At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide excellent caretaker services and ensure homes are safe and tidy for residents.
- Company: Outward, a respected provider of support services for vulnerable people in London.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive training, pension scheme, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Join a supportive team dedicated to empowering residents and promoting inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in property maintenance and a clean UK driving licence required.
The predicted salary is between 27368 - 27368 £ per year.
Role: Caretaker
Contract: Full Time Permanent
Hours: 38 hours per week
Salary: £27,368 Per annum full time.
Location: Various - Must have full, clean UK driving licence. Company van provided.
About Outward
For 50 years, Outward has been providing high-quality support and care services to vulnerable people across London, predominantly in North and East London. Established by families seeking alternatives to institutional care, we’ve grown into a respected provider of person-centred support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex needs. We support over 1,000 people across nine boroughs, guided by our core values: engage, enable and empower, and we work in partnership with individuals and their families to promote choice, control and inclusion.
Outward is proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer. This means we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage – not just the government minimum or national living wage – to our frontline Support Workers and other eligible staff. We recognise the value of the work our teams do, and we are committed to ensuring fair pay that reflects the true cost of living.
Outward’s Supported Housing Department provides a high quality intensive housing management service that supports our residents to sustain their tenancies. We work with a number of registered housing providers, our principal landlord being Newlon Housing Trust, for whom Outward manages properties across several London Boroughs.
An exciting opportunity has now arisen for 1 x full time Caretaker/Handy Person to join the central caretaking team. Are you an enthusiastic, motivated and conscientious individual? Do you care about the wellbeing of vulnerable people and want to ensure their homes are safe? Do you have experience of delivering an excellent property maintenance service? Are you an excellent communicator? Can you manage your own time efficiently? And yet are happy to be part of a team dedicated to our residents.
Requirements
- Provide an excellent caretaker service to all Outward customers, ensuring that once works are carried out, the property is left safe, clean and tidy.
- Managing and planning your day to ensure you optimise your time.
- Carrying out regular health and safety checks and tests.
- Carrying out documented property inspections where required.
- To complete all relevant training.
- Providing caretaker support to our old peoples’ services.
- Basic DIY or trade skills (plumbing, carpentry, electrical, painting).
- Experience using hand tools and light machinery.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Clean UK Driving Licence.
Staff must have access to a smartphone capable of receiving SMS messages and installing authentication apps for secure systems access. Right to Work in the UK. Please note: Outward will not provide visa sponsorship.
Desirable:
- Previous caretaking or maintenance experience (e.g., in a residential building, or healthcare setting).
- IT literacy for logging maintenance issues or using facility management systems.
- Health & Safety training or awareness (e.g., COSHH, risk assessments).
Other Requirements:
- Ability to travel across multiple sites within a broad geographical area.
- Adapting to changing duties or priorities.
The successful applicant will have at least one year’s experience in a similar role and have the ability to carry out maintenance tasks safely and with practical ability, having a can-do attitude towards our residents and colleagues. Because of the requirement to work alone with vulnerable adults, a full DBS check will be completed before a final job offer can be made.
How to Apply
The above is not an exhaustive list of requirements for the role. If you think you are who we are looking for, please submit a CV and statement detailing how you feel your experiences meet the requirements of the role by referring to the Job Responsibilities and the Person Specification. There is no specific closing date for this advert. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. It would be great to hear from you.
Benefits
When you join us, you’ll have access to a wide range of benefits to support your wellbeing, development and work–life balance, including:
- Comprehensive Learning and Development Programme
- Pension Scheme
- Cycle‑to‑Work Scheme
- Blue Light Discounts Card
- Eye Care Vouchers
- Flu Jab Reimbursement
- Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
- Option to purchase additional annual leave
- Refer‑a‑Friend Scheme
- Long Service Awards
- Discounted holidays at Nutley Edge Cottages
- Credit Union Scheme
- Outward Computing Scheme
- Death in Service Benefit
Full details of our rewards and benefits are available from our HR Team and through our Staff Room intranet.
Diversity and Safeguarding at Outward: We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Outward applies its Equal Opportunities Policy at all stages of recruitment and selection. Shortlisting, interviewing and selection is carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age or trade union membership. As an employer, who aspires to become Disability Confident Committed, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. Please indicate clearly at the beginning of your supporting statement if you have a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010), and you wish to be considered for an Offer Of an Interview (OOI). Please note that the OOI is available to disabled candidates only. Regrettably, any false declaration of disability in order to secure an interview will impact on your overall application.
Outward is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects all staff to share this commitment. If the post you apply for involves working with or having access to adults at risk and/or their records, we will require a DBS for successful candidates.
Caretaker/Handy Person - Supported Housing Services - North East London employer: Outward
Outward is an exceptional employer dedicated to providing high-quality support and care services to vulnerable individuals in North East London. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive work culture that values personal and professional growth. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying a range of perks, including a Learning and Development Programme, pension scheme, and the opportunity to work in a diverse and inclusive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Caretaker/Handy Person - Supported Housing Services - North East London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Outward.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Outward!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Outward, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Outward or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Caretaker/Handy Person - Supported Housing Services - North East London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Outward:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Outward! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Outward
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
