Maintenance Operative

YMCA DownsLink Group; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA DownsLink Group in Brighton & Hove is seeking a Maintenance Operative to carry out practical maintenance, caretaking, and decorating duties across two sites in Hove that provide 24-hour supported housing for young people aged 16–25. The role also involves preparing empty homes for new residents and ensuring safe, welcoming accommodation across multiple properties.

The successful candidate will undertake void works, assess day-to-day compliance, and work closely with housing staff to support

Qualifications

• Hands-on maintenance and repairs experience.
• Ability to work across multiple sites and with housing staff.
• Willingness to perform cleaning and decorating tasks as needed.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Carry out practical maintenance tasks across properties.
• Perform caretaking duties and provide a welcoming environment.
• Carry out void works and assess site compliance.
• Work closely with housing staff to support residents.

Skills

General maintenance

Caretaking

Health & safety

Repairs

Job description

Our Maintenance team works across multiple properties to ensure our residents have safe, good‑quality homes. We work closely with service staff to identify and complete repairs, carry out ad hoc cleaning and decoration, ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, and prepare empty homes for new residents.

This role will operate across Brighton & Hove, centred around 2 sites in Hove which provide 24‑hour supported housing for young people aged 16–25. Locally we also manage several larger shared houses (typically 4–8 residents) through our Transitional Housing teams, supporting young people on their journey to independence. In total, the team helps maintain safe homes for approximately 100 residents across the city.

As a Maintenance Operative covering sites across Brighton & Hove, you will take on a hands‑on role combining practical maintenance tasks with caretaking responsibilities. You will help create and maintain safe, welcoming, and psychologically informed accommodation for the people we support. This is a practical role; undertaking void works, working on and assessing the day‑to‑day compliance of our sites. You will be working closely with housing staff throughout the services.