Maintenance Assistant

St Peter & St James Hospice; Lewes; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

St Peter & St James Hospice is seeking a practical Maintenance Assistant to support day-to-day upkeep of our hospice buildings, grounds and facilities. Working with the Facilities Manager, you will help ensure a safe, welcoming and well‑maintained environment for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers.

The role is hands-on, requires organisation, and offers a varied estate to maintain. Responsibilities include routine inspections, minor repairs, assisting with planned maintenance, equipment

Qualifications

• Experience in building/facilities maintenance is preferred.
• Knowledge of health and safety practices and safe systems of work.

Responsibilities

• Maintain hospice buildings, grounds and facilities on a day-to-day basis.
• Carry out routine inspections and report minor defects.
• Assist with planned preventative maintenance activities and keep records.
• Support health and safety responsibilities to ensure safe facilities.
• Set up meeting rooms and event spaces as required.
• Assist with office moves and equipment relocation as needed.
• Monitor stock levels of maintenance materials and supplies.
• Liaise with contractors and ensure compliance with site procedures.

Skills

General maintenance

Health & safety

PPM systems

Driving licence

Job description

Are you a practical, proactive maintenance professional who takes pride in creating safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environments? As our Maintenance Assistant, you'll play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day upkeep of our hospice buildings, grounds and facilities. Working closely with the Facilities Manager, you'll help ensure our patients, visitors, staff and volunteers enjoy a safe, comfortable and well-maintained environment. If you're hands-on, organised and enjoy solving problems, we'd love to hear from you.

• Support the day-to-day maintenance, repair and upkeep of hospice buildings, grounds and facilities.
• Carry out routine inspections and checks, identifying, reporting and where appropriate resolving minor building, fabric and equipment defects.
• Assist with planned preventative maintenance (PPM) activities and help maintain accurate maintenance and compliance records.
• Support the organisation's health and safety responsibilities by helping ensure facilities and equipment remain safe and operational.
• Set up meeting rooms, training spaces and event areas as required.
• Assist with office moves, furniture installation and equipment relocation across the hospice estate.
• Monitor stock levels of maintenance materials, equipment and supplies.
• Support waste management and recycling processes, ensuring correct disposal procedures are followed.
• Liaise with contractors carrying out maintenance, servicing and inspection work, ensuring compliance with site procedures and health and safety requirements.
• Participate in emergency procedures and business continuity arrangements when required.
• Occasionally travel to our retail shops and warehouse to support maintenance activities.
• Good knowledge of general building maintenance and repair techniques.
• Awareness of health and safety practices and safe systems of work.
• Basic understanding of compliance requirements, including fire safety, water hygiene and workplace health and safety.
• Ability to undertake manual handling tasks safely and effectively.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills with a proactive approach.
• Good communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Experience within a maintenance, facilities, healthcare, hospice or similar environment, knowledge of planned preventative maintenance systems, and relevant maintenance or facilities qualifications are advantageous but not essential.
• A rewarding role where your work directly contributes to providing outstanding hospice care.
• The opportunity to make a visible difference to the environment experienced by patients, families, staff and volunteers every day.
• A varied and hands-on role with responsibility across a diverse estate.
• A supportive and collaborative team culture.
• A values-driven organisation dedicated to compassion, respect and excellence.

If you're a practical, reliable and customer-focused individual who enjoys maintaining safe and welcoming environments, we'd love to hear from you. Please find the full job description and person specification at the bottom of the page. If you have any questions about the role or require any additional support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact the Facilities Manager Stuart Bodman by emailing .