personal hygiene.
• Adhere to all Trust / SCL and Departmental policies and procedures.
• Check all equipment before use and report any faults and defects to supervisor/manager.
• Record and maintain records as required.
• Report any estates issues that impact on the cleaning services provided.
• Undertake any other domestic orientated duties as required.

Specialist Cleaning Activities

• Undertake any specialised cleaning (HPV cleaning) as instructed by a supervisor or manager following appropriate protocols and completion of associated documentation.

The post holder is required to commit to delivering the actions in the Trusts Behaviours Framework:

• Working together for patients: Patients come first in everything we do. We fully involve patients, staff, families, carers, communities, and professionals inside and outside the NHS. We speak up when things go wrong.
• Respect and Dignity: We value every person whether patient, their families or carers, or staff as an individual, respect their aspirations and commitments in life, and seek to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits.
• Commitment to quality of care: We earn the trust placed in us by insisting on quality and striving to get the basics of quality of care safety, effectiveness and patient experience right every time.
• Compassion: We ensure that compassion is central to the care we provide and respond with humanity and kindness to each person's pain, distress, anxiety or need.
• Improving lives: We strive to improve health and wellbeing and people's experiences of the NHS. We maximise our resources for the benefit of the whole community, and make sure nobody is discriminated against or left behind.

Person Specification

• Demonstrate a reasonable secondary education.
• Basic understanding of Health & Safety issues and COSHH.
• Previous experience in this type of work would be preferable. Must have NVQ 2 in Support Services or Customer Care or be willing to work towards.
• Must be caring, flexible and reliable and have good levels of personal hygiene.
• The ability to work unsupervised.
• Previous experience as a domestic/housekeeper.
• Experience of working as a domestic in a healthcare environment.
• Experience of working in a multi-professional team.
• Must be able to work within a caring, confidential environment and the ability to work on their own as well as part of a team in a busy environment.
• Understanding of the National Standards of Cleanliness.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.