Head Housekeeper in Bury St Edmunds

Responsible for the day to day management of the domestic cleaning service and its standards of cleanliness, ensuring a clean, tidy and safe environment for our residents. Uphold and actively promote the values and philosophy so each day is the best it can be for residents and staff. As a Head Housekeeper you play a key role in ensuring our residents enjoy first class care that is: safe, effective, caring, responsive, well led.

Principles of Delivery

• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness within the home and ensuring the domestic services run efficiently.
• Be aware of resident and home needs and identify where improvements and/or requirements need to be addressed.
• Compliance with and promotion of the relevant quality control systems and coaching staff to ensure quality, safety, hygiene and cleanliness standards are met and staff are engaged in these areas.
• Supporting the Home Manager in developing and managing effectively and efficiently the budgetary, human and material resources within the department.

Primary Duties

• Supervise the Domestic staff in their daily duties ensuring that cleaning schedules are completed to the required standard.
• Complete monthly rotas for Domestic staff and maintain staff records on holidays and sickness absence.
• Maintain high standards at all times and provide training, mentoring, supervision and instruction of team members to ensure the provision of quality services.
• Inspect all rooms on a regular basis, checking areas for cleanliness and monitoring standards through record keeping and ensuring the highest standards of infection control at all times.
• Order stock and monitor stock control of supplies and distribute throughout the Home, ensuring that supplies are used efficiently within the set budget.
• Ensure all relevant equipment is in good working order and in compliance with Health and Safety Regulations.
• Maintain Health and Safety records (including COSHH).
• Induct new staff into their job duties and train them to the required COSHH and Health and Safety standards.
• Take personal responsibility in becoming fully aware of Health and Safety Policies in particular Fire Procedures, Control of Infection and COSHH.
• Assist in ensuring the security of all residents and the premises through the observance of security procedures and the challenging of any strangers in the Home.
• Participate in meetings and training events as required.
• Act as a positive role model for team members.
• Commit to own ongoing professional development.

Policy and Development

• Read and comply with the relevant policies and procedures.
• Comply with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, using discretion and judgement as appropriate.
• Contribute to developments in domestic cleaning procedures, standards and service provision.
• Identify own training needs and attend any reasonable relevant training as may be required.
• Supervise and train junior staff in domestic cleaning duties and ensure they are compliant with the above regulations and policies.

Health and Safety

• Maintain and monitor appliances, surfaces, personal items and floors as per cleaning requirements and ensure that the home is left in a clean and tidy state at all times.
• Ensure domestic cleaning standards are maintained at all times.
• Take personal responsibility in becoming fully aware of Health & Safety at Work Policies in particular Fire Procedures, Control of Infection, COSHH and Moving & Handling Policies.
• In accordance with the current Health and Safety at Work Act, take reasonable care of your own safety and that of colleagues and the general public and must cooperate with the organisation in meeting the statutory requirements of the Act.

External and Internal Contacts

• As an ambassador for the Company, treat all individuals in the workplace (including residents, colleagues, resident relatives, other workers, visiting professionals and members of the public) in a friendly, courteous and efficient manner.
• Contribute to fostering a positive work environment both in the cleaning department and in the wider Home environment, in accordance with our Equality Policy and our Anti Harassment and Bullying Policy.

Person Specification

• Recent and relevant experience of domestic work for large numbers in a commercial setting.
• Experience of managing and motivating a team.
• Experience of providing service for clients who require clean items on a daily basis - prioritisation is essential.
• Experience in carrying out and ensuring compliance with quality/compliance checks/audits.
• Proficiency in spoken, written and aural English.
• Proficient numeracy skills.
• Knowledge of COSHH and Health and Safety regulations.
• Define and communicate goals to motivate others to achieve them, lead by example, inspire confidence and respect and take action to achieve success.
• Confidence, self-awareness and ability to make a positive impression on others, verbally and in writing.
• Desire and ability to demonstrate initiative, to think ahead and take prompt action to solve problems, complete tasks and seize opportunities.
• Demonstrates energy, drive and stamina, is accountable in order to achieve results, prioritise, meet expectations and improve personal performance.
• Desire and ability to encourage, coach and support and manage the effective performance of people and to develop them to meet requirements.
• Respects others, listens, takes into account different feelings, opinions and motivations.
• Is trustworthy, acts with integrity and the ability to respond constructively toward others, is open-minded, listens actively.
• Desire and ability to work cooperatively within own Home and across the Care family.
• Application of basic budgetary and commercial knowledge.
• Risk management.
• Identifies problems, analyses information and delivers solutions.
• Develops and/or maintains catering knowledge and applies this in the catering context to deliver a quality service.