housekeeper

The Royal Marsden; Sutton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A notable healthcare facility in Sutton is seeking a dedicated housekeeper for the McElwain Ward, which treats children with cancer. This active position involves ensuring high hygiene standards, coordinating patient facilities, and assisting patients with their needs. Candidates should have basic literacy, experience in teamwork, and effective communication skills. A recognition of food hygiene is desirable. The role supports a diverse workforce and requires annual flu vaccination due to the vulnerable patient population.

Qualifications

• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience of working under minimal supervision.
• Experience of working in a hospital environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all patient facilities/services in the ward area.
• Ensure a clean, safe, and comfortable environment.
• Deliver cleaning and minor maintenance to meet patient needs.

Skills

Self-motivated

Effective communication skills

Ability to remain calm under pressure

Organisational skills

Initiative

Education

Basic literacy and numeracy skills (English and Maths GCSEs or equivalent)

Recognised Food Hygiene certificate

Job description

Job overview

Here on McElwain Ward at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, we are looking for a housekeeper to join our busy Unit treating children who have been diagnosed with Cancer. You would need to be enthusiastic, organized, and methodical in your approach to work. You would be responsible for ordering ward stores and equipment and maintaining stock levels of the same as well as ensuring high standards of hygiene throughout the ward in conjunction with our cleaning team. You would be able to work well within a team and perform well in stressful situations. This is an active role and the suitable candidate would be required to convey samples to the laboratory where they may also be responsible for collecting blood products for delivery to the ward. There are occasions when haste is essential and prioritizing workload is of the utmost importance

Main duties of the job

To work as an integral part of the ward team with responsibility for the co-ordination of all patient facilities / services in the ward area and for ensuring a clean, safe and comfortable environment.

To ensure the delivery of cleaning, catering and minor maintenance, together with otherspecified tasks to meet individual patient needs, as determined by the ward sister / charge nurse.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To assist and guide patients and their visitors on the ward, liaising with other staff as appropriate.
• To assist patients with written information, e.g. reading letters, menus etc.
• To ensure patients have adequate supplies to meet their basic needs, e.g. toiletries as required.
• To maintain appropriate stock levels to meet patient and staff needs.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Basic literacy and numeracy skills (English and Maths GCSEs or equivalent)

Desirable criteria

• Recognised Food Hygiene certificate

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience of working under minimal supervision

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a hospital environment

Skills / Abilities / Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Self-motivated (to work under minimal supervision)
• Ability to demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to remain calm and demonstrate tact and diplomacy whilst under pressure
• Awareness of the importance of patient confidentiality
• Evidence of organisational skills
• Ability to use own initiative

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.