Caretaker (Hudnall Park)

Hertfordshire County Council; Hudnall Common; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire County Council is seeking a Caretaker for Hudnall Park near Berkhamsted. The role supports outdoor learning, prepares and maintains the site, and coordinates with staff and external providers to ensure a safe, welcoming environment for children and families.

The position offers useful on-site training and requires a driving licence, hands-on maintenance skills, and a proactive, reliable approach. Weekend cover and on-call duties may be involved.

Qualifications

• Driving Licence.
• Evidence of working with small tools/machinery.
• Negotiation skills.
• Proactive.
• Self motivated.
• Calm and organised under pressure.
• Good communicator.
• Team player.
• Desirable: Maintenance & Electrical qualifications would be beneficial.
• Desirable: Attention to detail.
• Desirable: Previous experience working in a children's setting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare the house and grounds for overnight and day activities.
• Clean carpets, furniture, etc.
• Support external providers on site (caterers, cleaners, contractors).
• Provide a friendly approach to visitors and guests.
• Assist with health and safety responsibilities and risk assessments.
• Maintain site in good order; perform routine repairs/decorating.
• Operate on-site equipment/machinery for maintenance.
• Check plumbing and central heating; report issues promptly.
• Assist with maintenance schedules for centre plant.

Skills

Driving Licence

Small tools/machinery

Negotiation skills

Proactive

Self motivated

Calm under pressure

Good communicator

Team player

Tools

Polaris ATV

John Deere mower

Mechanical strimmer

Job description

Job Introduction

Job Title: Caretaker (Hudnall Park)

Starting Salary: £26,016 progressing to £26,427

Hours: 37

Location: Hudnall Park near Berkhamsted

Contract Type: Permanent

Directorate: Resources

About the team

This role is essential to support our outdoor learning and education centre, the services we provide for children & young people and our diverse grounds consisting of around 85 acres.

Hudnall Park is a beautiful site, in constant use during Spring and Summer. We are developing an ambitious strategy to increase activity at the site, with the intention of utilising it all year round. This role is important to the success of that development. The centre comprises of a number of staff including those managing the site itself and various projects; alongside a number of instructors/delivery staff.

The post holder will engage with other teams from the county council, external providers/contractors, children, young people and families on a daily basis.

The winter months are invariably quieter, with core maintenance being updated and planned during those months.

If you have the following attributes, you would be a good fit for this role:

• proactive


• have a range of practical skills


• good with people


• a great team player


• interested in supporting safe and enjoyable opportunities for children and young people.

About the role

This role is part of our core staffing and essential to the development and maintenance of Hudnall Park. The post holder is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the site to ensure the look and feel of it reaches the highest standard in readiness for site visitors. You will undertake a range of tasks including (list not exhaustive):

• Prepare the house and grounds for overnight and day activities e.g. helping with bedding being washed and bed linen changed in line with alterative group visits.


• Cleaning carpets, furniture etc.


• Ensure that all external providers on site are supported and assisted e.g. caterers, cleaners, contractors.


• Provide a friendly approach to visitors and guests on site.


• Assist with health and safety responsibilities and risk assessments.


• Maintain site to a good order, recognising when issues need action and undertaking routine repairs/decorating e.g. cleaning of windows/sills and interior glass doors and ironmongery, painting and basic decorating.


• Using on site equipment/machinery to perform initiative responsive maintenance as required and arrange for timely servicing including Polaris ATV, John Deere mower, strimmer etc.


• Regular checks on plumbing, central heating etc; raising any issues in a timely manner.


• Assist with population of maintenance schedules for centre plant in accordance with manufacturers guidance and training provided including John Deere ride on mower, Mechanical strimmer, Polaris ATV etc


• Providing 'on call' back up when required (as part of a rota system).


• Opening and closing of the site during weekend activities when required.


• Undertake any training required for performance of duties.

On site training will be provided liaising with your direct line manager

About you

Essential

• Driving Licence


• Evidence of working with small tools/machinery


• Negotiation skills


• Proactive


• Self motivated


• Calm and organised under pressure


• Good communicator


• Team player

Desirable

• Any Maintenance & Electrical qualifications would be beneficial.


• Attention to detail.


• Previous experience working in a children's setting.

For the right candidate, this is an interesting and rewarding role. Hudnall Park helps to improve lives for many children, young people and families in Hertfordshire and beyond and no day is the same. This can be challenging at times, so you must be ready for anything!

Benefits of working for us

• HCC supports personal development.


• HCC has a strong Diversity and Inclusion policy.


• Excellent inhouse training provision.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 4. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles - Operational services

Interview Date: 14 October 2026

Additional information

We are changing Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required

You'll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.