Street Cleansing Operative - 159549 in Hounslow

Job Summary

Job Description – Street Cleansing Operative

Job Reference

Street Cleansing Operative - 159549

Company

Ringway

Business Unit

5230 - Hounslow

Location

Hounslow

London Borough of Hounslow

Department

Street Cleansing & Environmental Services

Reports To

Street Cleansing Supervisor / Team Leader

Job Purpose

To deliver high-quality street cleansing and environmental maintenance services across the London Borough of Hounslow, ensuring public highways, footways, town centres, housing estates, parks, and public spaces are maintained to the highest standards of cleanliness and appearance. The Street Cleansing Operative will undertake a range of cleansing activities including litter picking, sweeping, fly‑tipping removal, dog fouling and human waste cleansing, weed removal, and rapid response duties. The postholder will contribute to creating a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for residents, businesses, and visitors while promoting pride in the local area.

Key Responsibilities

Street Cleansing Operations

• Manually sweep streets, footways, cycleways, public spaces, and pedestrianised areas.
• Undertake litter picking and removal of waste from public land, highways, and open spaces.
• Empty public litter bins and remove accumulated waste.
• Clean around litter bins and ensure surrounding areas remain tidy.
• Remove leaves, detritus, mud, grit, and debris from roads and footpaths.
• Maintain designated cleansing routes and locations to contractual standards.
• Assist with deep‑cleaning programmes and environmental improvement initiatives.

Environmental Cleansing

• Remove dog fouling from streets, footways, parks, housing estates, and public spaces.
• Safely cleanse and remove human waste, bodily fluids, and other biohazardous materials using approved procedures.
• Remove dead animals from highways and public areas in accordance with environmental and health and safety requirements.
• Safely collect and dispose of discarded needles, sharps, and drug‑related paraphernalia where trained and authorised.
• Respond to environmental health‑related incidents as directed.
• Collect evidence when required to assist enforcement actions.

Fly‑Tipping and Waste Removal

• Investigate and remove fly‑tipped waste and illegally dumped materials.
• Assist with the loading and disposal of bulky waste items.
• Report hazardous, suspicious, or contaminated waste to supervisors.
• Collect evidence when required to assist enforcement actions.

Weed Control and Public Realm Maintenance

• Remove weeds from pavements, kerb lines, channels, and hard‑surfaced areas.
• Assist with vegetation clearance affecting pedestrian access and visibility.
• Support works to improve the appearance and cleanliness of the public realm.

Rapid Action Team Support

Respond Promptly To Reactive Cleansing Requests Including:

• Fly‑tipping removal.
• Dog fouling complaints.
• Human faeces and bodily fluid incidents.
• Dead animal removals.
• Litter hotspot clearances.
• Spillages and contaminations.
• Graffiti and fly‑posting removal (where trained).
• Storm and weather‑related debris clearance.
• Emergency cleansing following road traffic accidents and incidents.
• Public health and environmental hazards.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

• Comply with all Health & Safety legislation, policies, and safe systems of work.
• Wear and maintain appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Follow COSHH regulations when using approved cleaning products and disinfectants.
• Use equipment and tools safely and responsibly.
• Report all accidents, incidents, near misses, and hazards.
• Ensure safe working practices when operating near traffic and members of the public.
• Follow infection control procedures when dealing with biohazards and contaminated materials.

Equipment Responsibilities

• Use litter pickers, brushes, shovels, barrows, blowers, and other cleansing equipment safely.
• Conduct basic checks on equipment before use.
• Maintain tools and equipment in a clean and serviceable condition.
• Report defects or damaged equipment promptly.

Customer Service

Provide a professional, courteous, and helpful service to residents, visitors, businesses, and stakeholders. Act as an ambassador for Hounslow Highways at all times. Report public concerns and environmental issues through the appropriate channels. Support community pride initiatives and environmental improvement schemes.

Additional Duties

• Assist with special cleansing projects and borough‑wide campaigns.
• Support hot wash and jet wash operations when required.
• Participate in weekend, bank holiday, and emergency response rotas.
• Assist during severe weather events and emergency situations.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required within the scope of the role.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience in street cleansing, waste management, grounds maintenance, environmental services, or similar outdoor operational roles.
• Experience of working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Experience undertaking physically demanding manual work.
• Understanding of health and safety requirements.
• Awareness of environmental cleanliness standards.
• Knowledge of safe manual handling practices.
• Reliable and punctual.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexible approach to work.
• Good attention to detail.
• Strong commitment to customer service and cleanliness standards.

Desirable

• Experience working within a highways or local authority environment.
• Experience dealing with fly‑tipping and environmental incidents.
• First Aid certification.
• Knowledge of COSHH and infection control procedures.
• Experience using powered cleansing equipment.

Working Conditions

• Outdoor working in all weather conditions.
• Regular walking, lifting, bending, pushing, and manual handling activities.
• Exposure to waste materials, dog fouling, human waste, dead animals, sharps, and other environmental contaminants.
• Early morning, weekend, bank holiday, and emergency working may be required.
• Requirement to wear PPE and follow strict health and safety procedures.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Achievement of contractual street cleansing standards.
• Completion of allocated routes and work schedules.
• Response times to reactive cleansing requests.
• Reduction in environmental complaints.
• Compliance with Health & Safety requirements.
• Customer satisfaction and service quality standards.

Hounslow Highways Commitment

The Street Cleansing Operative plays a vital role in maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming borough by delivering frontline environmental services that enhance the quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses across the London Borough of Hounslow.

Desirable Skills

• Banksman
• First Aid - Emergency First Aid @ Work
• Lone Working Training
• Manual Handling Training (Pristine Condition)
• Sharps awareness

Specialist Skills

N/A

General Competencies

N/A

Contract Type

Permanent

Hours

Full Time - 40 - Monday to Friday

Fairness Inclusion & Respect

Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) at Ringway is about recognising and celebrating each other’s differences and what they bring to the team. Harnessing this diversity and applying the experiences, abilities and unique qualities of individuals will enhance our business; therefore, we commit to equity of opportunity and fair treatment of all current and potential employees and encourage job applications from all.

Ringway recognises the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements across many of our roles which include working from home to enable employees to balance their working life with other priorities.

Encourage job applications from all.

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