Maintenance Operative in Accrington

Car allowance £3,000 per annum (subject to company terms)

Location North West; travel between Your Chapter locations

About Your Chapter

Your Chapter provides residential care and support to children and young people who have experienced complex trauma and adversity. We aim to provide safe, stable, nurturing homes in which young people can develop and thrive.

Purpose of the role

To deliver high-quality, responsive and cost-effective planned and reactive maintenance across Your Chapter’s residential children’s homes and associated premises. The postholder will help keep properties safe, welcoming, functional and well presented, while respecting the needs, privacy and routines of the young people who live there.

Key responsibilities

• Carry out general repairs and maintenance within your competence, including carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, minor plumbing, plastering, tiling, basic fixtures and fittings, and garden or grounds upkeep.
• Complete planned preventative maintenance and reactive work orders promptly, prioritising urgent safety, security and operational issues in line with the property team’s instructions.
• Inspect and identify defects, make safe where appropriate, and elevate work requiring specialist trades, additional approvals or external contractors.
• Keep accurate and timely records of jobs attended, actions taken, materials used, outstanding defects and completion evidence, including photographs where appropriate.
• Plan travel and daily workloads efficiently across multiple sites; communicate progress, delays and access requirements to the property team and home managers.
• Purchase and use materials economically, following company purchasing, expense and authorisation procedures; do not commission external work or incur unapproved expenditure.
• Use tools, ladders, equipment and materials safely, maintain their condition and security, and leave occupied areas clean, tidy and safe after every visit.
• Support property condition checks, minor improvement work and preparations for inspections, while escalating statutory testing and compliance matters to the responsible team.

Safeguarding and working in children’s homes

• Follow Your Chapter’s safeguarding policies, professional boundaries, confidentiality requirements and expected standards of conduct at all times.
• Work sensitively in occupied homes, coordinate access with the home manager, respect young people’s privacy and avoid unnecessary disruption to care and routines.
• Report safeguarding concerns, hazards, accidental damage, near misses and incidents promptly through the appropriate organisational channels.
• Never undertake work outside your competence or authorisation, particularly gas, electrical or other regulated activities; refer specialist tasks to suitably qualified personnel.

Job requirements

• Practical experience in general building maintenance or a multi-trade role, with demonstrable competence in several of the tasks listed above.
• Good problem-solving skills, sound judgement, attention to detail and a commitment to safe, high-quality workmanship.
• Ability to organise your own workload, respond appropriately to changing priorities and work independently across different sites.
• Clear, courteous communication with colleagues, home managers, contractors and other stakeholders.
• A full valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the North West.
• Ability to use a phone or basic digital systems to receive jobs, record work and submit evidence.
• Commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, equality and the values of Your Chapter.
• Relevant trade qualification(s), apprenticeship or equivalent recognised training.
• Experience in residential care, education, housing or other occupied and regulated settings.
• Knowledge of basic property health and safety, preventative maintenance and contractor liaison.

Checks, working arrangements and benefits

• Appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, references and the appropriate level of DBS check for the duties of the position, as confirmed by HR.
• The role involves regular travel between properties. Any expectations for emergency or out-of-hours call-outs must be agreed and set out in the contract or associated arrangements.
• Benefits include pension scheme, Simplyhealth cash plan, Employee Assistance Programme, length-of-service award, career development opportunities and a colleague referral scheme, subject to eligibility and scheme terms.

Your Chapter is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to equal opportunities in employment.

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