Housekeeper (Part time) in Shaftesbury

The Dorset Centre of Excellence, which includes the Coombe House School buildings, is looking to recruit a Housekeeper / Cleaner. Ideally you will have previous housekeeping and cleaning experience in a similar environment, but we are still keen to hear from you even if you don’t – it is important to us that we have the right person for the team and someone with a passion for cleaning!

You will work as part of a small, efficient team carrying out a range of cleaning duties in all areas of the site. This includes classrooms, bathrooms, office spaces and leisure facilities.

More about the role:

• To carry out cleaning tasks set out in the team’s cleaning schedule, including vacuuming, mopping, cleaning windows and paintwork/pipes/doors/radiators and all surfaces, cleaning toilets and bathrooms including sanitary fittings and surrounds.
• Spot cleaning of spillages, emptying and cleaning bins.
• Replenishing supplies in toilets, etc (daily) and ensure appropriate cleaning supplies are available.
• To report the breakdown of any cleaning equipment or perceived hazards in the workplace.

You must be able to work with a variety of staff (including in a school setting) and build good working relationships.

We are looking for someone who:

• Takes pride in their work and is a good team player.
• Can deal with the physical demands of the job.
• Ideally has experience of using cleaning equipment and materials and understands key aspects of Health and Safety when cleaning.
• Can demonstrate compassion and understanding of children and young people with social communication, social emotional and learning needs.

Please review the job description and person specification for further information about the role. If you would like to work in this unique and beautiful environment, please complete the application process.

About the Dorset Centre of Excellence:

The Dorset Centre of Excellence is located just outside Shaftesbury and set in 55 acres of beautiful countryside. Coombe House School supports children and young people with social communication, emotional and learning needs, all of whom have an EHCP.

What the Dorset Centre of Excellence can offer you:

• 31 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Enhanced Pension Scheme (10% employers’ contribution).
• Death in Service (3 x salary).
• Little perks of appreciation including free tea/coffee/milk.
• Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimming pool), at specified times.
• Health Care Plan after probation period with reimbursement for dental, optical, prescription, and therapies.
• Wellbeing support, including qualified Mental Health First Aiders on staff body.
• Access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme.
• A workplace set in beautiful surroundings.
• Continuous professional development and training.

This post involves working with children or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Closing date for applications: 23 November 2025

Salary: £10,536 working 15 hours per week

Hours: Part time 07.00-10.00 Monday to Friday (15 hours per week)

Start Date: As soon as possible

Please contact Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager on 01747 449858 for any queries, or email hr@coombehouse.org.uk

This role is an All Year Round Post, but if you are interested in term time only, please do get in touch for a chat.

NOTE: We will close the post earlier if sufficient suitable applications are received. We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child.

The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.

Skills Personal Attributes:

• Ability to work collaboratively and lead a team essential
• Take pride in the work that you do essential
• A good team player essential
• Can demonstrate a good practical aptitude essential
• Demonstrate Compassion and Understanding of our young people essential

We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child.

To ensure that the Company meets its commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people it undertakes a number of pre-employment checks. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.

Regulated Activity - all positions in schools which amount to regulated activity with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA). Schools are therefore entitled to ask about and take into account spent convictions when making appointment decisions, other than those which have been designated as 'protected' under the DBS filtering rules.

The Company applies for an enhanced disclosure from the DBS and a check of the Children's Barred List (now known as an Enhanced Check for Regulated Activity) in respect of all positions at the Company which amount to "regulated activity" as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended). The purpose of carrying out an Enhanced Check for Regulated Activity is to identify whether an applicant is barred from working with children by inclusion on the Children's Barred List and to obtain other relevant suitability information.