Building Craft Operative in Colchester

Overview

The successful applicant will work within the Estates team ensuring the effective maintenance and operation of all its buildings, plant and associated services in an efficient, economical and safe manner in accordance with statutory, NHS Trust and departmental guidelines. You will meet and deal with a variety of people including staff, patients & visitors and therefore must have excellent customer service skills and be able to communicate effectively. If you are shortlisted for this role, your interview will take place on 17 October 2025. You must be able to prioritise your own workload on a day to day basis, ensuring tasks are carried out in an effective order, considering both urgency and location. You must have a full UK Driving Licence. Attention to detail is essential, and we are looking for someone who will take pride in the highest standards of work. You must accept responsibility for your own work and strive to complete all tasks to high standards and within current regulations.

Responsibilities

• Undertake planned maintenance, breakdown repairs, new installations and improvements across the Trust as directed by management, carried out in a safe, efficient and timely manner.
• Carry out general maintenance duties across all sites including roofing, bricklaying, guttering, general plumbing and carpentry tasks.
• Carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) such as emergency light testing, water-flushing, water temperature testing, filter changes and other general maintenance regimes.
• Assist skilled trade staff with a range of duties as required, including testing of fire alarm systems and standby generators.
• Carry out a wide range of multi-trade tasks across the Trust and complete furniture removal/relocation tasks as per manual handling training.
• Understand and carry out PPM duties with regards to Water Quality and perform locksmith duties as required (fitting, maintaining, repairing and manipulating a wide range of lock types).

Requirements

• Must be able to work under pressure and have good physical fitness.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients and visitors.
• Ability to prioritise own workload daily, manage tasks in an urgent and location-aware order.
• Must have a full UK Driving Licence.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to high standards of work.
• Willingness to take responsibility for own work and complete tasks to high standards and within current regulations.
• Understand the importance of and carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance duties (e.g., Water Quality).
• Understand and perform locksmith duties and general multi-trade tasks as required.

Work Environment and Support

Working for our organisation: valuing you, recognising your dedication. You will receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential and join an inclusive EPUT community with engagement events and equality networks. We provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling. We run recognition awards to recognise staff dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us.
• Season ticket loans (interest-free) for travel costs.
• Flexible working available from day one for most roles.

Additional Information

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust. Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We hold the Disability Two Tick symbol and are committed to employing more people with learning disabilities; we encourage applicants with a disability. If you require this application form in another format, please contact the Recruitment Department to arrange delivery. The Trust reserves the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if it so wishes, and we advise checking your registered email regularly. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application may have been unsuccessful. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and all staff are subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Important notice: Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 require COVID vaccinations for those employed to work in a Care Home or deployed to a CQC registered care home, unless exempt. This is a requirement of this role and will form part of pre-employment checks. The post may be considered for suitable alternative employment if you are at risk; the recruiting manager will be advised and the post may be withdrawn from NHS Jobs. References: please include professional references with business contact information covering your last three years of employment history.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We are an inclusive organisation recognised for various awards and initiatives, including veteran-minded and disability-confident accreditation. We are committed to innovation and delivering care, including partnerships and new service delivery initiatives. We welcome you to join us and make a real difference.