Housekeeping Assistant

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Christchurch; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking Housekeeping Assistants to join #TeamUHD. You will join a team responsible for maintaining high standards of cleanliness across clinical and non-clinical areas, supporting patient flow and ward operations.

We require prior cleaning experience, the ability to work flexibly, and good English communication. Salary is pro rata based on 15 hours per week, with interview dates in August 2026.

Qualifications

• Literacy and numeracy to a minimum level 1 – reading and writing.
• Previous experience of cleaning as a paid profession.
• Previous experience of cleaning in a clinical environment.
• Knowledge of Industrial cleaning equipment.
• Physically fit to carry out a range of high and low tasks.
• Ability to work under pressure, and to be flexible to the needs of the service.
• Able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role.

Responsibilities

• To work as part of a team or alone, providing a high standard of domestic service to patients, staff and visitors within Clinical/Non-Clinical Wards/Departments and Theatres.
• Delivering prioritised cleans, ensuring patient flow throughout the hospitals.

Education

Literacy and numeracy to a minimum level 1 – reading and writing

Job description

Main area Support services Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 15 hours per week (Monday-Friday 17:00-20:00 hours per week) Job ref 153-CO06668

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Christchurch Hospital Town Christchurch Salary £25,272 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 06/09/2026 23:59 Interview date 15/09/2026

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

Do you have a can-do attitude and take pride in your work?

University Hospitals Dorset are looking for Housekeeping Assistants to join #TeamUHD.

We are looking for a highly motivated and organised persons, who will become part of a team of Housekeeping Assistants who facilitate the flow of patients throughout the hospital.

You’ll be organised and able to communicate effectively - ensuring wards and departments are cleaned and maintained to a high standard.

Duties include:

• To work as part of a team or alone, providing a high standard of domestic service to patients, staff and visitors within Clinical/Non-Clinical Wards/Departments and Theatres.
• Delivering prioritised cleans, ensuring patient flow throughout the hospitals.

Interview Date: Wednesday 19 August & Thursday 20 August 2026

Main duties of the job

To work as part of a team or alone, providing a high standard of domestic service to patients, staff and visitors within Clinical/Non-Clinical Wards/Departments and Theatres.

You will be following the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025 to deliver the high standards we would all expect when using a hospital. Fully supported by a team of supervisors to guide you through training and full understanding of your important role within our team.

Working for our organisation

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporary or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.

Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Literacy and numeracy to a minimum level 1 – reading and writing

Experience

• Previous experience of cleaning as a paid profession
• Previous experience of cleaning in a clinical environment

Technical skills

• Knowledge of Industrial cleaning equipment

Other requirements spec

• Physically fit to carry out a range of high and low tasks.
• Ability to work under pressure, and to be flexible to the needs of the service.

Language requirement

• Able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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.