Building Craft Operative

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279); Worthing; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Worthing is seeking a Building Craft Operative to maintain and repair various facilities. The ideal candidate will possess NVQ Level 3 in Carpentry and Joinery, demonstrate strong communication skills, and have prior experience in a similar environment. Responsibilities include handling repairs, preventive maintenance, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. This role supports a diverse workplace culture, and candidates are encouraged to apply to contribute to the care of patients.

Benefits

Supportive workplace culture

Wellbeing Programme for staff

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a Hospital or similar environment.
• Ability to carry out carpentry repairs and maintenance.
• Evidence of championing diversity in previous roles.

Responsibilities

• Carry out carpentry repairs and maintenance across Trust premises.
• Perform planned preventative maintenance routines on plant and equipment.
• Deal with health and safety incidents including damaged fire doors.

Skills

Carpentry

Joinery

Communication skills

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Carpentry and Joinery

Job description

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Building Craft Operative

The closing date is 05 January 2026

A vacancy for a Building Craft Operative (Handy person) has arisen within the Estates Department of the Worthing Hospital in Worthing.

The successful applicant could be required to work within any buildings controlled by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Applicants will ideally have gained a City and Guilds, NVQ level 3 qualification in Carpentry & Joinery. They should have experience of fitting, replacing and repairing door locks, cutting keys, repairing and maintaining automatic doors. Excellent painting skills. Experience of brick laying would be beneficial. In addition planned and reactive maintenance works which would have been gained within large complex building environments.

Before applying for the position, please review the job description and person specifications to ensure your qualifications and experience meet the required criteria.

The interviews will be held in person and a workplace-based assessment may be required.

Should you require additional support with completing your application, please contact the Facilities and Estates Recruitment Team via email below:

[e-mail]

Main duties of the job

To carry out carpentry repairs and maintain the building fabric both internally and externally to Trust owned premises.

Deal with incidents such as damaged fire doors (Health & Safety) lost keys (departmental, controlled drugs cupboards) broken glass to doors, windows (Health & Safety). Painting as required.

To provide assistance if required to other craftsmen within the Estates Department.

To have a flexible approach within the Estates Team and carry out maintenance functions considered foreign to their profession provided such work is done within health and safety guidelines and they have the required training, skills and supervision.

To carry out tasks in any site owned and maintained by University Hospital Sussex as required.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job responsibilities

• Planned preventative maintenance, (PPMs) routines on plant, equipment, building fabric and services in line with manufacturers recommendations, best practice and consummate with trained skills and experience.
• Repairs and construction of timber fixtures and fittings
• First and second fixing to new and alteration work.
• Painting as required.
• Use of access equipment for carrying out minor repairs internally and externally to windows and roof lights on any form of construction.
• Carry out minor repairs to fencing and gates.
• To repair or replace locks, door closer and door furniture of all kinds. If possible cut keys.
• Work on automatic doors.
• Fit or replace laminates and Formica materials to fixtures and fittings.
• Repair all types of timber flooring.
• Minor repairs of blinds and fixing of curtain tracks and similar fixtures and fittings, coat hooks, shelving, notice boards, etc.
• Erection and dismantling of, trestles, hop-ups, staging, ladders and step ladders, providing training has been completed by the operative.
• Deal with incidents such as damaged fire doors (Health & Safety), lost keys, departmental and controlled drugs cupboards, broken glass to doors and windows.
• Carry out defective item maintenance on the carpentry building fabric (internally & externally) in line with best practice, health and safety and consummate with trained skills and experience with the aim of returning the item to service within target time frames.
• Carry out tasks as instructed/requested with a minimum of supervision, in line with best building practice and consummate with trained skills and experience.
• Carry out refurbishment and/or new works, as required from time to time as directed by the Team Leader.
• To advise the Team Leader of health and safety /maintenance issues, perceived or otherwise which may affect the safe operation of the building fabric and clinical services.
• To attend training courses as appropriate for the post including Health & Safety requirements.
• To develop and maintain good working relationships with Clinicians, Departmental Heads, Risk Management and Contractors.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Carpentry and Joinery

Communication

• Good Communication Skills

Experience

• Previous role in Carpentry or Joinery
• Experience of working in a Hospital or similar environment

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

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.

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)