Caretaker

The De Curci Trust; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Caring environment

Staff wellbeing

Good school environment

Supportive team

Training provided

Job summary

The De Curci Trust is seeking a well-organised Caretaker to join the Solent Infant School site team. You will manage grounds and buildings, oversee security, and assist in day-to-day operations while maintaining accurate records and compliance checks.

Based at Solent Infant School with potential involvement across Trust academies, you will supervise cleaners, coordinate contractors, and handle basic repairs. A flexible approach and safety training are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Must be well organised with a range of practical skills.
• Experience in site management and safety compliance is desirable.
• Ability to drive a minibus and undertake occasional driving duties.

Responsibilities

• Primarily manage the Solent Infant School site, grounds and buildings including morning site inspections.
• Oversee site security, unlock/lock premises, and act as key holder.
• Manage site usage and accommodate special requirements for users.
• Line manage cleaners and assist during absences or high-demand periods.
• Maintain accurate paperwork and records in line with processes.
• Arrange and supervise contractors on site and monitor compliance checks.
• Carry out repairs, maintenance and painting as needed, including work at height.
• Support out-of-hours events and travel between Trust academies as required.
• Ensure health and safety standards and training are up to date.

Skills

Organised

Self-motivated

Practical skills

Minibus driving

MIDAS training

Safety and security

Record keeping

Compliance checks

Team supervision

Job description

We are looking for a well organised, self-motivated person with a range of practical skills who likes a challenge, to join our friendly and approachable staff team. Both experienced and new to role would be welcome to apply given relevant skills. The Caretaker will report directly to the Bursar. As well as undertaking general maintenance, you will assist in the day to day operational management, safety and security of the school site, along with accurate record keeping in line with compliance checks. Although you will primarily be based at Solent Infant School, there may also be the need to work across both the Solent School sites. The applicant would need to be practically minded and able to apply their skills to any areas required of a site team. The applicant may be required to undertake the occasional minibus driving duty transporting children to and from events. Experience of this is desirable although MIDAS training can be given. There may also be the need to be flexible to meet the needs of the school and support out of school events. The successful candidate will:

• Primarily manage the Solent Infant School site, grounds and buildings including undertaking morning site inspection identifying any issues/risks
• Oversee general security for the site, arrange locking and unlocking of the premises and be a key holder
• Manage site utilisation during times that facilities are required, ensuring users special requirements are, as far as possible, met
• Line manage the cleaners, ensuring workloads are prioritised effectively assisting the team in times of absence/high need
• Maintain accurate paperwork in line with related administrative processes
• Arrange and supervise contractors on site
• Carry out regular compliance checks such as water, fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, visual checks of electrical equipment etc
• Undertake a range of repairs, maintenance and decoration which may include working at height
• Be flexible to meet the needs of the school and support out of school events
• Ensure that the highest standards of Health and Safety are maintained including undertaking regular training to ensure compliance with current legislation
• Know how to assess risk, reporting where necessary and taking remedial action
• Be required to drive the school minibus, transporting children to and from trips. Experience is desirable, although full training can be provided
• Ensure gullies, gutters, down pipes and drainage systems, including foul drains, are free from blockages, arranging maintenance where required whilst being mindful of Health and Safety Regulations.
• Undertake emergency cleaning during the school day where required due to accidents, illness, vandalism, building and equipment failure
• Operate and monitor the heating and plant throughout the school, carrying out frost protection procedures when required
• Ensure the boiler/plant room, site office and other designated areas of the school (identified through consultation with Head of School/Bursar) are kept clean and tidy
• Enjoy working in a child-centred environment taking pride in all aspects of their work to ensure our school buildings and grounds are maintained to a high standard
• Ensure that a high level of confidentiality and professionalism is maintained

In return we will offer

• A caring and positive environment inspired by our strong ethos
• A team committed to the wellbeing of staff and pupils
• The opportunity to work within a 'good' school amongst a hardworking team of friendly staff
• A supportive, friendly and welcoming school team
• Superb working conditions and environment
• Appropriate training as required

Visits to our school are warmly welcomed and encouraged. Please contact Solent Infant School on 023 9237 1073 to arrange an appointment time. You will be based predominantly at Solent Infant School. However, as you will be appointed to The De Curci Trust, you may be required to work in any of The De Curci Trust's academies or in any of the schools/academies that the Trust is supporting as reasonably directed by the CEO. The ability to travel independently between DCT academies/schools is therefore essential. Please note we do not accept CV's. The De Curci Trust and The Solent Schools (Solent Infant School and Solent Junior School) are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring checks along with all other relevant employment checks.

As you will be appointed to The De Curci Trust, you may be required to work in any of The De Curci Trust's academies or in any of the schools/academies that the Trust is supporting as reasonably directed by the CEO. The ability to travel independently between DCT academies/schools is therefore essential.