Estates Officer - Mechanical in Chester

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.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

This opportunity is to join the Estates Management team delivering a planned, coordinated, and pro- active maintenance service and to support the overall objectives of the Trust.

You will be an integral part of the team and will provide a wide range of duties to manage, support and assist the Estates Department. You will be qualified to the appropriate level with a building services mechanical trade background. You will be responsible for organising and managing planned and reactive maintenance alongside out-sourced service contract providers within a complex estate.

The list below is to outline the main duties involved; however, this is subject to change and will vary within the given role. We ask all employees to be flexible in their role, to always ensure we are giving a safe, secure and pleasant environment for patients, staff and visitors together with excellent care.

Main duties of the job

You will manage, monitor and co-ordinate operationally all mechanical engineering systems and work activities including ordering materials and services, planning work and addressing backlog maintenance issues and deal directly with suppliers and their representatives.

You will ensure compliance with relevant current legislation, NHS guidance, health and safety standards, codes of practice and regulations.

You will support the Operational Estates Manager on all aspects of mechanical engineering services and systems ensuring compliance and that those activities are carried out in the most cost effective and efficient way either through retained staff or external contractors.

You will monitor and review mechanical engineering services and the planned preventative maintenance system to ensure that statutory and mandatory compliance is achieved.

You will manage, develop, co-ordinate and maintain documentation, registers and log books for mechanical engineering services including Health & Safety, Risk Assessments and method statements.

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

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

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

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.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND or Degree in Building Services or a Mechanical Engineering related discipline or an equivalent level of experience within Building Services Engineering
• Recognised apprenticeship or equivalent in a buildingservices or a mechanical related discipline.
• PSSR Regulations
• Authorised Person qualifications
• First Aid at work

Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of Mechanical services.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety Legislation, Codes of Practice etc.
• Good financial acumen.
• Good computer literacy and IT skills.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Ability to motivate and lead staff.
• Adaptability and willingness to participate in the Estates Officer on call rota
• Technical Memorandum and the statutory and mandatory requirements therein
• Recognised management qualification.
• Experience of working in a hospital environment.
• Experience of staff development/human resource management.

Skills

• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyse and apply judgement skills illustrating the ability to interpret complex information and make informed decisions.
• Conscientious, flexible and able to perform under pressure.
• Evidence of ongoing personal development.
• MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) Training

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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 will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

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