Casual Caretaker

Queen Mary's College; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Sports Centre facilities access

Free parking on site

Discounted Central Studio tickets

Counselling service

Job summary

Queen Mary’s College is seeking a reliable and detail-minded individual to join the Site Services team as an evening lock-up officer. The role runs Monday to Friday, 19:00–21:00, securing buildings, checking alarms, switching off lights and ensuring all areas are vacated and safe for overnight closure.

The successful candidate will work independently, follow established security procedures and liaise with other departments if evening activities continue.

Qualifications

• Be reliable, trustworthy and responsible.
• Be available to work 19:00 to 21:00, Monday to Friday.
• Be confident working independently and able to follow established security and lock-up procedures.
• Able to use initiative and have a 'can do' attitude.
• Have a methodical approach with good attention to detail.
• Be able to identify and report maintenance security or safety concerns and respond calmly to unexpected situations.
• Be professional and approachable when dealing with students, staff, visitors and other site users.
• Be comfortable in a setting of numerous wide-ranging buildings, multi levels, sometimes with walking in excess of 10,000 steps.
• Understand the importance of discretion, confidentiality and safeguarding requirements within an educational environment.
• A sense of humour and demeanour appropriate to working in a setting for young people.

Responsibilities

• Carry out the agreed College lock-up programme between 19:00 and 21:00, Monday to Friday.
• Check and secure designated buildings, rooms, doors, windows, gates and other access points.
• Ensure staff, students, visitors and contractors have vacated relevant areas before they are secured.
• Set intruder alarms and switch off unnecessary lighting and designated equipment as required.
• Liaise with the Sports Centre, theatre and other departments where authorised evening activities are continuing.
• Identify and report security concerns, defects, unauthorised persons or areas that cannot be safely secured
• Maintain appropriate lock-up records and report significant incidents to the Site Services and Estates Manager or designated contact
• Keep keys, access cards, alarm codes and other security information safe and confidential
• Follow College procedures relating to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety, security, emergencies and lone working
• Ensure all scheduled areas are secured and alarms set before completing the evening lock-up

Skills

Reliability

Trustworthiness

Independent worker

Attention to detail

Discretion

Tools

Alarm systems

Access control

Job description

The role involves systematically checking and securing College buildings and designated external areas, ensuring users have vacated, doors and windows are secure, unnecessary lighting is switched off, and security alarms are set. The successful applicant will be comfortable working independently, have excellent attention to detail and be confident following established security procedures. Working Programme - Monday to Friday: 19:00 to 21:00 The evening lock-up will commence at 19:00, with buildings progressively checked and secured as they become vacant, with the scheduled lock-up completed by 21:00. Where pre-arranged events or activities continue beyond 21:00, alternative lock-up arrangements or adjusted working hours will be agreed in advance by the Site Services and Estates Manager. Where possible we are looking to establish a bank of casual staff to regularly support and cover the evening lock-up.

• Carry out the agreed College lock-up programme between 19:00 and 21:00, Monday to Friday.
• Check and secure designated buildings, rooms, doors, windows, gates and other access points.
• Ensure staff, students, visitors and contractors have vacated relevant areas before they are secured.
• Set intruder alarms and switch off unnecessary lighting and designated equipment as required.
• Liaise with the Sports Centre, theatre and other departments where authorised evening activities are continuing.
• Identify and report security concerns, defects, unauthorised persons or areas that cannot be safely secured
• Maintain appropriate lock-up records and report significant incidents to the Site Services and Estates Manager or designated contact
• Keep keys, access cards, alarm codes and other security information safe and confidential
• Follow College procedures relating to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety, security, emergencies and lone working
• Ensure all scheduled areas are secured and alarms set before completing the evening lock-up

Essential

• Be reliable, trustworthy and responsible
• Be available to work 19:00 to 21:00, Monday to Friday
• Be confident working independently and able to follow established security and lock-up procedures
• Able to use initiative and have a 'can do' attitude
• Have a methodical approach with good attention to detail
• Be able to identify and report maintenance security or safety concerns and respond calmly to unexpected situations
• Be professional and approachable when dealing with students, staff, visitors and other site users
• Be comfortable in a setting of numerous wide-ranging buildings, multi levels, sometimes with walking in excess of 10,000 steps
• Understand the importance of discretion, confidentiality and safeguarding requirements within an educational environment
• A sense of humour and demeanour appropriate to working in a setting for young people

Desirable

• Previous caretaking, security, facilities or key-holder experience
• Experience of alarm or access-control systems
• Previous experience within an educational, commercial or public-sector environment

With more than 2,000 students, 200 staff and numerous visitors attending the College each day, Queen Mary's is a very busy place. The site is large at 23 acres and includes a sports centre and theatre. The site is made up of a number of separate buildings which vary in age and furnishings. There is a dedicated team of site services personnel, including: this role, a morning caretaker, grounds person, student and site security officer, cleaning staff and the Site Services Manager. The Team keeps the site suitably maintained, welcoming, clean and safe for staff, students and visitors. The last Ofsted report graded us as Outstanding for Student Attitudes and Behaviour.

Wellbeing is at the heart of our operations. Having recently won the Best Place to Work Award (Summer 2025) we are proud of our workplace and workforce. We offer a dynamic and friendly place to work, set in beautiful surroundings working with a professional and supportive Site Services & QM Leisure Team.

You will join an effective, cohesive team who support each other, work well together and constantly seek solutions. Along with the wider 'Team QMC ' we work hard to meet the challenges of modern day demands on a multi-purpose site designed for teaching, learning and commercial activities, whilst keeping students at the heart of what we do.

In return we offer a number of benefits such as, use of the Sports Centre facilities, free parking on site, discounted Central Studio tickets, counselling service and related training development, where needed.

Contractual Information Salary (casual): £15.33 per hour, plus holiday (point 12 on the Sixth Form Colleges Support Staff pay scale). In addition, holiday pay. Typical working hours: Monday to Friday 7.00pm - 9.00pm Holiday entitlement: Casual workers are given an additional paid holiday allowance on a pro rata basis approximately equal to 12.07% of each hour worked. Other terms of employment: The successful candidate will have the choice whether or not to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. The College contributes a monthly sum equivalent to 17% of your salary, whilst staff at this salary level contribute approx. 5.5%.