Housekeeper (part-time)

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking Healthcare Assistants to join ward teams, providing catering, cleaning and facilities services to ensure a clean, safe environment for patients.

You will support the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse, participate in infection prevention and control training, and help maintain patient comfort and cleanliness across the ward, including meals and hygiene tasks. This represents a essential NHS role focused on high standards of care.

Qualifications

• Basic literacy and numeracy to understand instructions and records.
• Willingness to complete mandatory infection prevention and safety training.
• Qualification in cleaning, facilities, hospitality, food hygiene or customer service.

Responsibilities

• Establish a pleasant atmosphere for patients, visitors and staff.
• Maintain ward cleaning standards, including bed areas and isolation zones.
• Replenish alcohol gel and paper towels to prevent cross infection.
• Ensure meals are provided and menus completed appropriately.
• Assist with hygiene around meals and support patient comfort.

Skills

Patient care

Communication

Teamwork

Flexibility

Infection prevention

Education

Basic literacy and numeracy

Mandatory training willingness

Cleaning/facilities qualification

Job description

Latest jobs at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

We are currently recruiting to a number of Healthcare Assistant (HCA) vacancies through our ongoing rolling recruitment programme. As each advert closes to allow applications to be reviewed and processed, the next advert is prepared for publication.

If you visit our vacancies page and cannot see a current HCA advert, it may be because one advert has recently closed and the next is in the process of being uploaded. Please be assured that a new advert will be available shortly, and we encourage you to check back the following day for the latest opportunities.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Job overview

There is no sponsorship for this vacancy

The post holder will work as an integral part of the ward team ensuring a high quality service to patients. He/She will be responsible for the co-ordination of all patient facilities in the ward area and ensuring a clean, safe and comfortable environment.

The main elements of the role are insuring the effective provisions of catering, cleaning and maintenance services on the ward.

You will also be required to undertake other non-clinical duties to meet individual patient needs as determined by the ward sister/charge nurse and to liaise with support service departments.

To assist the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse to ensure the appropriate and effective delivery of facilities services in order to properly maintain the patient environment.

The post holder must comply with all relevant policies, procedures and training on infection prevention and control.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of this role are

• To establish a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere and environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• To assist in monitoring and maintaining cleaning standards on the ward, including bed area and isolation areas, are safe and tidy at all times
• To ensure that all alcohol gel dispensers, paper towels, are replenished, thus contributing to the prevention of cross infection from one person to another.
• To take responsibility for the hygiene standards of the kitchen area. To monitor fridge temperature, and take action where necessary. Ensure food in fridge is labelled, dated and any out of date food disposed of.

That all patients are provided with appropriate meals and beverages at regular intervals throughout the day.

• To ensure that the completion of menus are done in an appropriate manner, and cancel meals if no longer required.
• To ensure that cleanliness of patient tables are maintained pre and post meals.

• To offer assistance to patients before and after meals to cleanse their hands.
• To ensure patients have an appropriate supply of cold drinking water and a clean glass.
• To ensure that patients have the appropriate help they require with eating and drinking.
• Report to a trained member of staff if a patient doesn’t eat their meal.
• Adhere to the protected meal time policy when this is in place on the ward.

Working for our organisation

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS FT is situated in the busy, vibrant, town of Blackpool where regeneration of the town is actively moving forward. As a busy holiday destination we have plenty to see and do including Blackpool Tower and Ballroom, bars, cafes and restaurants and theatres with major West End productions.

Close to the Lake District, a walker’s paradise, Manchester and Liverpool, providing airports close at hand, Blackpool is home to both young & senior professionals, families and couples. With plenty to offer both in and out of the workplace, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals can provide the professional standards of quality and commitment to you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work as an integral part of the ward team ensuring a high quality service to patients. He/She will be responsible for the co-ordination of all patient facilities in the ward area and ensuring a clean, safe and comfortable environment.

The main elements of the role are insuring the effective provisions of catering, cleaning and maintenance services on the ward.

You will also be required to undertake other non-clinical duties to meet individual patient needs as determined by the ward sister/charge nurse and to liaise with support service departments.

To assist the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse to ensure the appropriate and effective delivery of facilities services in order to properly maintain the patient environment.

The post holder must comply with all relevant policies, procedures and training on infection prevention and control.

Qualifications & Training

• Basic literacy and numeracy skills sufficient to understand written instructions, complete records and use measurements accurately.
• Willingness and ability to complete all mandatory and role‑specific training, including infection prevention and control, health and safety, fire safety, manual handling, food safety and waste management.
• Relevant qualification in cleaning, facilities services, hospitality, food hygiene or customer service.

Experience & Knowledge

• Experience of providing a courteous service to patients, service users, visitors or members of the public.
• Understands the importance of cleanliness, hygiene and infection prevention within a healthcare environment.
• Understands the need to follow cleaning schedules, standard operating procedures, colour coding systems, safe systems of work and manufacturers’ instructions.
• Understands confidentiality, privacy, dignity and professional boundaries when working near patients and confidential information.
• Previous experience of cleaning, housekeeping, catering or facilities duties in a workplace, voluntary setting or similar environment.
• Experience of working in the NHS, health care, social care or another large, regulated organisation.
• Knowledge of safe use and storage of cleaning chemicals, equipment and personal protective equipment.

Skills & Ability

• Communicates clearly, respectfully and sensitively with patients, visitors and colleagues, including when barriers to communication are present.
• Works effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and independently within agreed procedures, seeking advice when required.
• Organises and prioritises routine tasks, responds appropriately to changing service needs and completes work to the required standard and timeframe.
• Pays close attention to detail and can identify, report and elevate cleanliness, safety, equipment or environmental concerns promptly.
• Demonstrates reliability, punctuality, honesty and a positive approach to delivering a high-quality service.
• Treats every person with dignity, compassion and respect and supports an inclusive, non discriminatory working environment.
• Able to follow verbal and written instructions accurately and complete routine documentation, checklists or electronic records as required.
• Able to undertake the physical duties of the role, with reasonable adjustments where required, including standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing equipment and handling supplies.
• Flexible and willing to work the shift pattern required by the service, which may include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
• Committed to learning, receiving feedback and maintaining competence in all aspects of the role.

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.

If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre‑employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1‑3 months from your salary or as a one‑off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50.

You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.

Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.

DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.

The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here .

Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non‑smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.

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.