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Job Title: Facilities Assistant
Location: Parkside House School, Backworth NE27 0AB
Hours: 22.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Salary: £15,000 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: June 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
Are you a hands‑on problem solver with a talent for keeping buildings running smoothly? Do you take pride in maintaining safe, tidy and well‑presented environments? If so, we’d love you to join our dedicated Facilities Team.
We are looking for a proactive Facilities Assistant to help maintain our school’s buildings, equipment and grounds to the highest standards. You’ll bring expertise in at least one trade area — whether that’s plumbing, joinery, electrical work or decorating — and a willingness to turn your hand to a wide range of maintenance tasks.
Please note this role will be supporting both Parkside House School sites; Backworth NE27 0AB & Ashington NE63 8AP
What You’ll Do
- Take ownership of your specialist trade area (plumbing, joinery, electrical or decorating) and deliver high‑quality maintenance work across the school.
- Support day‑to‑day reactive repairs, planned maintenance, refurbishments and general upkeep of buildings, equipment, plant and grounds.
- Conduct regular site walks to identify, record and report Health & Safety issues, ensuring a safe and tidy environment at all times.
- Work with the Facilities Manager, staff and external contractors to coordinate works, provide technical advice and ensure tasks are completed efficiently.
- Maintain tools, equipment, machinery and chemicals safely and correctly, following COSHH and manufacturer guidelines.
- Assist with fire safety duties including weekly alarm checks, emergency evacuations and drills.
- Keep accurate maintenance records, complete basic vehicle checks and support opening/locking up of premises across both sites.
- Respond flexibly to urgent requests, support team tasks requiring additional hands and uphold the school’s professional standards and values.
What We’re Looking For
- GCSE's required
- Experience in a maintenance or facilities role, ideally with a trade specialism e.g. Basic plumbing/ carpentry/ decorating skills.
- A practical, can‑do attitude and pride in delivering high‑quality work.
- Strong awareness of Health & Safety and safeguarding responsibilities.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Flexibility to travel between sites and respond to changing priorities.
- Respect, empathy and professionalism when working in a school environment.
About Us
Welcome to Parkside House School, an SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) Independent Special School with sites in Backworth and Ashington. We provide specialist teaching, small class sizes, bespoke timetables, and a nurturing, friendly environment for pupils aged KS2 Year 6–KS5. Our school supports students with SEMH needs and associated learning difficulties, including autism, ADHD, attachment disorders, and oppositional defiance disorder. Pupils thrive academically, socially, and personally, guided by a passionate, experienced team dedicated to unlocking their potential.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
- Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
- Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
- Hundreds of UK and international discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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