Caretaker

Prospere Learning Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CPD opportunities

Health plan

Pension contribution

Annual leave 26+ days

Cyclescheme

Counselling & helplines

Credit union

Flexible working

Mental Health support

Blue Light Card

bYond cashback

Job summary

MEA Central in South Manchester is seeking a reliable Caretaker to join our site team. You will help ensure the school is safe, clean, secure and well maintained, providing a welcoming environment for pupils, staff and visitors.

Working under the Site Manager, you will carry out caretaking, maintenance and security duties and support the day-to-day running of the school site.

Qualifications

• Practical maintenance and DIY skills.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• An understanding of health and safety in the workplace.
• The ability to work independent and as part of a team.
• Good communication skills and a positive, flexible approach.
• The ability to undertake the physical duties of the role.
• Experience of working in a caretaking, maintenance or facilities role (desirable).
• Experience of working in a school or similar environment (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Carry out general maintenance and minor repairs around the school.
• Help maintain the cleanliness and appearance of the buildings and grounds.
• Open and secure the school site, acting as a keyholder where required.
• Carry out routine health and safety checks, reporting any faults or hazards.
• Assist with fire alarm testing and other statutory checks, keeping accurate records.
• Undertake grounds maintenance duties, including litter picking, emptying bins and clearing pathways during adverse weather.
• Set up rooms, furniture and equipment for assemblies, examinations, meetings and school events.
• Support the movement of furniture and deliveries around the site.
• Respond to emergency cleaning and maintenance issues as required.
• Monitor stock levels of site supplies and report when replacements are needed.
• Work safely, following all Health & Safety and COSHH procedures.
• Assist contractors on site and report any concerns to the Site Manager.
• Carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the role as directed by the Site Manager or Headteacher.

Skills

Maintenance & DIY

Literacy & numeracy

Health and safety knowledge

Independent & team work

Communication skills

Physical fitness

Caretaking experience

Job description

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Caretaker to join our fantastic team at MEA Central

This is a permanent, full-time role 35 hours per week, all year round, with a starting salary of £25,583 Grade 3. The successful candidate will join us once preemployment checks are complete.

About the Role

We are looking to appoint a reliable and enthusiastic Caretaker to join our site team. You will help ensure our school is safe, clean, secure and well maintained, providing a welcoming environment for pupils, staff and visitors.

Working under the direction of the Site Manager, you will carry out a range of caretaking, maintenance and security duties and support the day-to-day running of the school site.

Key Responsibilities

As a Caretaker, you will:

• Carry out general maintenance and minor repairs around the school.
• Help maintain the cleanliness and appearance of the buildings and grounds.
• Open and secure the school site, acting as a keyholder where required.
• Carry out routine health and safety checks, reporting any faults or hazards.
• Assist with fire alarm testing and other statutory checks, keeping accurate records.
• Undertake grounds maintenance duties, including litter picking, emptying bins and clearing pathways during adverse weather.
• Set up rooms, furniture and equipment for assemblies, examinations, meetings and school events.
• Support the movement of furniture and deliveries around the site.
• Respond to emergency cleaning and maintenance issues as required.
• Monitor stock levels of site supplies and report when replacements are needed.
• Work safely, following all Health & Safety and COSHH procedures.
• Assist contractors on site and report any concerns to the Site Manager.
• Carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the role as directed by the Site Manager or Headteacher.

About You

We are looking for someone who has:

• Practical maintenance and DIY skills.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• An understanding of health and safety in the workplace.
• The ability to work independent and as part of a team.
• Good communication skills and a positive, flexible approach.
• The ability to undertake the physical duties of the role.
• Experience of working in a caretaking, maintenance or facilities role (desirable).
• Experience of working in a school or similar environment (desirable).

Working for Prospere Learning Trust

Great schools thrive because of the great people in them. We invest in our staff to achieve their full potential and offer a range of benefits including.

• High quality CPD for all roles
• Bupa Level 1 Health Plan - annual cash back allowance for a range of everyday health care expenses
• Generous Pension Contribution - over 26% for teachers and over 17% for support staff
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days with 5 years' service
• Cyclescheme - save up to 39% on a bike and accessories and get Strava for free
• Employee Assistance Programmes - including access to free counselling and 24/7 helplines
• Credit Union - regular savings, Christmas saving scheme and access to affordable loans
• Flexible working options - we're happy to talk flexible working where possible
• Mental Health First Aid in every school
• Blue Light Card - discounts on holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones, and many more
• bYond cashback card - spend smarter with a prepaid cashback card for your everyday purchases

Prospere Learning Trust values diversity and welcomes applications from all candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

As per Keeping Children Safe in Education, we conduct online searches on shortlisted candidates to identify any relevant issues for interview discussion. Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a self-disclosure declaration, declaring any relevant convictions, adult cautions or other matters which may affect your suitability to work with children. Information will be provided on where to seek guidance on whether certain offences are now protected and should not be disclosed within the self-disclosure form.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 all positions within the School are exempt. Therefore, we are entitled to carry out Enhanced Disclosure checks for all staff and volunteers. It is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relating to children.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; we do not sponsor visa applications. If you’ve lived or worked outside the UK in the last five years, additional information will be required. Job offers are contingent on satisfactory pre-employment checks, including references.

Visit our website to learn more about our Trust: prospere.org.uk

MEA Central

MEA Central is a thriving 11‑16 secondary school in South Manchester, driven by the mission, “A fantastic future for all”. We focus on removing barriers to student success, combining high expectations with warmth and encouragement. Our values of Citizenship, Achievement, and Participation, along with a belief in the power of language, help develop confident, socially responsible young adults.

We offer a challenging, knowledge‑rich curriculum to prepare students for GCSEs, further education, and life beyond. Our high expectations are matched by efforts to ignite intellectual passions, fostering autonomous, fulfilled learners. Beyond academics, our exceptional pastoral care and extensive extra‑curricular program ensure students gain cultural capital and succeed in areas like sport, music, drama, and community activities.

MEA Central has been graded as good by Ofsted.

“Pupils at Manchester Enterprise Academy Central are incredibly proud and happy to be a part of a diverse and respectful community. Everyone can be themselves. Pupils are considerate of one another. They do their best to model the school's core values. They strive to work hard, be kind and take part”.

Visit our website to learn more about our school community: https://www.meacentral.org.uk/