Job Introduction
Come and be a Housing Depot Operative with us, and make a difference to your community! This is a Fixed Term Contracts/Secondment until 30th September 2026, based at the Housing Depot in Port Royal Street, Portsmouth.
25 hours per week Monday to Friday 16:00 - 21:00.
Your new role
The purpose of our service is “to help keep the city safe, clean and tidy and provide advice/support when needed”. As a service we take pride in our work by valuing others, focusing on what's important so that we make a real and positive difference.
Typical daily tasks of this role include:
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Removal and disposal of bulky waste including fly-tipped items, rubble, garden waste and supermarket trolleys.
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Cleaning communal bins, using the pedestrian sweeper to clean large communal areas and washing communal windows using specialist long-reach equipment.
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Removal of graffiti with jet washing machine and cleaning communal areas such as balconies panels and pathways.
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Reporting to other departments issues such as cleaning and gardening demands to the local green and clean management team and communal housing repairs to local area housing offices.
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Reporting bulky items that need investigating to help identify instances of fly-tipping as well as report tenancy issues to relevant departments.
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Transporting specialist equipment for use on site.
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Working outside in all weathers and demonstrating good manual handling.
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Demonstrating a good understanding of Health & Safety practices and safe methods of work which promotes the health and safety of yourself and others.
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Using equipment correctly and carrying out regular care and maintenance; full training, including the potential to gain qualifications, will be provided.
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Disposal of waste collected in accordance with legislation and regulations at local amenity sites licensed to receive and process such waste.
As a Housing Depot Operative, you will be required to drive a caged tipper or similar vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes. A full UK driving licence and experience driving caged tippers and large vans (up to 3.5 tonne) is essential whilst experience driving up to 7.5 tonne vehicles and towing large trailers is desirable.
If you do not have a licence which allows you to drive these larger vehicles or tow trailers, training will be provided. You will need to successfully complete these qualifications during your probationary period, as you are required to drive up to 7.5 tonne vehicles and tow trailers for this role.
Who is the person?
You need:
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To be a motivated, hard-working, and conscientious individual who is able to use initiative when necessary and take pride in the work.
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To be a team-player with good self-awareness, supporting others in meeting the Green & Clean purpose.
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To be able to make good decisions, take responsibility for actions and learn from any mistakes made.
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To have the ability to converse at ease with customers and colleagues in accurate spoken English.
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To be able to communicate effectively both over the phone and face-to-face.
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To be willing to take instruction from and be a good listener in order to retain information provided.
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To be flexible and able to adapt to changing work situations as you may need to move between different team and sites, sometimes at short notice such as Public Convenience cleaning, general housing block cleaning in any of our Housing areas.
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To have good timekeeping and a responsible attitude as you may be required to be a key holder in order to lock and unlock various sites.
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To be an honest person with a positive attitude and good work ethic.
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A full UK driving licence and experience driving caged tippers and large vans (up to 3.5 tonne) is essential whilst experience driving up to 7.5 tonne vehicles and towing large trailers is desirable.
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.
Additional Information
We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.
Our recruitment process
Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal
You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.
Please note we reserve the right to close the advert early if we have a large number of applications.
If applying as a secondment you will need permission from your current line manager releasing you for this secondment. Please state you have this on your personal statement on the application.
We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact [email protected] or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.
