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- Tasks: Keep our hostels clean and safe while supporting a diverse community.
- Company: Join Lewisham Council, a leader in community support and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, pension schemes, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Opportunities for training and career growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Pride in your work and commitment to excellent customer service.
The predicted salary is between 32442 - 33384 £ per year.
Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities! We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, and for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
We are looking for someone who can provide high quality, customer focused and responsive service to Lewisham residents.
Put simply, our hostel caretakers clean and maintain the shared areas of the hostels that we manage. They take pride in ensuring that our residents live in an environment that is safe, clean and tidy.
Responsibilities
- Sweeping and cleaning all internal and external communal areas on a scheduled and a reactive basis, including the safe use of appropriate equipment, chemicals, and materials.
- Removing fly‑tipping, lumber or other bulky items, from communal areas and dwellings to an appropriate area, including loading vehicles and, if appropriate, driving to a disposal site.
- Carrying out systematic checks and fire alarm testing on a scheduled or reactive basis, and sorting or reporting problems, including but not limited to chutes, litter bins, communal lighting, fire safety hazards and communal repairs.
- Requesting and monitoring repairs to communal areas, using appropriate means or as identified by managers or supervisors.
- Identifying and reporting any welfare or safeguarding concerns about vulnerable residents.
- Identifying and reporting nuisance, anti‑social behaviour or criminal behaviour and providing evidence to support enforcement action – including the provision of information on individuals, actively looking for evidence as required, and providing witness statements.
What’s in it for you?
- Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits include:
- Generous holiday allowance.
- Local Government Pension scheme.
- Flexible working and family friendly policies.
- Season ticket and bicycle loans.
- A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships.
- Supportive staff networks.
What We’re Looking For
- Takes pride in their work.
- Has an awareness of - and a commitment to - equality of access and opportunity in a diverse community.
- Maintains excellent customer service in all areas of work.
- Takes responsibility for their own learning and development.
- Engages with colleagues and management to support the delivery of excellent services for the benefit of our residents and stakeholders.
- Complies with all policies and procedures – including those relating to Health & Safety and Equality & Diversity.
Location
Our caretakers work at and from a variety of locations across the borough of Lewisham.
Special conditions
- A clean, full manual UK/EU driver’s licence with Category B.
- There may be opportunities to work at weekends on a rota basis.
- The job is subject to a basic DBS check.
Salary
£32,442 - £33,384 per annum (Scale 4).
Diversity
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply.
Hostel Caretaker employer: Lewisham Council
Contact Detail:
Lewisham Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Hostel Caretaker
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the community! Spend some time in Lewisham, chat with locals, and understand their needs. This will not only help you connect better during interviews but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills! Think of scenarios where you might need to handle difficult situations or complaints. Role-playing these situations with a friend can really boost your confidence for the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your pride in your work! Bring examples of how you've maintained cleanliness or safety in previous roles. This will demonstrate your commitment to providing a high-quality service, which is key for a Hostel Caretaker.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and serious about joining our team in making a difference in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Hostel Caretaker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Pride in Your Work: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight how you take pride in maintaining clean and safe environments. We love candidates who share our commitment to providing high-quality service to the community!
Emphasise Your Customer Service Skills: Since this role is all about excellent customer service, don’t forget to mention any relevant experience you have. We want to see how you engage with residents and ensure their needs are met!
Be Clear About Your Availability: If you're flexible with your working hours or can work weekends, let us know! This shows that you're committed and ready to jump in wherever needed, which is super important for us.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it’s easy to navigate!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lewisham Council
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a hostel caretaker. Familiarise yourself with tasks like cleaning communal areas, handling waste, and conducting safety checks. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Show Your Customer Service Skills
Since this role involves interacting with residents, be prepared to discuss your customer service experience. Think of examples where you've gone above and beyond to help someone or resolved a conflict. Highlighting your commitment to providing excellent service will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Diversity
Lewisham is known for its diverse community, so it's important to express your understanding and commitment to equality and inclusion. Share any experiences you have working in diverse environments or how you’ve supported vulnerable individuals in the past. This will show that you align with their values.
✨Prepare Questions to Ask
Interviews are a two-way street, so come prepared with questions about the role and the organisation. You might ask about training opportunities, team dynamics, or how they handle resident feedback. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you.