Mfop

Buckinghamshire Healthcare Nhs Trust; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPE provided

Flu vaccination program

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Ward Housekeeper to support the smooth day-to-day running of the ward, ensuring a safe, clean and patient-focused environment. You will act as a link between nursing staff and support services to enable staff to deliver direct clinical care.

The role covers stock management, meal service coordination, environmental cleanliness, and collaboration with catering, domestics, estates, and portering services to promote a positive patient experience.

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education including English and Mathematics or equivalent experience.
• Experience in customer-facing environment and team working.
• Able to maintain records and handle stock or supplies.

Responsibilities

• Maintain ward stock levels and order supplies as required.
• Coordinate meal services and support patients' dining experience.
• Liaise with catering, domestics, estates, and portering services.
• Monitor ward environments to ensure cleanliness and safety standards.

Skills

Stock control

Customer service

Communication skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Basic IT skills

Education

General education English & Maths

NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service

Job description

Job overview

The Ward Housekeeper plays a vital role in supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the ward by maintaining a safe, clean, organised, and patient-focused environment. The post holder acts as a key link between nursing staff, facilities, catering, domestic services, portering, and supplies management to ensure patients receive a positive experience and staff can focus on delivering direct clinical care.

Across Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and other NHS organisations, ward housekeepers are recognised as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. They support patient flow, nutritional care, stock management, environmental standards, infection prevention, and the timely availability of equipment and consumables required for safe patient care.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain ward stock levels and order supplies as required.
• Coordinate meal services and support patients' dining experience.
• Liaise with catering, domestics, estates, and portering services.
• Monitor ward environments to ensure cleanliness and safety standards are maintained.
• Support bed turnaround and patient flow activities.
• Escalate environmental or equipment issues promptly.
• Assist with non-clinical administrative duties, releasing nursing time for direct patient care.
• Contribute to infection prevention and control standards and patient experience initiatives.

Main duties of the job

• Maintain ward stock levels, including clinical and non-clinical supplies, ensuring items are available when required.
• Order, receive, check, and organise ward supplies, equipment, linen, and stores.
• Coordinate patient meal services, ensuring menus are completed, dietary requirements are communicated, and meals are served promptly.
• Liaise with catering, domestic, portering, estates, and other support services to resolve day-to-day operational issues.
• Monitor ward cleanliness and environmental standards, reporting any concerns promptly.
• Support infection prevention and control measures by maintaining a tidy and organised clinical environment.
• Assist with bed preparation and ward readiness to support timely admissions, transfers, and discharges.
• Undertake non-clinical administrative duties to release nursing time for direct patient care.
• Ensure patient areas, visitor areas, and ward facilities are welcoming, safe, and fit for purpose.
• Report equipment faults, maintenance issues, and environmental risks in a timely manner.
• Support patient experience initiatives by responding to non-clinical patient and relative enquiries where appropriate.
• Work as part of the multidisciplinary team to promote safe, effective, and efficient service delivery.

Working for our organisation

Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! -

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce

Why work for us?

• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Person specification

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential criteria

• Good standard of general education including English and Mathematics or equivalent experience.

Desirable criteria

• NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service, Business Administration, Hospitality, Health & Social Care, or equivalent.

EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a customer-facing environment.
• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience of maintaining records and handling stock or supplies.

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience within an NHS or healthcare setting.
• Experience in ward housekeeping, facilities, catering, hospitality, retail or administrative support.
• Experience of using electronic ordering or stock management systems.
• Experience using NHS systems and Microsoft Office applications.

SKILLS, ABILITY & KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria

• Understanding of the importance of patient confidentiality, dignity and respect.
• Awareness of health, safety and infection prevention principles.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English. Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, visitors and staff.
• Good attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain stock control and organise resources efficiently.
• Basic IT skills, including use of email and electronic systems.
• Friendly, approachable and professional manner. Reliable, flexible and motivated. Able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Demonstrates compassion and commitment to patient-centred care.
• Able to undertake the physical duties of the role, including moving stock, equipment and supplies safely in accordance with Trust policies.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust procedures and standards.
• Knowledge of NHS values and standards. Understanding of the needs of older people and vulnerable adults.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Essential criteria

• Able to travel to other sites and off site as necessary

PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.

Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.

Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.

Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.

Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.

Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.

Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.

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