Estates Operative
Salutem Care & Education
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Ingfield Manor School, part of Salutem Care and Education, is seeking an Estates Operative to maintain the site, grounds and facilities in a safe, welcoming environment for students and staff.
You will perform maintenance, grounds care, security checks, health and safety compliance, swimming pool upkeep, vehicle maintenance, and assist with deliveries and cleaning. A full UK driving licence is required.
Qualifications
- Basic DIY and maintenance tasks across the school site.
- Good communication and organisational abilities.
- Physically fit and capable of manual handling.
- Full UK driving licence with ability to drive cars and minibuses.
Responsibilities
- Premises Maintenance: carry out general maintenance, minor repairs, and decorating tasks across the school site.
- Grounds Maintenance: grass cutting, strimming, weeding and general upkeep of outdoor spaces.
- Security & Site Safety: assist with opening/closing buildings, routine security checks, and patrols.
- Health & Safety: ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and keep records.
- Swimming Pool Maintenance: support safe operation and water quality testing.
- Vehicle Maintenance & Driving Duties: inspect and service school vehicles as required; drive staff or equipment.
- Cleaning & Waste Management: assist with cleaning and waste disposal.
- Deliveries & Porterage: receive and distribute deliveries and move furniture/equipment.
Skills
Job description
Ingfield Manor School is a non-maintained special school and part of Salutem Care and Education who have services across England and Wales supporting adults and children in residential and educational Environments.
Based in its our own idyllic grounds, Ingfield Manor School offers extensive specialist facilities with the aim to provide an exceptional learning environment, helping children and young people fulfil their potential. Facilities include woodland and outdoor classroom space, high specification sensory room and swimming pool.
At Ingfield Manor School, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, and fulfilling life, regardless of their background or disability. The aim of our services is to provide a safe and stimulating environment that enables children and young people to flourish and grow.
Our IMS provision caters for students aged 3—19 years with neurological motor impairment such as Cerebral Palsy and associated medical and sensory needs. Following the Conductive Education approach, Ingfield Manor School focuses on the holistic development of everyone, including their physical and communication skills.
Our Woodview provision is for secondary aged students with special educational needs including speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) and autistic spectrum conditions (ASC).
We also have Beaumont Sussex on our campus, a Post-19 college for special educational needs and students with physical disabilities which is part of Beaumont College which offers pathways for students as they Prepare for Adulthood.
We are immensely proud of our school and our community. We are committed to providing the very best for young people while they are with us, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and aspiration to succeed throughout their lives. We know that our staff team make the school what it is today and are the key to a successful future. Staff are well supported by the leadership team and are offered opportunities to progress. We know that each and every one of our staff have a pivotal role to play and we believe in supporting everyone to fulfil their potential. Ingfield Manor School is a rewarding place to work, and staff report high levels of job satisfaction.
Through working for Salutem we offer a comprehensive range of employee benefits designed to support you in various aspects of your life through our benefits platform Salutem Extras.
Some of these benefits include free online GP access for you and your family, ensuring that healthcare is readily accessible when you need it most. Additionally, our free employee assistance programme extends its support to both you and your partner, providing essential services such as counselling, financial advice, and legal guidance.
Ingfield Manor School has convenient road links and is a 15-minute drive from Horsham. There is a bus stop 10-minute walk from the school, a large car park for those travelling by car.
New employees joining Ingfield Manor School are guaranteed a warm welcome from the community. Our motto is that ‘Fulfilling Potential’ and we strongly believe that this should include our entire school community. We look forward to getting to know you better and helping you to play your part in providing the very best to our young people.
Location: Ingfield Manor School
Reporting to: Premises Lead
Help Create a Safe, Welcoming Environment for Young People to Thrive
Ingfield Manor School is seeking a reliable, practical, and proactive Estates Operative to join our dedicated Estates team.
This is a varied and hands-on role that plays a vital part in maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for our students, staff, and visitors. From site maintenance and groundskeeping to vehicle checks and health and safety compliance, you'll help ensure our school remains a well-maintained and enjoyable place for everyone.
If you enjoy practical work, take pride in maintaining high standards, and are looking for a rewarding role in a specialist educational environment, we'd love to hear from you.
