Head Housekeeper

Cornerstone Healthcare Group; Waterlooville; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Overtime pay

Overtime raffle

Refer a friend bonus

Career pathway

Specialist training

Healthcare plan

Uniform laundry on site

Subsidised lunch

Rewards program

Pension scheme

Blue Light Card access

Job summary

Cornerstone Healthcare Group is seeking a Head/Lead Housekeeper for South Africa Lodge in Waterlooville. You will lead housekeeping and laundry operations, ensuring top cleanliness, infection prevention, and resident comfort. The role requires hands-on leadership, staff development, and a compassionate, resident-focused approach.

The position offers a Monday–Friday 9am–5pm pattern with 40 hours per week and a strong emphasis on safety, quality, and supportive team development.

Qualifications

• 12 months experience in a Lead/Head of Housekeeping role.
• Experience leading or supervising housekeeping, preferably in care home, healthcare, hospitality, or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of cleaning standards, infection prevention and health & safety requirements.
• Experience managing laundry operations and staff.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Hands-on approach to cleaning and laundry duties alongside the team.
• Ability to work efficiently, prioritise workload and maintain attention to detail.
• Compassionate, resident-focused approach and IT systems usage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all housekeeping and laundry services within the home.
• Maintain highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, infection prevention and presentation.
• Lead by example with a hands-on approach to daily cleaning and laundry duties.
• Support and develop housekeeping and laundry teams.
• Create a safe, welcoming, homely environment for residents, visitors and colleagues.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention, COSHH, health & safety and company policies.
• Support regulatory inspections and quality assurance processes.

Skills

Lead/Head of Housekeeping

Housekeeping leadership

Cleaning standards

Infection prevention

Laundry management

Team leadership

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Hands-on approach

Attention to detail

IT systems proficiency

Compassionate, resident-focused

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Housekeeping or related field

Job description

About The Role

PLEASE NOTE - We are NOT offering sponsorship and are unable to take overseas applications at this time.

Are you an experienced and compassionate Head/ LeadHousekeeper looking to make a real difference in people’s lives?

Cornerstone Healthcare is proud to be an award-winning provider of specialist care, and we’re looking for a dedicated Housekeeping Assistant to join our supportive team at South Africa Lodge.

South Africa Lodge is a 99-bed home providing exceptional care across six specialised units. We support residents living with complex needs, including neuro-degenerative conditions, dementia, and mental health challenges. Our focus is always on the person, not the diagnosis - creating a safe, comfortable, and dignified environment where residents can truly thrive. We are proud to be rated GOOD with CQC.

We welcome individuals who share our values of respect, openness, care, and kindness.

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• 12 months experience in a Lead/Head of Housekeeping role
• Previous housekeeping leadership or supervisory experience, preferably within a care home, healthcare, hospitality, or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of cleaning standards, infection prevention, and health and safety requirements.
• Experience managing laundry operations and staff.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Hands‑on approach with a willingness to actively undertake cleaning and laundry duties alongside the team.
• Ability to work efficiently, prioritise workload, and maintain attention to detail.
• Compassionate and resident-focused approach.
• Ability to confidently use and update IT systems

Desired:

• NVQ Level 3 in Housekeeping, cleaning operations, hospitality, Leadership or a related field.
• Experience within a nursing care setting.
• COSHH and Infection Prevention and Control training.
• Previous involvement in quality audits and regulatory inspections.

Your Working Pattern

• Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm, however must be flexible to cover shift patterns.
• 40hours per week

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading and coordinating all housekeeping and laundry services within the home.
• Ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, infection prevention, and presentation are always maintained.
• Leading by example through a visible, hands‑on approach, actively participating in daily cleaning and laundry duties.
• Supporting and developing the housekeeping and laundry teams.
• Promoting a safe, comfortable, welcoming, and homely environment for residents, visitors, and colleagues.
• Ensuring compliance with infection prevention and control procedures, COSHH requirements, health and safety regulations, and company policies.
• Support regulatory inspections and quality assurance processes.

Benefits package worth up to £5,000 (T&C's apply)

• Enhanced pay for overtime and bank holidays
• Monthly overtime raffle – win an extra £200 for picking up shifts
• Refer a friend scheme – earn up to £1,000
• Career Pathway – A personalised plan for your career
• Specialist training - beyond the mandatory training requirements
• Healthcare cash plan worth up to £700 – includes dental, optical and 24/7 mental health support
• Uniform laundered for you on site ready for your next shift
• Subsidised lunch on site
• Recognition and rewards – vouchers, cash bonuses, and long service treats
• Pension scheme
• Access to the Blue Light Card – over 13,000 discounts
• And much more!

Care Home / Healthcare / Elderly Care / Nursing Home / Dementia / Cleaner / Housekeeping / Domestic / Laundry / Cleaning

About Us

Cornerstone Healthcare Group are a multi award-winning, sector leader with an innovative approach to complex care

Cornerstone specialise in supporting adults of all ages with complex neurological, physical, and mental health needs.

Residents are typically living with neurological degenerative conditions, such as dementia with an underlying mental health condition, and as such are vulnerable and at times prone to challenging behaviours associated with complex conditions. Many have been unable to stay in other settings because their needs have been deemed too high or too challenging.

Operating well-established homes in Waterlooville and Curdridge in Hampshire and Mytchett in Surrey, as well as a new state-of-the-art ‘eco’ home in Bristol, the Group has built a reputation for delivering consistently high standards of care, focusing on the individual journey of each resident.

At Cornerstone, the expert clinical care skills and approach of the team mean that people with the most complex needs can find a place to call home.