Maintenance Operative

Homeless Link; Hastings; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 17,000; Part time

Job summary

YMCA DownsLink Group in Hastings (East Sussex) is seeking a part-time Maintenance Operative to join our team. The role involves hands-on maintenance, caretaking and ensuring safe, welcoming homes across East Sussex, with travel to other sites as needed.

A full UK driving licence is essential and a vehicle is provided. The role covers repairs, decorating, general cleaning, and preparation of empty homes, aligned with health and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Strong maintenance experience across a range of trade or repair tasks.
• Experience working in supported housing, residential, or community-based settings.
• Commitment to safety, quality and resident wellbeing.
• Good understanding of health & safety requirements and compliance processes.
• Proactive, organised approach to workload and prioritisation.

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive maintenance, caretaking, and cleaning service to ensure safe, welcoming, and psychologically informed accommodation.
• Carry out day-to-day maintenance across East Sussex sites with occasional support to other housing schemes.
• Complete maintenance, cleaning, repair, and redecoration works within agreed timescales, delegating tasks where appropriate.
• Perform or delegate general caretaking and cleaning duties, including cleaning communal areas, litter-picking, and waste removal.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Driving licence

Proactive

Organisation

Education

City & Guilds or equivalent in maintenance

Tools

Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

20 hours per week / £28,330 per annum pro rata / permanent / working pattern can be discussed at interview

As a Maintenance Operative, your primary work based will Hastings with regular travel and work required across East Sussex to any of our YMCA DLG sites, with demand varying throughout the year. A full UK driving licence is therefore essential, and a vehicle will be provided.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.

We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what's right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide us in all our actions.

Do you take pride in creating safe, welcoming homes that make a real difference in young people’s lives?

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 & safety regulations, and prepare empty homes for new residents.

We have sites across East Sussex, centered around our Foyers in Eastbourne and Hastings. These services provide 24-hour supported housing for young people aged 16–25, offering low to medium levels of housing-related support. There are homes throughout East Sussex for young people we continue to support into independence via our Transitional Housing teams, these are typically larger shared houses of 4-8 residents sharing some communal facilities such as bathrooms and kitchens. In total there are approximately 180 residents in East Sussex that the maintenance team oversee.

In delivering the role, 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive maintenance, caretaking, and cleaning service to ensure safe, welcoming, and psychologically informed accommodation.
• Carry out day‑to‑day maintenance across our East Sussex sites, with occasional support to other housing schemes.
• Complete maintenance, cleaning, repair, and redecoration works within agreed timescales, delegating tasks where appropriate.
• Perform or delegate general caretaking and cleaning duties, including cleaning communal areas, litter‑picking, and waste removal.

If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t match every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We know that skills and potential come in many forms, and your background may offer valuable transferable strengths.

We're looking for a someone with a positive, flexible attitude and a genuine desire to contribute to young people’s wellbeing.

Experience and Knowledge

We are searching for someone with:

• Strong maintenance experience across a range of trade or repair tasks, including delivering high-quality maintenance and decorating work
• Experience working in supported housing, residential, or community‑based settings
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and resident wellbeing
• Good understanding of health & safety requirements and compliance processes
• A proactive, organised approach to workload and prioritisation

Qualifications and Training (Desirable)

It would be beneficial, though not essential, if you have:

• City & Guilds or equivalent qualification in one or more maintenance skill areas
• Manual handling training
• Training in handling bodily fluids
• Boundaries training
• First Aid training

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 6 September 2026 at midnight.

Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns.

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children's and Adults' Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity checks.