Maintenance Assistant in Lewes

Are you a practical, proactive maintenance professional who takes pride in creating safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environments? As our Maintenance Assistant, you'll play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day upkeep of our hospice buildings, grounds, and facilities. Working closely with the Facilities Manager, you'll help ensure our patients, visitors, staff and volunteers enjoy a safe, comfortable and well-maintained environment. If you're hands-on, organised and enjoy solving problems, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Details

• Location: St Peter & St James Hospice, North Common Road, North Chailey, BN8 4ED
• Salary: £26,496 - £27,014 per annum
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
• Contract: Permanent, full-time
• Closing Date: We will shortlist and interview as applications are received, so early applications are encouraged.

What you'll be doing

• Support the day-to-day maintenance, repair and upkeep of hospice buildings, grounds and facilities.
• Carry out routine inspections and checks, identifying, reporting and where appropriate resolving minor building, fabric and equipment defects.
• Assist with planned preventative maintenance (PPM) activities and help maintain accurate maintenance and compliance records.
• Support the organisation's health and safety responsibilities by helping ensure facilities and equipment remain safe and operational.
• Set up meeting rooms, training spaces and event areas as required.
• Assist with office moves, furniture installation and equipment relocation across the hospice estate.
• Monitor stock levels of maintenance materials, equipment and supplies.
• Support waste management and recycling processes, ensuring correct disposal procedures are followed.
• Liaise with contractors carrying out maintenance, servicing and inspection work, ensuring compliance with site procedures and health and safety requirements.
• Participate in emergency procedures and business continuity arrangements when required.
• Occasionally travel to our retail shops and warehouse to support maintenance activities.

What we're looking for

• Good knowledge of general building maintenance and repair techniques.
• Awareness of health and safety practices and safe systems of work.
• Basic understanding of compliance requirements, including fire safety, water hygiene and workplace health and safety.
• Ability to undertake manual handling tasks safely and effectively.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills with a proactive approach.
• Good communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A full UK driving licence.

Experience within a maintenance, facilities, healthcare, hospice or similar environment, knowledge of planned preventative maintenance systems, and relevant maintenance or facilities qualifications are advantageous but not essential.

Why join us?

• A rewarding role where your work directly contributes to providing outstanding hospice care.
• The opportunity to make a visible difference to the environment experienced by patients, families, staff and volunteers every day.
• A varied and hands-on role with responsibility across a diverse estate.
• A supportive and collaborative team culture.
• A values-driven organisation dedicated to compassion, respect and excellence.

If you're a practical, reliable and customer-focused individual who enjoys maintaining safe and welcoming environments, we'd love to hear from you.

Please find the full job description and person specification at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions about the role or require any additional support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact the Facilities Manager Stuart Bodman by emailing sbodman@stpjhospice.org.

The Organisation

St Peter & St James Hospice is a leading provider of specialist palliative and end of life care for our Mid-Sussex community. People affected by life-limiting illness are central to everything we do and it is our mission to ensure they receive the best possible care, in the right place, at the right time. Our services are free of charge and can be accessed at home, in a care setting, or at the Hospice in North Chailey.

We achieve our goals through the organisation’s talented people, by attracting, retaining and developing a highly skilled, diverse and engaged workforce. Over 150 employees and 400 volunteers work in a variety of roles across our Clinical Services, Retail and Support Functions.

If you're looking to put your skills to use in an organisation that makes a difference for its local community and values Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, Excellence and Inclusivity then click 'Apply Now'!

The Benefits

• 27 days holiday
• Company sick pay scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption pay
• Monthly occupational health clinics
• Leadership development programme
• 20% discount in our charity shops

Our people

Our people are our strength. We value diversity and inclusion so encourage applications from everyone, regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age.

Please ensure you have your own means of transport as the hospice is not accessible by bus and is located on a main road without public footpath.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please contact us on hr@stpjhospice.org.

Please note we may shortlist and interview candidates as applications are received. Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory results from pre-employment checks (right to work, references, Occupational Health, and DBS if applicable).