Cleaning Operative - Dalry Primary School

As a cleaner with the City of Edinburgh Council, you will be a key member of our Facilities Management team. You will deliver a vital cleaning service across our estate to ensure our properties are safe and clean places to work or learn in. Enjoy secure and flexible employment with above-market rates and excellent conditions, whilst being able to balance family, caring or studying commitments.

• Security offered by permanent positions
• Flexible hours to suit (morning, evening or daytime) from 10 to 36 hours
• Sessional hours (school term only) available on some posts
• Paid annual leave (where applicable)
• Opportunities to progress to supervisory level
• Employee benefits and colleague discount scheme
• Community connection – looking after your community’s essential buildings used by your family, friends and neighbours.

As part of our team, you will be valued and respected with a key focus on training and development.

MAJOR TASKS/JOB ACTIVITIES

• To empty litter and recycling bins.
• The cleaning of all surfaces, internal glass, floors, furniture, fixtures and fittings within a group of buildings.
• The cleaning of all sanitary areas, toilets and showers and the replenishment of washroom consumables.
• Emergency and re-active cleaning as required, e.g. removal of graffiti, body fluid spillages, accidental spillages.
• The care and cleanliness of all equipment used in carrying out the above duties.
• Other tasks as may reasonably be required that relate to the role, including supporting cleaning tasks across other buildings where required.

The post holder will be required to deliver to the cleaning specification requirements and to cooperate with performance measurement so that the overall agreed standards are met.

Facilities Management has overall responsibility for keyholding to enable opening and closing of buildings that we service. As part of the duties of a Cleaning Operative and in this particular role, you will be required to be a key holder to fulfil these tasks. This typically would include operation of security alarm systems when opening a building, closing accessible windows and doors, switching off lights and ensuring that premises are left safe and secure when closing.

This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

We are committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits that a diverse workforce with different values, beliefs, experience, and backgrounds brings to us as an organisation.

To help achieve this, we’re changing the way we interview and assess candidates by moving from a competency-based interview approach to a behavioural and technical (skills for the job) based approach. This new way of interviewing will allow us to assess how you think and how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.

Qualifications training & professional membership:

• Demonstrates good written and verbal communication skills to communicate with colleagues and clients clearly. - Essential
• Knowledge of Health & Safety in a cleaning environment. - Desirable
• Knowledge of BICS standards. - Desirable
• Knowledge of OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018. - Desirable

The successful candidate will demonstrate evidence of the following experience, knowledge, skills, and understanding. Evidence will be sought for selection purposes.

Experience, knowledge, skills and understanding:

• Public contact skills - Essential
• Ability to understand instructions - Essential
• Ability to move around different contract locations within a locality - Essential
• Awareness of Health & Safety - Essential
• Ability to work on own and in a team environment - Essential
• A knowledge of general cleaning skills and experience with a variety of cleaning tools and equipment - Desirable
• The use of cleaning machinery would be advantageous, however training will be given - Desirable
• Self-motivated with the ability to carry out duties with minimal supervision and the ability to work under pressure. - Essential
• Ability to co-ordinate a range of duties and meet deadlines. - Essential

Applicants will also be measured against the following competencies as per the Competency Level outlined in Our Competency & Values Framework:

Customer Focused:

• Is respectful and courteous to customers/clients.
• Understands and resolves customer/client needs.
• Takes opportunities to improve customer/client services.
• Is aware of service levels expected and strives to meet them.
• Seeks and acts on feedback from customers/clients.
• Supports others when dealing with customers/clients.

Works Effectively with Others:

• Treats team members fairly and equally, recognizes and demonstrates appreciation of their contribution.
• Identifies with and has a shared commitment to achieving team objectives.
• Shares knowledge and information with others.
• Thanks others for their contribution and efforts.
• Fosters good working relationships within teams in own department.
• Actively seeks others' input and values their contributions.

Managing Change:

• Is willing to try new or different ways of working.
• Displays a flexible attitude to duties and responsibilities.
• Reprioritizes own work when deadlines are changed.
• Helps others to adapt to change.

Taking Ownership and Responsibility:

• Manages own time effectively and works productively.
• Responds positively to feedback and takes appropriate action.
• Ensures own knowledge and skills are sufficient for the job.
• Considers how own behaviour affects others and changes accordingly.
• Recognizes and acts when something needs to be done.

Communicating Effectively:

• Listens carefully and asks questions if understanding is unclear.
• Uses simple and clear language.
• Seeks advice when necessary.
• Provides clear and accurate information.
• Uses appropriate body language and eye contact.

About Us

The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to work with us and deliver key services across our capital city. We’re the second largest local authority in Scotland with a workforce of over 19,000 who all play a crucial role in maintaining and supporting vital services to over 500,000 residents. We offer an incredible variety of career opportunities across a broad range of sectors. Join us and you’ll find a role where you can make a difference and grow your career.

Our Culture:

Our Behaviours, respect, integrity, and flexibility guide everything that we do, and we strive to make sure all colleagues feel valued and have a sense of belonging in the workplace. We want to make sure that we bring people into our roles who demonstrate Our Behaviours and are dedicated and committed to our purpose of serving our community. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service to meet citizens' needs and make the city a better place.

We recognise the benefits that diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds bring to our organisation, and we’re committed to employing a workforce that represents the population of the city we serve. We particularly encourage applicants from under-represented groups including women, LGBT+ people, racially minoritised groups, people with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent.

As part of our commitment to inclusive recruitment, we are delighted to announce that we have extended our guaranteed interview scheme to include all applicants who are or have been care experienced, and who meet the essential criteria for the post. This extends our current arrangements of being a Disability Confident Employer, that guarantee an interview to applicants who meet the criteria for the post and who declare a disability.

Happy to talk flexible working.

Colleague Support and Wellbeing

As outlined in our People Strategy 2024-27, we aim to nurture a healthy workforce where we can all thrive. We offer regular events, initiatives and learning opportunities covering a range of different health and wellbeing topics.

We’re committed to supporting employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance. There are several policies in place to support this ranging from flexible work options to career breaks.

We have a range of support options available including access to counselling, a mental health support service, an occupational health service, speak up supporters and a colleague listening service.

Reasonable Adjustments:

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience at work for all our colleagues and we’ll work hard to ensure that we meet the changing needs of colleagues throughout their time with us. We’re also geared up to support all candidates who may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Candidates invited for interview should let the hiring manager know what they need, and they will do everything they can to accommodate your request.