Domestic Assistant - Community

Children's Hospice South West; Newmarket; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Domestic Assistant to support high-quality cleaning at Newmarket Community Hospital. You will follow NHS standards and policies, assist supervision, and maintain clean and safe facilities for patients and staff.

You will need COSHH awareness, good communication, and the ability to work as part of a team or independently in a community hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Good reading and writing communication skills.
• Experience with cleaning methods and procedures is expected.

Responsibilities

• Respond to cleaning requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Monitor cleaning standards and infection control practices.
• Work with COSHH requirements and PPE usage.
• Maintain clean, safe storage of chemicals and equipment.
• Attend training and support ongoing cleaning tasks across sites.

Skills

Good communication

English literacy

Teamwork

Confidentiality

Basic computer use

Education

NVQ / Bics or working towards

COSHH training

Health and Safety training

Job description

Job summary

The Domestic assistant will contribute significantly to the provision of a quality cleaning service on a day-to-day basis within the Trust in line with the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness Hospital 2021 as well as Trust Policies and Procedures.

Some of the key duties will include:

They will assist the Domestic Supervisors and Facilities Officer with maintaining Facilities Services within the Community Hospital setting.

Complete day-to-day tasks on schedules and the completion of work sheets.

Ensure the safe use of equipment and cleaning materials for staff and have a good knowledge of COSHH to support the service.

Provide good communication, assist supervisors in cleaning, support mandatory and statuary training and assist in all areas of Facilities Services within the Community Hospital.

Engage with patients, staff, colleagues, and stakeholders and to deliver the highest standards of customer care within the service.

Main duties of the job

Ensure a timely and accurate response to all cleaning requests. Assist in monitoring and maintaining cleaning standards and infection control practices as appropriate

To ensure that all cleaning tasks are carried out in accordance with NHS Specification of Cleanliness 2007, The Food Safety Act 1990, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and any other guidelines provided by Trust

To work with a flexible approach bearing in mind the needs of the patients and staff

Have a good understanding of COSHH and ensure that all cleaning chemicals which may be hazardous are kept securely in storage areas when not in use. Ensure that the correct PPE is worn when preparing chemicals

Ensure that all cleaning equipment is cleaned daily and maintained in a safe usable condition - faults must be reported to a supervisor immediately

Attend training courses including on the job training and training in the use of specific machinery as required

Ensure that cleaning cupboards are kept clean and tidy at all times

Take instruction from Domestic supervisor and ward manager in identifying additional cleans, such as isolation rooms and bed space terminal

Ensure that all relevant check lists are completed and sign in a timely manner

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description and person specification attached for further information on the role.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Good communication skills in reading and writing.

Desirable

• NVQ or Bics qualification or working towards. COSSH training. Health and Safety training.

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• 6 months experience of a cleaning role.
• Knowledge of cleaning methods and procedures.

Desirable

• Previous NHS cleaning experience.
• Knowledge and understanding of the NHS colour coding scheme.
• Knowledge of infection control procedures and methods.

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Good communication skills
• Able to understand written and spoken English instructions.
• Ability to work unsupervised or as part of a team.
• Understanding of confidentiality.
• Basic computer skills.

Personal qualities

Essential

• Flexible approach to working hours and duties
• Ability to travel to all rural locations to carry out post.
• Evidence of good attendance and timekeeping
• Be prepared to work in other areas / sites to suit the needs of services.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Newmarket Community Hospital

Exning Road

Newmarket

CB8 7JG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)