Domestic Assistant

The Christie International; Manchester; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester is seeking Domestic Assistants to join the relief pool across wards and departments, including infection areas. The role involves maintaining a clean, safe environment for patients and staff and supporting nurses with discharge cleans.

Reliable, flexible individuals with cleaning experience are welcome to apply. The role requires a 4 weekly fixed roster (37.5 hours per week) over 5 days in a 7-day pattern, across wards and departments.

Qualifications

• Level 1 functional skills in English and Math.
• NVQ Level 1 in cleaning or equivalent.
• Can demonstrate basic level of computer literacy.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean, hygienic environment for patients and staff.
• Assist nurses with discharge/infection cleans as per NSHCC standards.
• Operate cleaning equipment safely after training.
• Remove clinical and general waste from ward/department.
• Adhere to cleaning policies and schedules.
• Provide a rapid response to ward/department cleaning needs.

Skills

Basic computer literacy

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

NVQ Level 1 in cleaning or equivalent

Level 1 functional skills in English, Math

Job description

• 4 weekly fixed roster,08:00-16:00, including weekends and bank holidays (37.5 hours per week), working 5 over 7 days.

The Domestic Services Team based at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is looking for Domestic Assistants to be part of the relief pool working in all wards and departments across the Trust site, including Covid 19 areas and other infection areas.

We are looking for reliable, enthusiastic and flexible individuals who have experience in cleaning and wish to develop whilst working with a team in a department that is embracing the revised National Cleaning Standards.

Main duties of the job

You will assist in maintaining a clean, hygienic and safe environment for patients and clinical staff, while assisting Nurses and other stakeholders, such as Bed Managers, with discharge/infection cleans as per local RAG poster, in line with the National Standards of Cleanliness.

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing a rapid response service to a high standard of cleanliness to all wards and departments, under the supervision of the domestic supervisor, including the safe use of mechanical and electrical equipment following appropriate training.

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The main duties:

• Isolation room enhanced cleaning (appendix A).
• General cleaning.
• High- and low-level dusting and cleaning.
• Wet and dry mopping.
• Maintain all floor surfaces using equipment as required.
• Clean and store equipment after use.
• Removal clinical and general waste.
• Cleaning and descaling of toilets and sanitary areas.
• Cleaning baths, taps, and showers.
• Removal and cleaning of bodily fluids in public areas.
• Curtain changing – taking curtains down and re-hanging new.
• Replenish all disposables, hand towels, toilet rolls, soaps, and gels.

