Housekeeper

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Southampton is seeking dedicated Housekeepers to support clinical staff and ensure a clean, safe environment for patients. Candidates should possess a GCSE education or equivalent and have a commitment to maintaining high cleanliness standards. Flexibility for various shifts, including weekends and evenings, is essential. This role offers an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to contribute positively to patient care.

Qualifications

• Flexibility in working hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Previous experience in housekeeping is a plus.
• Knowledge of manual handling and COSHH desired.

Responsibilities

• Support mealtime services for patients.
• Maintain cleaning standards in wards and kitchens.
• Restock and tidy patient rooms.

Skills

Customer Service experience

Ability to work autonomously

Education

Educated to GCSE level or equivalent

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to work towards)

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

Exciting opportunities have arisen for highly motivated and enthusiastic Housekeepers to join the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Care Group at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. If you are caring, compassionate and wishing to be part of a first-class team delivering a high-quality service, we have the role for you.

We Currently Have Vacancies On

• E3 Blue is an adult cardiac ward predominantly caring for patient’s pre and post cardiac surgery or interventions, but we also care for Vascular and Thoracic patients, CCU is a 22 bedded unit caring for patients experiencing acute cardiac emergencies and is a primary PCI centre admitting patients from all over Wessex and the Chanel Islands.
• D3 is a 22 bedded unit and will support the expansion of Cardiac Surgery and Tavi services.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Your Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Support mealtime services, working closely with the ward hosts to ensure patients receive the correct meals in a timely manner.
• To assist in monitoring and maintaining cleaning standards on the ward and kitchen areas in line with all relevant Trust guidelines and policies
• Cleaning general and specialist medical equipment
• Restocking and tidying rooms and cupboards.
• Ensuring that the property cupboard is kept clean and tidy – storing and returning patients belongings and keeping accurate documentation
• Liaising with the stores department to ensure sufficient stock levels are available at all times and assisting with putting away the delivery.
• Ensure the thorough cleanliness and tidiness of the ward beverage point and kitchen area, including equipment, is maintained at all times.
• Check and clean all ward refrigerators, including those in staff areas (but not drugs fridges), disposing of any food not in date, not covered / labelled properly.
• Ensure records of checks and daily temperatures are recorded accurately. Inform Nurse in charge of any deviations or issues. Agree action plans and ensure action taken where necessary.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for team players who have a flexible approach to their working day and focus on supporting the clinical staff to assist in a smooth and efficient service for our patients. We are looking for flexible Housekeepers who can cover a wide range of shifts, including afternoons, evenings, and weekends. While exact hours can be discussed, the ability to reliably support key services such as the evening meal (finishing by 6pm) and regular weekend working is essential.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate or willingness to work towards
• Customer Service experience
• Demonstrate ability to work autonomously

Desirable criteria

• Previous Housekeeping experience
• Knowledge of, or training in, manual handling techniques
• Understanding of, or training in, COSHH

Trust Values

• Patient First
• Working Together
• Always Improving