Facilities Assistant

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Job Title: Facilities Assistant
Location: Heath Farm School, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0AX
Hours: 35 hours per week | Monday to Friday | Mon 8.30am-4pm | Tues 7.30am-4.30pm | Wed 8.30am-3.30pm | Thurs 7.30am-4.30pm | Fri 8.30am-3.30pm (times may vary dependent on cover)
Salary: £24,115 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | 52 weeks
Start: September 2026
UK applicants only - no sponsorship available

About the Role

We are looking for a Facilities Assistant to join our dedicated team and play a vital role in ensuring our school remains a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for pupils, staff, and visitors. Working alongside the Facilities Management Team and School Business Manager, you'll help maintain our buildings and grounds, support compliance and health & safety requirements, and contribute to the smooth day-to-day running of our school site.

What you will be doing

• Supporting the maintenance and upkeep of school buildings, grounds, vehicles, and equipment.
• Carrying out general repairs and coordinating planned and reactive maintenance works.
• Assisting with health and safety compliance, including fire safety, water hygiene, PAT testing, emergency lighting, and other statutory checks.
• Monitoring contractors and ensuring work is completed safely and to a high standard.
• Maintaining accurate records, compliance documentation, and operational systems.
• Supporting site security, including opening and closing procedures.
• Conducting regular site inspections and helping to identify improvements across the school estate.
• Responding to maintenance issues and emergencies with a calm and practical approach.

What you will bring

We're looking for someone who is organised, reliable, and committed to keeping our school environment safe and well-maintained.

• Previous experience within facilities, estates, site management, or a similar role.
• A good understanding of health and safety and compliance requirements.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills and a hands‑on approach.
• Good IT skills and experience maintaining records and reports.
• The ability to prioritise tasks and respond effectively to changing demands.
• Driving licence required.

About Us

Heath Farm is an independent SEN school that offers a unique and stimulating environment where every student can make outstanding progress in their personal development and enjoy success in their education. From our nurturing approach for Primary through to Secondary students aged 5 to 16, all students are encouraged to reach high standards in every aspect of their lives. Our pupils present with a wide range of needs, including social and emotional issues, learning difficulties, mental health problems and associated conditions. However, they are able to enjoy extraordinary outcomes and be happy at school.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people's lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence‑based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact. We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.