Caretaker

Acorn Care and Education; Southampton; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist day school in Southampton seeks a dedicated Caretaker to ensure a safe and clean environment for children. Duties include maintenance tasks, monitoring safety hazards, and supporting school operations. The ideal candidate will possess strong DIY skills, attention to detail, and a full UK Driving Licence. This position offers a competitive salary of up to £30,000 per annum, a 4-Day Working Week trial, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Discount options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Family Growth Support

Qualifications

• Must hold a full UK Driving Licence.
• Experience in maintenance or DIY roles is desirable.
• Proven ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Lock and unlock buildings as required.
• Set up and maintain rooms and outdoor spaces.
• Carry out day-to-day maintenance tasks and repairs.
• Monitor the site for safety hazards and address them.

Skills

Building maintenance

Cleaning

Carpentry

Gardening

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Tools

Basic hand tools

Cleaning equipment

Job description

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Job title

Caretaker

Location

Bower Lodge School, Southampton, SO45 5TD

Salary

Up to £30,000 per annum dependent on experience

Hours

40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8.30am - 5pm

Contract

Permanent, 52 weeks per year

Start Date

January 2026

Eligibility

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the role

Do you take pride in keeping environments safe, welcoming, and running smoothly? Are you practical, proactive, and ready for a role where no two days are the same? Bower Lodge School is looking for a reliable and dedicated Caretaker to help create a safe, well-maintained, and positive environment where young people can thrive.
This is more than a maintenance role – it’s a chance to play a vital part in the daily life of a school and directly support the wellbeing and success of our pupils and staff.

Key responsibilities

• Locking and unlocking school buildings as required
• Setting up rooms and outdoor areas (chairs, tables, garden spaces, events)
• Carrying out day-to-day maintenance and minor repairs to fixtures and fittings
• Responding promptly and effectively to maintenance issues as they arise
• Ensuring all plant and equipment is maintained to required standards
• Maintaining school grounds to a high standard
• Supporting and assisting with school refurbishment projects
• Porterage and general site support across the school
• Monitoring the site for hazards and taking appropriate action
• Ensuring Health & Safety policies and procedures are followed by all site users

Who we’re looking for

• Is practical, reliable, and takes real pride in keeping environments safe, clean, and well maintained
• Brings a strong range of maintenance and DIY skills
• Is proactive, organised, and has excellent attention to detail
• Works confidently both independently and as part of a team
• Remains calm, adaptable, and solutions-focused when unexpected issues arise
• Has experience in building maintenance, cleaning, carpentry, or gardening (desirable)
• Holds GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• Holds a full UK Driving Licence (essential)

About us

Bower Lodge School is a brand-new specialist day school in Dibden, Southampton, for boys and girls aged 4–11 with a diagnosis of autism and a range of complex learning, communication, and sensory needs. Our new Options Primary School has capacity for 40 pupils and is dedicated to providing a nurturing, inclusive, and tailored learning environment where autistic young people can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.