At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver high-quality cleaning services across various social housing settings.
- Company: Join Squared, a not-for-profit housing association making a difference in communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days annual leave, health cash plan, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on residents' wellbeing and create welcoming living environments.
- Qualifications: Experience in supervising cleaning teams and knowledge of health and safety regulations.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 28684 - 29500 £ per year.
Property Services | Social Housing
Salary: £28,684 - £29,500
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Luton and surrounding areas (multi-site working)
About Squared
Squared is a not-for-profit housing association supporting communities across Luton and South Bedfordshire since 1962. We are a welcoming, inclusive organisation where people feel valued, supported and empowered to make a real difference. We believe housing should be a stepping stone, not a destination.
Our Benefits
- 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing with service (up to 38 days)
- Option to buy or sell up to 5 days leave
- Free Health Cashplan (after probation)
- Canada Life WeCare Employee Assistance Programme
- Pension Scheme (Squared contributes 1.33% of employee contribution up to 8%)
- Life Assurance
- Personal Accident Cover
- Staff benefits portal with shopping discounts
- Flexible, supportive working approach
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Cleaning Services Team Leader to oversee the delivery of high-quality, safe and customer-focused cleaning services across our social housing portfolio. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for coordinating cleaning operations across a variety of settings including HMOs, hostels, general needs housing, sheltered accommodation and office environments. You will ensure that cleaning services are delivered to high standards, teams are supported and well organised, and that services contribute positively to resident wellbeing and organisational reputation.
You will supervise a dispersed team of cleaners, manage daily operations, and ensure that all work is carried out safely, efficiently and in line with organisational policies and health and safety regulations.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Delivery
- Coordinate daily cleaning operations across multiple sites, ensuring scheduled cleans are completed to agreed standards and timescales
- Oversee void property cleans, including pre-void, end-of-tenancy and re-let deep cleans
- Manage specialist and deep cleans, including situations such as hoarding, biohazard or high-risk environments
- Carry out regular site inspections to monitor cleaning standards and identify improvements
- Ensure all cleaning equipment, materials and PPE are available, safe and properly maintained.
- Team Leadership
- Supervise, motivate and support a team of cleaners working across multiple locations
- Plan staff rotas and allocate workloads to ensure efficient service delivery
- Provide on-the-job training, coaching and support to maintain high standards
- Conduct performance reviews and address performance issues when necessary
- Promote a positive, inclusive and safe team culture
- Health, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, COSHH requirements and safeguarding expectations
- Complete and maintain risk assessments and safe systems of work
- Identify hazards and ensure incidents or near misses are reported and addressed
- Promote safe working practices when working in environments with vulnerable residents
- Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the main point of contact for housing teams, scheme managers, contractors and internal departments regarding cleaning services
- Respond professionally to customer feedback and complaints, ensuring issues are resolved quickly
- Build strong working relationships across teams to ensure coordinated service delivery.
- Administration & Reporting
- Maintain accurate records of completed cleans, staff hours, stock usage and equipment checks
- Manage stock levels and support the procurement of cleaning supplies
- Provide performance updates to manager, including quality inspections and KPIs
- Identify opportunities to improve service efficiency and resident satisfaction.
About You
We are looking for a motivated leader who takes pride in delivering high standards and supporting their team to succeed. You will be organised, proactive and comfortable managing a busy workload across multiple sites while maintaining excellent service standards. You will also have a calm, professional approach and be confident working in environments where residents may be vulnerable or require additional sensitivity.
Essential Experience & Skills
- Experience supervising or leading cleaning teams, ideally across multiple locations
- Strong understanding of cleaning standards in social housing, supported accommodation or similar environments
- Knowledge of COSHH regulations, health and safety requirements and safe working practices
- Ability to prioritise workloads and adapt to changing operational demands
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to engage professionally with residents and colleagues
- Full UK manual driving license
Desirable Experience
- Experience delivering void, deep or specialist cleans
- Health and safety or cleaning industry training
- Experience working within a housing association, local authority or care environment
What We're Looking For
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Calm, confident and solution-focused approach
- Empathy and professionalism when working in sensitive environments
- Reliable, organised and able to work independently
- A team player who leads by example and supports others
Why Join Us?
This is a great opportunity to lead a service that has a direct impact on residents' wellbeing and living environment. You'll play a key role in ensuring homes and communal spaces are safe, clean and welcoming for the communities we serve.
Cleaning Services Team Leader in Luton employer: Squared
Contact Detail:
Squared Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cleaning Services Team Leader in Luton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, check out Squared's website and social media. Understanding their values will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your leadership stories! Think of specific examples where you've successfully led a team or improved cleaning standards. Be ready to share these during your interview to demonstrate your experience and skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare questions for your interviewers! Ask about their approach to team support and how they handle challenges in cleaning operations. This shows you're engaged and thinking critically about the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're proactive and serious about joining the Squared team.
We think you need these skills to ace Cleaning Services Team Leader in Luton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Cleaning Services Team Leader. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a leadership role, don’t forget to emphasise your experience in supervising teams and managing operations. Share specific examples of how you've motivated and supported your team in the past.
Highlight Your Knowledge of Health and Safety: We take health and safety seriously, so be sure to mention your understanding of COSHH regulations and safe working practices. This will show us that you’re ready to keep our teams and residents safe.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you on board with Squared!
How to prepare for a job interview at Squared
✨Know Your Cleaning Standards
Familiarise yourself with the cleaning standards specific to social housing. Be ready to discuss how you would ensure these standards are met across various settings, like HMOs and hostels. This shows you understand the importance of quality in maintaining resident wellbeing.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a cleaning team in the past. Highlight your experience in motivating staff, managing rotas, and providing on-the-job training. This will demonstrate your ability to support and organise a dispersed team effectively.
✨Understand Health and Safety Regulations
Brush up on COSHH regulations and health and safety requirements relevant to cleaning services. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure compliance and promote safe working practices, especially in sensitive environments where residents may need extra care.
✨Engage with Customer Feedback
Think about how you would handle customer feedback and complaints regarding cleaning services. Prepare to share strategies for resolving issues quickly and building strong relationships with housing teams and residents, as this is crucial for maintaining a positive organisational reputation.