FM Assistant (Cleaning) | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Bishop's Stortford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Bishop's Stortford is seeking an FM Assistant to contribute to in-house services including cleaning, food service, and laundry. The role requires 10 hours per week with a focus on maintaining high hygiene standards and supporting patient meals. Ideal candidates will have strong cleaning skills and a commitment to teamwork. This part-time position pays £24,465 per annum pro rata and offers various employee benefits.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

NHS discounts for staff

Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in cleaning and maintaining hygiene standards.
• Ability to assist with food service processes for patients.
• Knowledge of laundry operations and cross-infection prevention.

Responsibilities

• Clean assigned wards and areas following work schedules.
• Assist in delivering meals and cleaning crockery.
• Launder patient clothing and maintain cleanliness in laundry.
• Carry out portering duties including delivering medical items.

Skills

Cleaning procedures

Food service duties

Laundry management

Portering tasks

Job description

Overview

FM Assistant
Band 2 - £24,465 per annum pro rota

Independent Living Centre, Bishops Stortford

10 hours per week - See Rota below. Monday to Friday 16:00 to 18:00 (2 hours a day). Some flexibility with the times for a suitable candidate.

To participate in the provision of the in-house FM services to a specified area within the Trust, which may include in-patient areas and retail outlets. The FM services comprise cleaning, catering, portering, bed making and laundering services; however some of these services are unit specific. Sections of this job description may not be relevant to all staff and will be identified where appropriate but are not exhaustive.

You must be aware of the important part you play in maintaining the environment to an excellent standard. You must also be aware that your work will involve working alongside patients and occasionally interacting with them as you carry out your duties. You will be working as part of the Facilities Team and are expected to have a flexible approach to your duties. You will be working as a valued member of the Estates & Facilities Management Team.

If you\'re shortlisted for this role, your interview will take place on 13 October 2025. Please note you must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this position. Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.

The Estates & Facilities Department is responsible for delivering high quality and cost effective services across Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. We are looking to appoint a number of enthusiastic and highly motivated people. Annual leave entitlement is 27 days plus bank holidays rising to 33 days after 10 years\' service (pro-rata to hours worked). Salary is £24,465 (pro-rata for part time working) depending on experience and previous NHS service. EPUT are looking for motivated staff who share our Trust values of Open, Compassionate and Empowering. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including: Season Ticket Loans, NHS discounts for staff, Excellent Training facilities and opportunities, Buying and Selling annual leave scheme, The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas, Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work.

Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.

Key Responsibilities

Domestic Service including Rapid Response (CAT)

• To ensure that the ward(s) / areas you are assigned to are cleaned in accordance with the Work Schedule for those ward(s) / areas.
• This will include vacuuming floors; sweeping, scrubbing and mopping floors; high and low dusting; wiping over and polishing (where applicable) both vertical and horizontal surfaces, mirrors, chairs*, bed frames*, bins, sani-bins; cleaning toilets, sinks, baths and showers; cleaning cookers, regeneration ovens, fridges, holding fridges, microwaves and other items in the kitchens; defrosting fridges on a regular basis; restocking consumables such as toilet tissue, handtowels, soap; descaling taps; and bins and replacing bin liners. (*Providing they have not been soiled with body fluids)
• To work with your supervisor and other interested parties when the work schedule for the area you are assigned to is reviewed to ensure it is manageable and appropriate.
• To inform your supervisor if there are any problems with floor coverings, surfaces etc which will have a detrimental effect on your ability to clean those areas properly.
• To ensure you use the correct colour coded mops, cloths, buckets etc assigned to those areas and that these items are properly cleaned and stored or disposed of at the ends of your shift to prevent cross infection.
• To ensure that all cleaning materials and disposables are used economically and report if product quality deteriorates or if substitutes are delivered; ensure that only Trust-provided chemicals are used and used as trained.
• To use machinery/equipment (eg vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, regeneration ovens) safely, report faults, keep equipment clean, change vacuum bags regularly, use equipment only for its task and follow safety signs and circuit breakers where appropriate.
• To store equipment and cleaning materials securely in the area and report any security concerns or unlocked storerooms.
• To ensure proper disposal of general or domestic waste, recyclables and clinical waste, and report any mis-segregation or incorrect disposal.

Food Services

• To assist with the regeneration process of cook chill meals by recording temperatures prior to placing into the regeneration oven and commencing the cook cycle; prepare soup, gravy and custard for patient meals. You will be responsible for the whole regeneration process, including recording temperatures at the end of the cycle and plating meals for patients by clinical staff at Thurrock, Rochford and all sites in the North of the Trust.
• To ensure oven gloves and cloths are used and laundered regularly. If applicable, assist with serving and clearing patient meals on the ward / area you are working in. To be responsible for cleaning crockery and cutlery used for patient meals.

Laundry Service (This section is relevant to Mountnessing Court and Fountains Court, Landermere Centre, Henneage Ward and Kingswood Centre)

• To launder all patient clothing, duvet covers, duvets and curtains to the required standard; re-process or iron items not meeting standard; label patient belongings.
• To keep dirty/soiled items separate from clean items to minimise cross infection; ensure items are returned to the agreed area after laundering; keep the laundry clean and tidy with a completed cleaning checklist.
• To keep machinery (washing machines and tumble driers) in the laundry clean and report faults promptly; ensure equipment is maintained.

Portering

• To carry out routine tasks including delivery of pharmacy boxes and medical records, clean linen, food and general stores; collect/deliver meal trolleys and dirty linen; obtain signatures where appropriate; support public areas and assist with weekend/Bank Holiday tasks.
• To sort, deliver and collect mail; frank post for collection; carry out ad-hoc tasks (e.g., transporting patients with nursing staff, medical gasses, specimens, furniture setup) as required.
• Ensure medical gas supplies are maintained on in-patient wards; decant and deliver liquid nitrogen to the relevant department; operate the electro-hydraulic waste compactor with training; attend community site buildings using Trust vehicle for ad-hoc work; assist with unloading/loading vehicles; keep site and car park clear of litter; assist with access for emergencies; attend fire calls and assist the fire brigade as required; participate in gritting and snow clearance; keep waste compound and storage areas tidy.

This advert closes on Tuesday 7 Oct 2025