Handyperson

Suffolk County Council; Shotley; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave entitlement

LGPS pension

Travel benefits

Pay progression

Training opportunities

Career development

Diversity networks

Flexible working

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a hands-on Handyperson to support a newly opened one-bed children's home in Shotley. The role is part-time (14 hours per week), on-site, and permanent, offering a chance to help create a safe, homely environment for a young person aged 11–17.

You will manage weekly maintenance, decorating, basic carpentry, safety checks, and practical repairs, working as part of a small team to ensure calm, secure and welcoming surroundings while complying with COSHH and health

Responsibilities

• weekly maintenance, decorating, carpentry, statutory Health and Safety checks with the Home
• self-driven, flexible, and emotionally resilient
• offer practical solutions to the needs of the home
• familiar and comply with COSHH regulations
• decorating, carpentry, basic cleaning, PAT inspections within a social care setting
• carrying out fire alarm and statutory checks including emergency lighting and water temperature within a social care setting
• communicate and interact well with young people
• flexible and responsive, including supporting emergency placements at short notice and quickly creating a safe, nurturing environment for children in times of crisis or uncertainty

Job description

- Address: Shotley Children's Home, Suffolk - On-site

- Hours: 14 hours per week, flexible working options available

- Contract: Permanent

We are passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Handyperson, helping to create and maintain a safe, welcoming and homely environment in our newly opened one-bed children’s home in Shotley. It’s an opportunity to make a real and meaningful difference every day. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

Suffolk County Council are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic individual for the role of Handyperson to assist in providing a safe, warm and comfortable environment for our children.

You will join a small, dedicated team providing high-quality care and support to our one-bed children's home in Shotley. The home offers a nurturing, safe, and stable environment for one child or young person aged 11-17, with staffing arrangements typically comprising two staff members on duty to ensure consistent support and positive relationship building.

You will be:

- responsible for the weekly maintenance, decorating, carpentry, statutory Health and Safety checks with the Home

- 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

- flexible and responsive, including supporting emergency placements at short notice and quickly creating a safe, nurturing environment for children in times of crisis or uncertainty

- able to empathise and understand the needs of ‘Children in Care’.

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to have a driving licence and access to personal transport. If you feel you can meet these travel requirements through other suitable means, please contact the Hiring Manager before applying to discuss.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile. If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

This is your chance to join a brand-new team and help shape a children’s home from the very beginning.

Our newly renovated home in Shotley is ready for it's next chapter, and we’re looking for fantastic people to be part of it. From a team of Youth Support Practitioners and Senior Youth Support Practitioners through to the Deputy Manager, Home Manager and Handyperson every member of the team will play an important part in creating a home where children and young people can feel safe, supported and valued.

Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker (pdf), shaped by the voices of young people.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Beth Fletcher, Residential Service Manager, by calling 07732603793.

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

Interview and Warner Interview date

18 or 20 November 2026

Please note: If you are successful in securing a position, you will be required to provide a full 10-year employment and activity history as part of our pre-employment checks. This includes details of all employment, periods of education, and any gaps, along with referee contact details for each role where applicable. To help avoid delays in the recruitment and onboarding process, we recommend gathering this information in advance.

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 (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Onsite

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).

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Handyperson

Company: Suffolk County Council Salary: from £9,844 a year, pro rata Hours: Part-time Location: Shotley, IP9 1ND Job type: Permanent Posting date: 30 Oct 2026 Closing date: 12 Nov 2026 Apply for this job

Summary

- Suffolk County Council

- Address: Shotley Children's Home, Suffolk - On-site

- Salary: £26,016 per annum pro rata

- Hours: 14 hours per week, flexible working options available

- Contract: Permanent

We are passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Handyperson, helping to create and maintain a safe, welcoming and homely environment in our newly opened one-bed children