Housekeeper in Basingstoke

We have an exciting opportunity for a Housekeeper to join the Housekeeping Team. To apply, you must be enthusiastic, flexible, and have a passion for palliative and end of life care, have excellent communication skills and work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Previous housekeeping experience is necessary.

Main duties of the job:

• The successful applicant will be part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing domestic cleaning and general linen service with catering support.
• The role is on a two-week shift pattern between the hours of 07.30 and 19.30 including bank holidays and weekends.

St. Michaels Hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undergo relevant background checks, including a DBS check and provide satisfactory references before starting the role. The role will attract enhancement for working weekends and bank holidays. We also offer attractive benefits and free on-site parking.

About us:

St. Michaels Hospice, located in Basingstoke, has been providing palliative care services to the local community across North Hampshire since 1992. We are a registered charity dedicated to providing care to people throughout North Hampshire who are affected by life limiting illness to attain the highest possible quality of life by providing a choice of specialist care and support.

Job responsibilities:

• Provide domestic cleaning, general linen service and catering support whilst maintaining the highest standard of hygiene at all times.
• You will actively engage with colleagues, patients, patients' families and carers, volunteers and visitors.

Clinical:

• Understand and promote infection control practices and policies.
• Assist, as necessary, to ensure the nutritional intake of a patient is maintained.
• Be responsible and accountable for standard of work.
• Follow guidelines for safe systems at work and maintain a safe environment for colleagues, patients and visitors.
• Participate in and contribute to service development, evaluation and changes.

Learning and Development:

• Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.
• Positively commit to staff appraisals, performance and competencies reviews to ensure personal professional development.

Professional:

• Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.
• Practice and promote patient confidentiality at all times.
• Practice safely, within hospice policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Demonstrate efficient time management and flexible attitude to working patterns.
• Work within the limits of your own competency and responsibility and refer areas that are outside of your competency to the Housekeeping Supervisor.
• Be willing to work across departments to meet demands of service needs.
• Treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Communication:

• Communicate respectfully in an open, accurate, straightforward and confidential way with colleagues across the organisation.
• Verbally alert the nurse in charge to any urgent or sensitive matters or elevate to the appropriate level, if appropriate.
• Proactively share information to identify and reduce risk to patients and staff.
• Let the Housekeeping Lead know of any non-urgent issues, concerns or ideas.

General Responsibilities:

• Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.

Additional Duties:

• In discussion with the line manager to undertake work, as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as an organisation.

Public Relations:

• To represent St. Michaels Hospice in the community and public domain, including social media, appropriately.
• Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.
• To be conversant with and adhere to all St. Michaels Hospice Policies and Procedures.
• Be responsible for upholding and promoting St. Michaels Hospice safeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, and promptly reporting any concerns or incidents in accordance with established procedures.

This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder. Take responsibility for own personal safety and of others whilst at work. You will take appropriate action or report any concerns to address any health and safety issues that you or members of your team may be aware of. This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time, due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

Person Specification:

• Housekeeping experience in a health care environment.
• Experience of working with volunteers.

• Understanding of the nature of palliative care.
• Basic IT skills.
• Understanding of COSHH guidelines.
• Able to work independently and in a team.
• Efficient time management.
• Respectful and supportive of colleagues.
• Professional, friendly and positive nature.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.