Housekeeper

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Housekeeper for the Neonatal Unit. You will work across all areas, ensuring clean environments, managing stores and linen, and contributing to quality assurance audits under the nurse in charge.

The role requires effective communication, teamwork, and a flexible approach, with attention to infection prevention and safety as part of daily duties. Training will be provided to cover all duties.

Qualifications

• Literate, articulate and numerate.
• Effective use of spoken English.
• Knowledge of COSHH and infection control policies or ability to undertake training.
• Experience dealing with the public and customer service.
• Ability to escalate and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to manage own time and complete tasks.
• Demonstrates initiative and prioritisation.
• Confidentiality awareness and professional conduct.

Responsibilities

• Provide 7 day a week housekeeper cover for the neonatal unit.
• Supervise the Nursery Support Worker team and ensure compliance with procedures.
• Collaborate with ward staff, contractors and support services.
• Promote good housekeeping practices among staff and visitors.
• Assist with planning ward-based facilities programmes and audits.
• Maintain health and safety standards and report unsafe situations.

Skills

Literate

Numerate

Spoken English

Time management

Tools

Oracle nonstock

Microsoft Office

Job description

Work independently, but also in collaboration with your fellow Senior Housekeeper to achieve the roles outlined within this job description.

• Provide 7 day a week housekeeper cover, for the neonatal unit. This will be co-ordinated by use of the roster request system and through discussion and agreement between the senior housekeeping team.
• Be willing to learn and attend training in the Housekeeper role, until competent in all aspects of the role. Ensuring optimum continuity of housekeeping oversight and duties across the week, and during times of annual leave or other absence.
• In negotiation with the Nursery Support Worker Team manager, each housekeeper will have areas of the work role for which they lead in practice, enabling best use of individual interests, skills and knowledge.
• Work as an integral part of the Nursery Support Worker team, providing a high-quality service that ensures the requirements of the ward are met.
• To supervise the Nursery Support Worker team, ensuring compliance with all relevant procedures, infection control policies and legislation.
• The post holder will be required to work effectively as part of the ward/department team, as well as working closely with contractors, support services and other departments. They will monitor quality standards, report deficiencies and take appropriate action taken to the nurse in charge.
• To establish and maintain business relationships with outside agencies as well as with colleagues, in order to supply information to individuals, as well as gather information.
• To actively promote the importance of good house-keeping practices amongst all neonatal unit staff and visitors.
• Meet on an agreed basis with the Nursery Support Worker team manager to review and discuss housekeeping standards, recent audits, current processes and nursery support worker team performance. To manage problems, plan current work and to develop and advance the housekeeping service.
• To support and orientate new Nursery Support Worker and Housekeeping staff members, contributing to their ongoing development and acting as a role model for best practice.
• To participate in the orientation programmes of new nursing staff to familiarise them with the remit of the Housekeepers role and appraise them of Facilities services.
• Actively contribute to meetings which involve aspects of the Housekeepers' role.
• Assist with the planning of ward-based facilities programmes such as, outbreak cleaning and the annual deep cleaning programme.
• Co-operate with the Trust in maintaining suitable standards of health and safety, including adhering to all Trust policies and procedures. Report all unsafe situation, incidents and accidents as appropriate.

We are looking for an experienced, reliable, and hardworking Housekeeper to join our Neonatal Unit team. As an integral member of the Nursing team, you will work across all areas of the Neonatal Unit, helping to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and infection prevention. In accordance with agreed policies, this will include ensuring the delivery of environmental cleaning, management and ordering of stores, managing linen, cleaning of medical equipment and quality assurance auditing. Working under the direction of the nurse in charge, you will supervise the nursery support workers, as well as working closely with facilities, stores, linen services, estates, porters, company representatives, milk bank and milk preparation team. This will require good communication and organisational skills, a flexible approach, and the ability to plan and manage your own workload. You must get on well with people and work effectively as a team member. Always behaving in a professional manner and communicating effectively and sensitively with parents, families and visitors. This is a physically active job, requiring frequent standing, a range of physical activities and prolonged moderate physical exercise, including bending down and lifting and handling of clinical supplies and equipment.

Requirements

• Literate, articulate and numerate.
• Effective use of spoken English.
• Knowledge of COSHH and Infection Control Policies or ability to undertake training in this area.
• Experience of dealing with the public and customer service.
• Ability to escalation and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Able to manage own time effectively, completing jobs.
• Demonstrates initiative and ability to prioritise.
• Effective attention to detail.
• Aware of the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
• Awareness of potentially sensitive and distressing situations that may be encountered.
• Adherence to uniform policy.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and contribute to that team.
• Compassion and kindness.
• Is perceptive and sensitive to others needs.
• Demonstrate motivation and enthusiasm for the job.
• Good health record.
• Promptness in attendance to work.
• Aligned to the Trust values.
• Always conducts themselves in a professional manner.
• Positive attitude to all tasks and stakeholders.
• Able to respond well to instruction, to work unsupervised and maintain good time management.
• Team awareness and collegiate approach to working.
• Flexible and adaptable in their work, according to situations.
• Ability to manage stress with self and the team.
• Aware of the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
• Punctual.
• Computer literate.
• Keyboard skills.

Desirable criteria

• Previous NHS experience working in a similar role.
• Previous experience managing communication and escalation issues.
• Understanding of all the roles within the clinical environment.
• Ability to successfully complete any required training programme and a willingness to continue learning.
• Able to manage conflict.
• Able to motivate others.
• Experience of working with the Microsoft Office package.
• Experience of working with Oracle nonstock and direct ordering system.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles. Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.