Housekeeping assistant in Gillingham

Do you want to be part of an award winning and dynamic social enterprise that is renowned for providing high quality care and is ranked ‘Good’ by the CQC? Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant, community interest company that benefits the communities we serve. So if you want to be a part of this, we would love to hear from you.

Job overview

Are you able to work flexible hours? Are you looking to provide a high quality housekeeping service? Do you have previous cleaning experience? If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you! This is an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and professional housekeepers to be part of the housekeeping team based at the Darland House, Gillingham within a dementia care home environment.

The post holder will be responsible for cleaning in line with the Medway Community Healthcare CIC and NHS national standards for cleanliness for patients, staff, families and carers. Working in areas where there are patients with challenging behaviour or communication difficulties. The post holder will need to be flexible working across different shifts covering the service 7.30am and 7.00pm, Monday to Sunday including bank holidays.

Advert Duties will include:

• Daily cleaning schedules
• Complete tasks as requested by line manager
• Periodical cleaning tasks included within schedules and ad hoc cleaning requirements
• Ensure cleaning and catering stock is maintained
• Follow hygiene, health and safety regulations

Working for our organisation

This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder. We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development. We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support. You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

• Informal visits can be arranged on request.
• We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the Scottish Widows group pension scheme.
• MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Communication and relationship skills Work closely with team manager and supervisor to ensure requirements are understood and met. To work flexibly and communicate with the whole team, receptionists, estates team and service managers and within the clinical standards, if any issues arise and inform the project/estates manager.
2. Knowledge, training and experience Work with minimum supervision and as a member of the housekeeping team. Maintain high standards of quality working practice, tidiness and health and safety. Previous cleaning experience is essential, NVQ/GCSE in English and maths or equivalent. To attend all statutory and mandatory training both onsite and at other locations, attend any training essential to meet the needs of the sites serviced.
3. Analytical and judgement skills Ensure daily cleaning schedule is completed in the agreed time scale and hygiene standards are met. Ability to work flexibly when required, inform supervisor of any incidents to ensure monitoring forms are completed.
4. Planning and organisational skills Inform supervisor of materials that are running low. Ensure area cleaned is down within time allowed to the high standard in line with NHS national standards of cleanliness, following the guidelines as set out in the daily schedules.
5. Physical skills Ability to undertake lightweight floor scrubs and use cleaning materials in accordance with COSHH. Ensure waste is disposed of in accordance with organisation’s waste disposal policy ensuring health and safety standards are adhered to.
6. Responsibility for patient/client care To co-operate with supervisors/managers and other employees to achieve a health and safe environment in line with Medway community healthcare (CIC) policies and procedures.
7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation Offer ideas and suggestions ensuring cleaning standards are met and maintained.
8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources The post holder will be expected to work in a way that minimises risks to members, service users, visitors, staff, volunteers and all who enter the premises and assists in maintaining a healthy and safe environment.
9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR) Attendance at team meetings to share good practice, updates and liaise with team/colleagues.
10. Responsibilities for information resources Follow all information governance procedures and maintain records to build an audit trail where necessary.
11. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D) Participate in non-clinical audits upon request, provide relevant information for any R&D projects if requested.
12. Freedom to act Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and your place of work, use initiative when cleaning and being able to take into account areas not in one’s remit on any particular day.
13. Physical effort May be required to push or pull a trolley containing cleaning materials, remove bags of waste from unit into the waste compound.
14. Mental effort Attend regular team meetings, operate cleaning machinery, interruptions from colleagues in order to communicate information.
15. Emotional effort Face to face contact with colleagues, clinical staff, service users and any other personnel using the MCH premises.
16. Working conditions Occasional unpleasant smells/odours and the removal of unpleasant substances as and when required.

We reserve the right to close this advert earlier than the published closing date if we receive a sufficient number of applications. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 1 week of the closing date; no discourtesy is intended in not contacting you if your application is rejected. MCH is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to a compassionate and inclusive workplace and values diversity of all people. We prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any kind and wish to provide our employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.