External Caretaker

Bron Afon; Cwmbran; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days annual leave

Pension scheme: Social Housing

Health cash plan

24/7 mental health support

Free parking

Learning & Development investment

Job summary

Bron Afon is seeking an enthusiastic External Caretaker to maintain outdoor spaces across neighbourhoods, delivering cleaning and grounds services to high standards.

You will engage with tenants and local communities, supporting improvements and sustainable outcomes while upholding Bron Afon’s values. Flexibility for evenings/weekends is required, with a focus on safety and high-quality service.

Qualifications

• Experience in outdoor or caretaking roles.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including occasional evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Deliver grounds maintenance and cleansing to agreed standards.
• Build positive relationships with tenants and community stakeholders.
• Support environmental improvement projects and seasonal programmes.
• Promote safety and maintain high standards of appearance in neighbourhoods.

Skills

Communication

Relationship building

Lateral thinking

Negotiation & influence

Education

Environmental awareness

Health & Safety knowledge

Operational equipment knowledge

Job description

• External Caretaker
• Full time (37 hours per week) and Permanent
• Starting salary will be £24,424 (including Real Living Wage) per annum
• Expected date of interviews - Wednesday 14th October

Please note once you begin your application, you will need to complete and submit it in the same session. We recommend that you have all relevant information and supporting documents ready before starting. If you leave the application before submitting, any information entered may not be saved.

We will be holding a drop-in session via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 16th September at 11.00am until 12.00m. Please feel free to click on the below link, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions about the recruitment process and what it's like being an Empty Homes Manager at Bron Afon:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/382727067772121?p=p4ETltcl4XakMj3jDC

Help Us Create Places People Are Proud to Call Home

At Bron Afon, we're committed to creating thriving communities and attractive neighbourhoods where people can live well. We're looking for an enthusiastic and proactive External Caretaker to join our Places & Spaces team and make a real difference to the appearance, safety, and cleanliness of our communities.

If you're passionate about outdoor work, take pride in maintaining high standards, and enjoy engaging with customers and local communities, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

As an External Caretaker, you will be responsible for delivering routine and proactive grounds maintenance and cleansing services across Bron Afon neighbourhoods. You'll ensure our outdoor spaces are clean, safe, welcoming, and well maintained while building positive relationships with tenants, residents, and community stakeholders.

You’ll play a key role in supporting community aspirations, identifying opportunities for improvement, and helping to deliver sustainable outcomes that enhance the places where our customers live.

Key Responsibilities

Grounds Maintenance & Environmental Services

• Deliver high-quality grounds maintenance and cleansing services to agreed standards.
• Maintain communal outdoor areas to ensure they are safe, tidy, and visually appealing.
• Carry out routine maintenance activities and proactively identify additional works required.
• Support seasonal programmes, including winter catch-up works and environmental improvement projects.
• Report and address issues that impact the appearance or safety of neighbourhoods.

Customer & Community Engagement

• Build positive relationships with tenants, residents, and local stakeholders.
• Actively engage with customers to understand their needs and aspirations for their communities.
• Contribute to community initiatives and support local engagement activities.
• Deliver a visible and approachable service within neighbourhoods.

Teamwork & Continuous Improvement

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and external partners to deliver excellent services.
• Support organisational change and service improvements that enhance customer experience.
• Participate in training and development opportunities to build knowledge and skills.
• Promote Bron Afon's values and maintain a professional image at all times.

Health & Safety

• Follow all health and safety policies, procedures, and safe working practices without exception.
• Ensure equipment, tools, and work activities are carried out safely and responsibly.
• Take personal responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment for yourself, colleagues, and customers.

About You

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience in grounds maintenance, environmental services, caretaking, or a similar outdoor role.
• Takes pride in delivering high standards of work.
• Has excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Enjoys working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Can work independently and as part of a team.
• Is proactive, reliable, and committed to improving local communities.
• Has a positive attitude and willingness to learn.

Person Specification

Qualifications, knowledge and understanding

• An understanding of environmental issues within the built & natural environment and the impact that design and maintenance of external environment has on communities.
• Knowledge of the relevant H&S and task specific legislation and codes of practice relating to grounds, environmental and cleaning services.
• Knowledge of the operation grounds maintenance and/or cleaning equipment.

Experience

• Have successfully worked with members of the public.
• Experience of engaging and involving customers in designing solutions.
• Experience and/or keen interest in the external environment.

Skills and attributes

• Good communication skills with the ability to engage with and influence others.
• Ability to build effective and positive relationships.
• Ability to think laterally to solve problems.
• Ability to negotiate and influence others in resolving day to day problems.

Personal Qualities

• Outgoing, persuasive and approachable.
• Flexible and able to respond to changing demands and conditions.
• Energetic and enthusiastic individual who is not easily discouraged.
• Conscientious individual with high standards and the ability to work to their own initiative.
• Positive, resilient individual who welcomes and accepts constructive feedback.
• High degree of personal integrity and honesty.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work flexibly including occasional evenings and weekends.

Employee benefits:

People are our greatest asset at Bron Afon Community Housing, so we reward our colleagues with a fantastic benefits package:

• 23 days annual leave entitlement (exclusive of bank holidays)
• Social Housing Pension Scheme where Bron Afon will contribute 12% from day 1 of your employment
• Learning and Development investment to your career here at Bron Afon
• Health cash plan with Simply Health
• 24/7 free mental health support
• 24/7 free access to an online GP service
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Adoption pay
• Employee discount platform with access to retail, hospitality, days out, etc
• Occupational Health service
• Cycle 2 Work scheme
• And FREE PARKING!

Work4 pilot

We are currently running pilot of working a 4-day week (4DW). This is extended until end of October 2026. The pilot will then be reviewed by our board, before making a decision to extend or be made permanent.