Maintenance Facilities Caretaker

This SEN Schools' Group is opening a brand new SEND Secondary School in 2025 in Horsham, West Sussex for young neurodivergent people aged 11-16.

The Role: Reporting to the School Business Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring that all matters relating to the continuous operation, maintenance and cleanliness of the buildings, grounds and equipment. You will need to ensure a high-quality site service is provided at all times that encompasses the safeguarding, health, safety and general well-being of every person accessing the site. Working with the central estates department, you will also support the development of the services through site expansion projects and integrating new, converted, and established buildings. You will be an essential pillar in enabling children and young people to achieve their full potential.

Key Accountabilities:

• Working with the Central Schools' Group Teams and local Senior Management, ensure reactive maintenance, repairs and refurbishments are undertaken across the site and any associated properties and that grounds are maintained and developed to a high standard, working within agreed operational budgets.
• Contribute to the planning for and supervise projects on site for planned CAPEX projects, supporting on time and in budget completion by working with contractors as well as undertaking work personally and through effective delegation to the outsourced FM provider.
• Carry out routine Health and Safety tasks including: weekly fire alarm checks; legionella management; safeguarding requirements; all other compliance requirements; and produce and/or oversee risk assessments relating to the site and/or maintenance activities.
• Understand and ensure the implementation of the group Health and Safety policy, Emergency and Fire Procedures.
• Provide effective leadership to the outsourced maintenance and cleaning team members, in order to maintain an effective and flexible team with high morale.
• Work with the School Business Manager to implement, monitor and update SLAs in relation to Cleaning, Waste and Pest Control, Buildings and Asset Maintenance, Health and Safety, Security, and Utilities.
• Manage and update all relevant information systems following company policies and procedures for the secure and appropriate management of data.
• Undertake all responsibilities for maintenance and grounds in line with company policies, procedures and the company ethos and values.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the School when required.

You must have these skills, experience & qualifications:

• Proven experience working in a similar role.
• Full UK Driving License.
• Previous management of premises and needs of those accessing buildings, grounds and equipment (previous experience of working within education and special needs settings preferred).
• Competent and knowledgeable of basic building repairs and maintenance and grounds maintenance, with ability to effectively delegate and monitor work of others.
• Proven success in working to tight deadlines.
• Qualified First Aider (desirable).
• Health and Safety qualifications e.g. Working at Height, Manual Handling, COSHH etc (desirable).
• Hold an additional trade/skill such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry or painting/decorating (desirable).
• Effective communication and customer service skills.
• Good problem-solving abilities.
• Exemplary attention to detail and high standards of work.
• IT skills are essential to operate our internal audit systems and asset management.
• Flexible and adaptable working approach, including organising and managing priorities.
• Empathic and sensitive to a wide range of individuals with complex needs.
• Enthusiastic, pro-active and keen to be involved in the life of our school.
• Willing to work unsociable hours when required.
• Ability to react calmly and quickly in an emergency.
• Willingness and ability to engage positively with our young people.
• Committed to being neuro-informed and neuro-affirmative as expected by all our staff.

Benefits:

• Full training and continued support.
• Opportunity to gain qualifications, which will be funded by us!
• Free lunch during your working day.
• Perkbox subscription.
• Life assurance and Enhanced pension scheme.
• Car lease scheme.
• Bike to work scheme.
• Free parking.
• Free membership to Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.

School Staffing Solutions Recruitment Ltd is acting as an employment business for this position. Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search. Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.