Responsibilities

• Provide an efficient, high quality domestic service to patients, visitors, and staff.
• Adhere to cleaning policies, procedures, and cleaning frequencies.
• Awareness of health and safety risk assessments and procedures.
• Operate mechanical cleaning equipment i.e., including scrubbing and buffing equipment, vacuum cleaner, and carpet shampoo equipment.
• To check the health and safety of domestic equipment and report any hazards or potential hazards to the domestic supervisor.
• Removal of clinical and general waste from ward and department to designated waste store.
• To be responsible for reporting all accidents and incidents to the domestic supervisor.
• To ensure that personal protection equipment and clean uniform is worn at all times when on duty in accordance with the Trust policy.
• Respond to rectifications following audits within a given timescale.
• To report any signs of infestation to the Domestic Supervisor.
• Demonstrates the Christie values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.
• Receive and carryout instruction in own area of work.
• Liaise with ward and department staff, to prioritise work areas and workloads.
• Good communication skills and helpful manner to be able communicate sensitively when patients/relatives make enquiries.
• To have a basic knowledge of trust policy and procedures relating to the area of work.
• Staff will be fully trained in accordance with National Cleaning Standards.
• Staff will undertake the trust corporate essential training (CET) and ensure annual compliance with training requirements.
• Staff will undertake departmental induction training including manual handling and working at heights.
• Agree changes to working practices or procedures for own work area when required.
• All staff to work in accordance with COSHH regulations and to follow all instructions given during training and mandatory training.
• Will work largely unsupervised on a daily basis but will know when to seek supervision and further assistance where necessary.
• Respond to ward/department activity and work schedules. This requires a degree of planning and prioritising own workload.
• Frequently required to exert moderate physical effort for short periods of time by lifting and pushing equipment, collection of equipment and consumables from stores.
• Moderate bending and stooping are required when cleaning equipment, fixtures and fittings, and floors.
• Requires a high level of concentration for sustained periods, including responding to unpredictable work patterns and interruptions.
• Working at heights.
• Ability to act calmly and quickly in emergencies.
• Frequent exposure to dirt, dust and bodily fluids.
• To undertake domestic duties with occasional exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances.
• Clean and maintaining the condition of domestic services equipment.
• To ensure all cleaning is carried out in accordance with the National Standards of Health Care Cleanliness (NSHCC).
• Domestic Staff must be able to prepare, provide and maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment. The standard must comply with the current PLACE instructions.
• To undertake isolation cleaning when required following correct procedures. (Appendix A).
• Ensure full uniform and personal protective equipment (PPE), is worn at all times as required.
• Ensure personal appearance is clean and smart at all times.
• Liaise with ward and department staff to receive any special instructions on isolation room cleans as detailed within departmental and infection control procedures.
• Good communication skills and helpful manner and communicate sensitively when patients/relatives make enquiries.
• Ensure cleaning standards are consistently achieved in line with trust policies, procedures, cleaning schedules and monitoring targets.
• Awareness of health and safety risk assessments and procedures.
• Propose changes to working practices or procedures for own work area.
• Clean and maintain the condition of domestic services equipment, report faults as they may occur.
• Ensure stock control in own area of work e.g., soaps, gels, paper towels, mops, cloths etc.
• Propose changes to working practices or procedures for own work area.
• Provide support to new starters, to gain confidence and experience in a new environment.
• To ensure that trust HR policies and procedures are adhered to at all times.
• Basic information technologies (IT) knowledge and skills. Be able to log on to a computer enter a password to access trust information systems.
• Undertake the trust online training.
• To operate the toilet time monitoring systems in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, follow all cleaning schedules and guidelines.
• Undertake trust and departmental training either online e-lite bites or classroom training sessions.
• Participate in domestic services departmental monitoring in own area of work.
• Will work largely unsupervised on a daily basis but will know when to seek supervision and further assistance where necessary.
• Respond to ward/department activity and maintain delivery of work schedules. This requires a degree of planning and prioritising own workload.
• Frequently required to exert moderate physical effort for short periods of time by lifting equipment and disposable stores, e.g., carrying mop buckets filled with water, making and stripping beds.
• Moderate bending and stooping will be required when cleaning equipment, fixtures and fittings, floors and equipment.
• Requires a high level of concentration for sustained periods, including responding to unpredictable work patterns and interruptions.
• Undertake isolation cleaning when required following correct procedures.
• When using cleaning equipment and materials it is important to ensure that adequate safety precautions are taken at all times.
• Ability to act calmly and quickly in emergencies.
• Occasional exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances when cleaning in patient areas.
• To be helpful and sensitive when patients/relatives make enquiries.
• This role is manual working where conditions can be extreme cold and warm.
• Frequent exposure to dirt, dust and bodily fluids.
• Long periods of standing/bending.
• Exposure to cleaning products
• COSHH regulations must be fully adhered to at all times whilst using cleaning materials.

This job description is not exhaustive, it may be necessary to alter or add work to ensure the efficient running of the department, however, no staff member will ever be asked to carry out a task that they have not been fully trained to do.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Level 1 functional skills in English, Math
• Can demonstrate basic level of computer literacy
• NVQ Level 1 in cleaning or equivalent

Experience

• Demonstrate an understanding of the domestic assistant role within a healthcare setting.
• Previous Domestic Experience
• Experience working in a health care setting
• Experience in cleaning protocols

Skills

• Able to work as part of a team.
• Able to communicate effectively.
• Able to follow standardised cleaning schedules.
• Reliable, punctual, and flexible.
• Able to work in a high-pressure environment.
• Able to work at heights.
• Contributes to own personal development

Knowledge

• Understands the importance of hygiene in a health care setting
• Knowledge of infection control
• Knowledge of COSHH
• Knowledge of National Cleaning Standards

Values

• A good understanding of Trust Values and Behaviours and ability to demonstrate these values in the working day.
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Business: The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information - We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.