Caretaker

Orchard Manor School; Dawlish; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

Pension

Health & wellbeing

Training & development

Career progression

Job summary

Orchard Manor School is seeking a reliable Caretaker to manage site safety, routine maintenance, and grounds upkeep, ensuring buildings are clean, secure and well presented for pupils and staff. You will open/close the site, monitor access, assist with fire/evacuation procedures, coordinate with contractors, maintain heating and pool systems, and handle deliveries and porterage, including winter safety.

You may also join site meetings and support the Premises Supervisor; DBS checks apply.

Responsibilities

• Maintain health and safety compliance and records for property inspections.
• Act as joint key holder; monitor alarms and conduct daily site inspections.
• Ensure keys/access fobs are issued in line with policy and procedure.
• Report major defects to approved contractors / Head of School and liaise as needed.
• Participate in evacuation procedures and log in the Fire Folder as required.
• Assist with collection and disposal of refuse; keep buildings and grounds safe in winter.
• Undertake gardening duties and general grounds maintenance.
• Support Premises Manager in monitoring use and maintenance of school vehicles/fleet.
• Operate heating systems; monitor swimming pool filtration, servicing and balance.
• Take deliveries and undertake porterage, including moving furniture and equipment.
• Be available for call-out on a rota basis and attend site meetings as required.
• Be willing to be a school first aider if trained and adhere to policy/regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality of information in the course of duties.

Job description

About us:

Orchard Manor School is a vibrant, values-driven specialist community where every child is known, respected and supported to belong. Rooted in strong relationships and a deep commitment to respect, kindness and wellbeing, our school is a place where pupils and staff thrive together. We pride ourselves on our collaborative, reflective culture, where learning is meaningful, personalised and ambitious, and where staff are well supported to continually develop their expertise. Set within beautiful woodland grounds in the seaside town of Dawlish, Orchard Manor offers a unique environment where education extends beyond the classroom, preparing young people for confident, independent lives within their communities

The Role:

• As Caretaker, you will be involved in all aspects of site management and maintenance, helping to ensure that our buildings and grounds are safe, secure, clean and well presented. You will carry out routine maintenance and minor repairs, support health and safety compliance, assist with site inspections and maintain appropriate records.


• The role includes opening and securing the site, supporting key-holder responsibilities, monitoring access control arrangements and assisting with emergency procedures. You will work alongside colleagues and contractors, report defects, participate in fire and evacuation procedures and support the upkeep of security systems across the school.


• You will also contribute to the maintenance of the school grounds, heating systems, fleet vehicles and swimming pool, assist with deliveries and porterage, undertake gardening duties and help ensure the site remains safe and accessible throughout the year, particularly during adverse weather conditions.


• This role provides an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys practical problem-solving, takes pride in maintaining high standards and values being part of a team that makes a real difference to children's daily experience of school

Key Responsibilities:

• To maintain H&S compliance and property inspection / maintenance records and complete risk assessment paperwork, as required and under the direct of the Premises Supervisor


• To act as joint key holder for the site, ensuring security at all times including the operation of alarms. Through daily site inspections


• To ensure keys and access control fobs are kept/issued in line with policy/procedure


• To report any major defects in building, equipment and security systems observed in the course of duties and to liaise with approved contractors / Head of School. (To visually monitor the condition of fire extinguishers, ensuring all extinguishers are regularly serviced and that hoses and fire blankets are kept in good condition)


• To participate in evacuation processes as agreed and in accordance with the School’s recognised Evacuation Procedure and assist in logging in the appropriate Fire Folder


• To assist in the collection and disposal of all refuse and ensure the school buildings and grounds are free of litter and graffiti. To ensure, in winter especially, that access roads, pavements, steps and playgrounds are safe for use at all times


• To undertake gardening duties


• To monitor and ensure cloakrooms are stocked with hand soap, hand towels etc. To undertake emergency cleaning (soiling of toilets, sickness, floods etc.) as necessary


• To support the Premises Manager to monitor and manage the use and maintenance of the school vehicles/fleet


• To undertake the efficient operation of the heating system, ensuring its good working order To record, maintain and monitor; swimming pool filtration, servicing and chemical balance maintenance


• Gas / electricity / water (as applicable) meter readings/returns as required by School.


• To take deliveries of stores, materials and other goods and to undertake porterage duties as required (including moving furniture, equipment etc)


• To be available for call-out on a rota basis


• To undertake routine maintenance, minor refurbishment and repairs of premises, fixtures and fittings as necessary


• To attend/contribute site meetings as required To be willing to be a school first aider (if not trained to be trained once in position) if required


• To be aware of, administer and adhere to applicable rules, regulations, legislation and procedures (e.g. Equal Opportunities Policy/Code of Conduct as well as national legislation - Health & Safety, COSHH, GDPR/Data Protection)


• To maintain confidentiality of information acquired in the course of undertaking duties for the School

Our Total Reward Offer:

The Special Partnership Trust recognises the importance of developing a properly implemented People Strategy to underpin the overall strategic aims of the Trust.

Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners.

We recognise that our total reward offer, has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.

Please visit the Special Partnership website, www.specialpartnership.org for further information about our Trust, or to learn more about our People Strategy and Benefits

If you need the application form or any part of the recruitment process in a different format, please contact us directly at [e-mail] and we will make the necessary adjustments.

Safeguarding:

The Special Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the satisfactory completion of checks and references, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In accordance with guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education; the Trust will undertake an online search of all shortlisted candidates.