Head Housekeeper in Bury St Edmunds

Responsible for the day-to-day management of the domestic cleaning service and its standards of cleanliness, ensuring a clean, tidy and safe environment for our residents. Uphold and actively promote the values and philosophy so each day is the best it can be for residents and staff. As a Head Housekeeper, you play a key role in ensuring our residents enjoy first-class care that is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

Principles of Delivery

• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness within the home and ensuring the domestic services run efficiently.
• Be aware of resident and home needs and identify where improvements and/or requirements need to be addressed.
• Compliance with and promotion of the relevant quality control systems and coaching staff to ensure quality, safety, hygiene and cleanliness standards are met and staff are engaged in these areas.
• Supporting the Home Manager in developing and managing effectively and efficiently the budgetary, human and material resources within the department.

Primary Duties

• Supervise the Domestic staff in their daily duties ensuring that cleaning schedules are completed to the required standard.
• Complete monthly rotas for Domestic staff and maintain staff records on holidays and sickness absence.
• Maintain high standards at all times and provide training, mentoring, supervision and instruction of team members to ensure the provision of quality services.
• Inspect all rooms on a regular basis, checking areas for cleanliness and monitoring standards through record keeping and ensuring the highest standards of infection control at all times.
• Order stock and monitor stock control of supplies and distribute throughout the Home, ensuring that supplies are used efficiently within the set budget.
• Ensure all relevant equipment is in good working order and in compliance with Health and Safety Regulations.
• Maintain Health and Safety records (including COSHH).
• Induct new staff into their job duties and train them to the required COSHH and Health and Safety standards.
• Take personal responsibility in becoming fully aware of Health and Safety Policies in particular Fire Procedures, Control of Infection and COSHH.
• Assist in ensuring the security of all residents and the premises through the observance of security procedures and the challenging of any strangers in the Home.
• Participate in meetings and training events as required.
• Act as a positive role model for team members.
• Commitment to own ongoing professional development.

Policy and Development

• Read and comply with the relevant policies and procedures.
• Comply with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, using discretion and judgement as appropriate.
• Contribute to developments in domestic cleaning procedures, standards and service provision.
• Identify own training needs and attend any reasonable relevant training as may be required.
• Supervise and train junior staff in domestic cleaning duties and ensure they are compliant with the above regulations and policies.

Health and Safety

• Maintain and monitor appliances, surfaces, personal items and floors as per cleaning requirements and ensure that the home is left in a clean and tidy state at all times.
• Ensure domestic cleaning standards are maintained at all times.
• Take personal responsibility in becoming fully aware of Health & Safety at Work Policies in particular Fire Procedures, Control of Infection, COSHH and Moving & Handling Policies.
• In accordance with the current Health and Safety at Work Act, take reasonable care of your own safety and that of colleagues and the general public and must co-operate with the organisation in meeting the statutory requirements of the Act.

External and Internal Contacts

• As an ambassador for the Company, treat all individuals in the workplace (including residents, colleagues, resident relatives, other workers, visiting professionals and members of the public) in a friendly, courteous and efficient manner as expected of a caring organisation.
• Contribute to fostering a positive work environment both in the cleaning department and in the wider Home environment, in accordance with our Equality Policy and our Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policy.

Person Specification

• GCSE Grade ‘C’ in English.
• Recent and relevant experience of domestic work for large numbers in a commercial setting.
• Experience of managing and motivating a team.
• Experience of providing service for clients who require clean items on a daily basis – prioritisation is essential.
• Experience in carrying out and ensuring compliance with quality/compliance checks/audits.
• Proficiency in spoken, written and aural English.
• Proficient numeracy skills.
• Knowledge of COSHH and Health and Safety regulations.
• Define and communicate goals to motivate others to achieve them, lead by example, inspire confidence and respect and take action to achieve success.
• Confidence, self-awareness and ability to make a positive impression on others, verbally and in writing so as to be clearly understood and make impact.
• Desire and ability to demonstrate initiative, to think ahead and take prompt action to solve problems, complete tasks and seize opportunities.
• Demonstrates energy, drive and stamina, is accountable in order to achieve results, prioritise, meet expectations and improve personal performance.
• Desire and ability to encourage, coach and support and manage the effective performance of people and to develop them to meet requirements.
• Respects others, listens, takes into account different feelings, opinions and motivations.
• Is trustworthy, acts with integrity and has the ability to respond constructively toward others, is open-minded, listens actively.
• Desire and ability to work cooperatively within own Home and across the Care family.
• Application of basic budgetary and commercial knowledge.
• Risk management.
• Identifies problems, analyses information and delivers solutions.
• Develops and/or maintains catering knowledge and applies this in the catering context to deliver a quality service.