Housekeeper

NHS; Pontefract; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a Housekeeper to provide a high standard of catering and housekeeping duties in a mental health inpatient environment. Responsibilities include ensuring cleanliness, serving meals, and adhering to safety standards. The ideal candidate should possess a Level 2 Certificate in Food Safety or be willing to obtain one and have good interpersonal skills. This role requires a flexible approach and a commitment to high standards.

Qualifications

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
• Satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years.
• Caring and friendly attitude.

Responsibilities

• Clean all areas following the National Standards of Cleanliness.
• Serve food and complete relevant paperwork.
• Prepare small amounts of food from the freezer.
• Work as a team and prioritise your workload.

Skills

Good interpersonal skills

Basic Health & Safety awareness

Ability to communicate courteously

Ability to prioritise and use own initiative

Flexible approach to working

Education

Level 2 Certificate in Food Safety

Basic literacy and numeric skills

Job description

Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Housekeeper

The closing date is 15 October 2025

Please note this vacancy will be based at Poplars initially then moved to Fieldhead.

Posts available 1 x 30 hours per week, 4 shifts per week on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays.

The post holder is a member of the Facilities Team based in Housekeeping and Domestic Services and will be responsible for carrying out catering and cleaning duties based at The Poplars, Hemsworth reporting to Housekeeping and Domestic Supervisors and the Housekeeping Manager. The role requires flexibility in approach to the duties.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements (salary threshold or occupational requirements) set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, unfortunately we are unable to sponsor anyone on a visa for this role at this moment in time.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Overreliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role will be to clean all areas following the National Standards of Cleanliness, this includes signing off sheets to confirm the work has been completed.

Serve food, complete relevant paperwork which include food temperature checks.

Prepare small amounts of food from the freezer.

Work as a team and be able to prioritise your workload.

Potential for overtime if needed to cover sickness and holidays.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we are run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

Provide a high standard of catering and general housekeeping duties within a mental health inpatient environment. Duties will be carried out in line with national standards of cleanliness, infection prevention & control and food safety.

Provide a full meal and snack service to the service users on the wards

• Receive and store all food in accordance with set standards and Trust policy.
• Prepare and pack menu items for service users to the required standard, in line with the Trusts Food Safety, HACCP and Health & Safety policies & procedures.
• Regenerate/prepare and serve meals and sundry items of food adhering to food distribution timescales and in line with the Trusts Food Safety, HACCP and Health & Safety policies & procedures.
• Wash all items, including all tableware used, following each meal service
• Ensure the unit catering department is maintained to high standards of cleanliness at all times in line with the Trusts Food Safety, HACCP and Health & Safety policies & procedures.
• Communicate with multidisciplinary teams (nursing staff, catering and dietitians) to ensure service users receive special diets in accordance with nutritional requirements, allergy status and care plans.
• Collate and input data required for the ordering of special diets onto the catering department food sheets.
• Liaise and communicate any menu changes and answer any queries relating to menu changes with service users and nursing staff.
• Maintain accurate records in relation to food storage and regeneration of food in accordance with Trust policy.
• Prepare for meal times ensuring menus are displayed in accordance with set standards.

Person Specification

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
• A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Good interpersonal skills. Able to communicate with service users, work colleagues and visitors in a courteous and sensitive manner
• Ability to work without immediate supervision, being able to prioritise, and use own initiative
• Basic Health & Safety awareness

Personal Attributes

• Smart appearance
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Flexible approach to working patterns, change and unpredictable environments
• Caring, friendly attitude.
• Ability to deliver high standards of work at all times

Qualifications

• Level 2 Certificate in Food Safety or willing to undertake and successfully complete within 12 months * (can be obtained through SWYPFT)
• Basic literacy and numeric skills

Training

• Commitment to undertaking relevant training commensurate to the job role

Experience

• Previous experience of working in a demanding work environment
• Previous experience of working in an industrial cleaning and/or catering environment
• Experience within a customer care/or a patient focused environment

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.