Housekeeper - ICU

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

NHS benefits

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated housekeeping professional to support the ITU, ensuring the unit remains tidy and compliant with infection control guidelines. The role includes maintaining visitor spaces, preparing beverages for relatives, and rotating duties across patient areas with diligence and initiative.

You will work within a healthcare setting, following established SOPs, PPE requirements, and hospital policies.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer care environment, ideally in healthcare.
• Applicants should be familiar with infection control and health hygiene standards.
• Good written and spoken English communication.

Responsibilities

• Maintain cleanliness and tidiness of ITU areas including kitchen and store rooms.
• Prepare tea/coffee for visitors and grieving relatives.
• Follow infection control guidelines for cleaning patient spaces.
• Record fridge temps and cleaning duties as scheduled by the Matron.

Skills

Customer care

Critical Care experience

Communication skills

English

Education

English and Maths education

Job description

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.

We care for over half a million patients every year:

• Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
• Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
• Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
• Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.

More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.

We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.

If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [e-mail] or phone [phone].

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.

Job overview

To undertake housekeeping duties that will ensure the smooth running of the ITU. Assist in general tidiness and cleanliness of the unit including the kitchen, coffee room, visitor’s room, sluice and store rooms The post holder will be someone who is used to working within defined guidelines, but at the same time will act independently and use their own initiative.

Main duties of the job

• Ensure the visitor’s room has a daily fresh supply of milk/coffee/tea and that it is tidy and any bed linen is put away. Ensure visitor’s crockery is clean.
• Prepare tray of tea/coffee for grieving relatives
• Prioritise cleaning the patient bed spaces daily following the appropriate infection control guidelines.
• Follow a monthly rota for cleaning shelves and cupboards throughout the unit as agreed with the Matron and Infection Control Lead
• Ensure bed curtains are changed on a rota basis and that a record of this is maintained.
• Defrost fridges on a rota basis and record inside temperatures daily in the log
• Assist the nursing staff in the cleaning of bed spaces following patient discharge
• Be aware of the unit cleaning specifications and report any deficiencies or problems to the Matron or her deputy.
• Dispose of soiled linen as per Infection Control policy.
• Use sterilizer to clean patient wash bowls and place in storage when dry.
• Understand infection control and moving and handling policies and take due care to implement these in carrying out duties.
• Report accidents and incidents to the nurse in charge.
• Report problems with domestic maintenance and liaise with the Ward Clerk to make request fro repairs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [e-mail] quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person specification

• Education in English and Maths
• Previous employment in a customer care environment
• Previous experience in Critical Care environment
• Up to date with current health and hygiene regulations
• Good communication skills in verbal and written English

PPE requirements:

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.

Flu vaccinations

remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.

Application deadline:

This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.

Contacting you:

We will contact candidates through the email address supplied on their application form. Please make sure you check this regularly.

Application information:

If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.

Shortlisting:

The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.

Travel expenses:

It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.

Smoking:

All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile workingopportunities,alongside your NHS benefits ofgenerous annual leave entitlement, pension andaccess toNHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity withinourBHT familyimprovespositive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

• vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.