As an Estates Operative, you will support the day-to-day maintenance, security, and presentation of the school site and grounds.
Working as part of the Estates team, you will undertake a wide range of maintenance and operational duties that contribute to the smooth running of the school while ensuring a safe environment for children and young people.
- Carry out general maintenance, minor repairs, and decorating tasks across the school site.
- Monitor the condition of buildings, fixtures, fittings, and furniture.
- Maintain tools and equipment in good working order.
- Report defects, maintenance issues, and safety concerns promptly.
- Assist with maintaining school grounds, including:
- Grass cutting and mowing
- Strimming
- Weeding
- General upkeep of outdoor spaces
- Keep external areas clean, tidy, and free from litter.
- Support snow and ice clearance during adverse weather to ensure safe access across the site.
- Assist with opening and securing school buildings.
- Carry out routine security checks on doors, gates, windows, and alarms.
- Patrol the school grounds and report any concerns.
- Support the safe movement of students and visitors, particularly during drop-off and collection times.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and school procedures.
- Complete and maintain records relating to compliance checks and maintenance activities.
- Report hazards, incidents, and health and safety concerns promptly.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe environment for all site users.
- Support the safe operation and maintenance of the school swimming pool.
- Carry out routine water quality testing, including pH and chlorine monitoring.
- Maintain cleanliness within the pool area.
- Report maintenance issues or safety concerns as they arise.
- Conduct routine vehicle inspections, including checks on:
- Oil levels
- Tyres
- Lights
- General condition
- Ensure vehicles remain clean, roadworthy, and compliant.
- Arrange servicing, MOTs, and repairs as required.
- Maintain accurate maintenance and vehicle usage records.
- Drive school vehicles when required to transport staff, students, or equipment.
- Support cleaning activities across the site when required.
- Ensure waste is disposed of appropriately and recycling procedures are followed.
- Carry out ad-hoc cleaning duties, including windows and external surfaces as needed.
- Receive, store, and distribute deliveries across the school.
- Assist with setting up rooms and moving furniture or equipment for events and activities.
- Support departments by ensuring resources are delivered efficiently and safely.
We are looking for a practical and dependable individual who takes pride in maintaining high standards and enjoys working in a team environment.
- Basic DIY and maintenance skills.
- Good communication and organisational abilities.
- Physically fit and capable of undertaking manual handling activities.
- Ability to work independently and use initiative.
- Understanding of basic health and safety principles.
- Reliable, punctual, and flexible approach to work.
- Full UK driving licence with the ability to drive cars and minibuses.
- D1 licence or willingness to obtain one.
- Previous experience in a maintenance, caretaking, estates, or facilities role.
- Relevant qualifications or training such as:
- Manual Handling
- COSHH
- First Aid
- Health & Safety
- Knowledge of GDPR and data protection requirements.
- Positive, proactive, and solution-focused.
- Able to work effectively as part of a team.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Flexible and willing to undertake a varied workload.
- Professional and approachable.
- A positive role model for young people.
- Non-judgemental and committed to inclusion.
Our values shape the way we work. We are Supportive, Ambitious, Loyal, Unique, Transparent, Engaging and Meaningful in everything we do.
We believe in creating opportunities, encouraging independence and ensuring the people we support have the opportunity to live the life they choose.
We want our people to feel supported, valued and able to thrive — both at work and outside of it.
24/7 Employee Assistance, mental health resources, meditation apps and bereavement support.
Free online GP access, Health Cash Plan, Cancer Cover and menopause support.
Flexible pay through Stream, utility bill savings, MoneyHelper and Life Assurance.
Online workouts, Cycle to Work scheme, gym discounts and National Trust activities.
You’ll receive training, ongoing support and opportunities to develop your skills and career in social care.
At Salutem Care and Education, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of the children, young people, and adults we support, and we expect all colleagues to share this commitment.
All appointments are subject to robust safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (including relevant barred list checks where applicable), satisfactory references, and any other pre-employment checks required for the role.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who share our values and commitment to making a positive difference.
We are committed to ensuring that safeguarding is a top priority. Therefore, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we will carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence process.
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