Caretaker

Durham County Council; Spennymoor; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Part time

Job summary

Durham County Council seeks a reliable caretaker/cleaner for Seaham Harbour Nursery School. The role is permanent and part-time (27 hours per week) with split shifts from early morning to late afternoon. Responsibilities include security, cleaning, basic maintenance, and supervising on-site contractors.

The position requires good spoken English and a commitment to safeguarding children. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required if successful, along with ongoing disability confidence

Qualifications

• Experience as caretaker or cleaner preferred.
• Ability to converse in English.
• Willingness to undertake minor repairs and grounds maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that building and site are secure.
• Daily cleaning of the whole school.
• Act as the designated keyholder for the school premises.
• Operate and regularly check heating, cooling, lighting and security systems including alarms.
• Undertake minor repairs and maintenance of buildings and site (not requiring a qualified craftsperson).
• Arrange regular maintenance and safety checks.
• Oversee on site maintenance contractors and ensure work meets standards.
• Monitor consumables and stock and order as needed.
• Undertake general portage duties including moving furniture and equipment.
• Follow health and safety and COSHH regulations and report hazards.

Skills

Cleaning duties

Health & Safety awareness

Time management

Customer communication

Job description

Permanent Contract - Part Time- 27 hours per week - Split shift 6.00am – 8.00am and 2.30pm – 6pm (Mon-Thur)

6.00am – 8.00am and 2.30pm – 5.30pm (Fri)

Whole Time

Required to start Monday 4th January 2027

The governors of Seaham Harbour Nursery School are seeking to appoint a hard working, enthusiastic, reliable and honest caretaker / cleaner.

Key duries will include:

• Ensure that building and site are secure.
• Daily cleaning of the whole school.
• Act as the designated keyholder for the school premises.
• Operate and regularly check systems such as heating, cooling, lighting and security, including alarms.
• Undertake minor repairs (i.e those not requiring a qualified craftsperson) and maintenance of the buildings and site (including painting and decorating).
• Arrange regular maintenance and safety checks.
• Oversee on site maintenance contractors, checking that work is completed to required standards.
• Monitor consumables and stock and order when needed through office staff.
• Undertake general portage duties, including moving furniture and equipment within the school.
• Perform duties in line with health and safety and COSHH regulations and take action where hazards are isentified, report serious hazards to line manager immediately.
• Undertake regular Health & Safety checks of building, grounds, fixtures and fittings (including compliance with safety regulations) and equipment.
• Basic grounds maintenance – snow clearing, salting, litter picking, bin emptying, weeding and basic gardening.
• Other duties as required.

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and, if successful, you will need to apply for an enhanced DBS disclosure.

As a disability confident employer, we are committed to employing disabled people and people with health conditions making reasonable adjustments to support disabled applicants when required.

Closing date for applications is Friday 13th November 2026

Interview date: Wednesday 18th November (to be confirmed)

Seaham Harbour Nursery School

Bottleworks Road, Seaham SR7 7NN

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]