School Caretaker

We are supporting a prestigious school in Newcastle who require a dedicated and enthusiastic Caretaker to join their existing caretaking team in providing a high quality and responsive custodial service for all the school’s facilities.

The School’s Caretaking Team is part of a multi-disciplined Facilities Team consisting of four Caretakers, two Maintenance Staff, three grounds staff and twenty-four Domestic Staff. The successful candidate will be required to provide custodial, security and first-line maintenance services for the whole School.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SAFEGUARDING

• All staff have a responsibility and duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of students

SECURITY & EMERGENCY

• Ensure the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors.
• Ensure that the buildings and school site are secure.
• Responding to and resetting the school’s alarms.

CAR PARK MANAGEMENT

• Prevent unauthorised parking and access.
• Control the safety of pedestrians
• Give directional advice to visitors.

REPORTING

• Report incidents, hazards and maintenance needs to the Head of Facilities & Estates and Facilities Services Manager and record these in relevant logs.

GENERAL DUTIES

• General porterage duties.
• Receive and check goods.
• Support the setting up for events and clearing away afterwards.
• Monitor emergency lights, portable firefighting equipment and fire alarm tests.
• Ensure clear passage is maintained on fire escape routes
• Ensure plant rooms are tidy with no flammable materials.
• Ensure all materials, tools and equipment are in a safe condition.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Provide escorts to parents, contractors and visitors.
• Minor joinery and plumbing repairs.
• Routine maintenance of the swimming pool.
• Monitor water quality.
• Driving and regular checks of van and minibuses.
• Deliveries
• Covering for grounds staff.
• Checking for damage and faults
• Front line maintenance of heating and ventilation systems.
• Front line maintenance and clearing of drains, roof gutters and down pipes.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• A commitment to supporting the school’s ethos.
• A good knowledge and understanding of the caretaking role.
• A strong appreciation of the health and safety issues.
• A clean valid driving licence (preferably including Class D1).
• A commitment to undertake training.
• A professional, positive and enthusiastic approach to work including:

– Good timekeeping.

– Tidy appearance.

– Confident and courteous in dealing with all stakeholders.

– Good verbal and written skills.

– A flexible and adaptive approach

Desirable

• Experience of working in a school or similar environment.
• First Aid training/willingness to undertake it.
• Manual Handling experience/training.
• Working at heights experience/training.
• Basic IT skills

MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• 40 hours per week. 8-hour shifts between 6am and 10pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. There are 4 different shifts on a rota system, agreed in advance.
• To work one weekend in four.
• To opt out of the Working Time Regulations and agree to work for more than an average of 48 hours a week over a 17-week period at certain times.
• Holidays – Annual Leave of 31 days plus Bank Holidays (5 days at Christmas)
• The Caretaker is entitled to a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.
• The salary is circa 28.9k gross per annum for 40 hours/week which is inclusive of an 11% shift allowance.