Handyperson

Suffolk County Council; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Join Suffolk County Council as a Handyperson at their Lowestoft Children's Home. This role involves maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for children aged 8-17. Responsibilities include maintenance, decorating, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Enjoy benefits like competitive annual leave, a local government pension scheme, and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Minimum 23 days annual leave pro rata

Local Government Pension Scheme membership

Travel and lifestyle benefits

Health and wellbeing benefits

Flexible working options

Paid volunteering days

Performance-related pay progression

Training and career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in decorating, carpentry, and maintenance.
• Familiarity with COSHH regulations.
• Ability to conduct safety checks in a care setting.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for weekly maintenance and health and safety checks.
• Decorate and repair fixtures within the children's homes.
• Support staff without disrupting care activities.

Skills

Self-driven

Flexible

Emotionally resilient

Practical problem-solving

Communication

Understanding of children's needs

Job description

• Suffolk County Council - Lowestoft Children's Home, Lowestoft, Suffolk (On Site)
• £24,404 per annum (pro rata)
• 14 hours per week
• Permanent

We are committed to flexible working, so please read the Job and Person Profile to find out about the types of flexible working available for this role.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Suffolk County Council's Children's Home in Lowestoft.

The homes are solo bedded Children's Homes for children aged between 8-17. The overall aim of the homes is to provide a safe, stable, nurturing and homely environment for each child, where issues and concerns affecting their past, present and their future can be positively addressed and supported.

Suffolk County Council are seeking a passionate and motivated individual for the role of Handyperson to assist in providing a safe, warm and comfortable environment for our children. You will be responsible for the weekly maintenance, decorating, carpentry, statutory Health and Safety checks within both homes.

Ideally you will be:

• self-driven, flexible, and emotionally resilient
• able to offer practical solutions to the needs of the home
• familiar and comply with COSHH regulations
• experienced in the provision of decorating, carpentry, basic cleaning, PAT inspections within a social care setting
• experienced in carrying out fire alarm and statutory checks including emergency lighting and water temperature within a social care setting
• able to communicate and interact well with young people
• able to empathise and understand the needs of Children in Care'.

In addition to the salary Suffolk County Council offer a minimum of 23 days annual leave pro rata and membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme which will give you a future income independent of share prices and fluctuations, life cover for your Spouse, Civil Partner, or eligible co-habiting partner.

Working for Suffolk County Council you will also be entitled to the travel, lifestyle, health, and wellbeing benefits enjoyed by all employees.

Travelling requirements for your role

This organisation positively encourages the use of technology to communicate and engage, but in this role you will need to operate across a wide and rural area, so you must either hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.

For more information

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Jason McMaster,by calling 07715 201269.

Working for Suffolk County Council you will also be entitled to the travel, lifestyle, health, and well-being benefits enjoyed by all employees.

How to apply

Step 1 - read the advert and the Job and Person Profile (Word)

Step 2 - Click Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word) .

1. Working in a children's home can sometimes mean repairing the same types of damage-like broken fixtures or doors-more than once. How would you approach this kind of repeated work.
2. Tell me about a situation where you identified a health and safety risk in a workplace. How did you assess the risk, what action did you take, and how did you ensure compliance with COSHH regulations?
3. Tell me about a situation where you had to work closely with care staff or other professionals whilst carrying out maintenance work. How did you ensure your work didn't disrupt their activities and what did you do to support the team?
4. Describe a time when you had to quickly adapt your work schedule or approach due to unexpected circumstances. How did you handle the change and what was the impact on your other responsibilities?
   

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or [e-mail]

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 3 July 2025.

You will be required to attend a Warner Interview for this position as part of the recruitment process.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .