Are you able to work flexible hours?
Are you looking to provide a high quality housekeeping service?
Do you have previous cleaning experience?
If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you!
This is an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and professional housekeepers to be part of the housekeeping team based at the Darland House, Gillingham within a dementia care home environment.
You must be able to communicate in a clear and concise manner, be of a cheerful disposition and able to adapt to changes effectively.
The post holder will be responsible for cleaning in line with the Medway Community Healthcare CIC and NHS national standards for cleanliness for patients, staff, families and carers. Working in areas where there are patients with challenging behaviour or communication difficulties.
The post holder will need to be flexible working across different shifts covering the service 7.30am and 7.00pm, Monday to Sunday including bank holidays.
Duties will include:
Daily cleaning schedules
Complete task as requested by line manager
Periodical cleaning tasks included within schedules and ad hoc cleaning requirements
Ensure cleaning and catering stock is maintained
Follow hygiene, health and safety regulation
So what else?
- This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
- We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
- We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
- You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
The small print
- Informal visits can be arranged on request.
- We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
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MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.
MCH is considering merging with Kent Community Health Foundation Trust (KCHFT). If the merger goes ahead, the proposed transfer date is 30 th September 2026 and this role will be subject to TUPE transfer to KCHFT.
1. Communication and relationship skills
Work closely with team manager and supervisor to ensure requirements are understood and met.
To work flexibly and communicate with the whole team, receptionists, estates team and service managers and within the clinical standards, if any issues arise and inform the project/estates manager.
Ability to communicate with outside contractors/agencies as advised by supervisor/team.
2. Knowledge, training and experience
Work with minimum supervision and as a member of the housekeeping team.
Maintain high standards of quality working practice, tidiness and health and safety. Previous cleaning experience is essential, NVQ/GCSE in English and maths or equivalent.
To attend all statutory and mandatory training both onsite and at other locations, attend any training essential to meet the needs of the sites serviced.
To work in conjunction with the NHS national standards of cleanliness and be aware of requirements under COSHH, health and safety and control of infection as they affect the job.
3. Analytical and judgement skills
Ensure daily cleaning schedule is completed in the agreed time scale and hygiene standards are met. Ability to work flexibly when required, inform supervisor of any incidents to ensure monitoring forms are completed. Report any issues of concern to supervisor and keep them regularly informed of service information.
4. Planning and organisational skills
Inform supervisor of materials that are running low. Ensure area cleaned is down within time allowed to the high standard in line with NHS national standards of cleanliness, following the guidelines as set out in the daily schedules.
5. Physical skills
Ability to undertake lightweight floor scrubs and use cleaning materials in accordance with COSHH.
Ensure waste is disposed of in accordance with organisation’s waste disposal policy ensuring health and safety standards are adhered to.
Ability to move cleaning equipment from one area to another.
6. Responsibility for patient / client care
To co-operate with supervisors/manager’s and other employees to achieve a health and safe environment in line with Medway community healthcare (CIC) policies and procedures.
Ensure wet floor/cleaning signage is displayed when necessary.
Inform supervisor/manager of any situation which could be considered to represent a serious or immediate danger to health and safety.
To report any matter which could be considered to represent a shortcoming in Medway community healthcare (CIC) health and safety procedures.
7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
Offer ideas and suggestions ensuring cleaning standards are met and maintained.
To contribute to advised changes in a positive way.
8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
The post holder will be expected to work in a way that minimised risks to members, service users, visitors, staff, volunteers and all who enters the premises and assists in maintaining a healthy and safe environment.
9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR)
Attendance at team meetings to share good practice, updates and liaise with team/colleagues. Identifying and participating in any training or medical (injections) required to carry out role as advised within health and safety regulations.
Participation in MCH appraisal and performance review process. Compulsory attendance at all statutory and mandatory training, follow all HR procedures and policies.
10. Responsibilities for information resources
Follow all information governance procedures and maintain records to build an audit trail where necessary.
11. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)
Participate in non-clinical audits upon request, provide relevant information for any R and D projects if requested.
12. Freedom to act
Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and your place of work, use initiative when cleaning and being able to take into account areas no in one’s remit on any particular day. Be sensitive to the needs of members attending sites within Gillingham business park.
13. Physical effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
May be required to push or pull a trolley containing cleaning materials, remove bags of waste from unit into the waste compound. Use equipment required for cleaning and move furniture or equipment from one area to another ensuring health and safety is observed at all times.
14. Mental effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
Attend regular team meetings, operate cleaning machinery, interruptions from colleagues in order to communicate information.
15. Emotional effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
Face to face contact with colleague, clinical staff, services users and any other personal using the MCH premises.
16. Working conditions (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
Occasional unpleasant smells / odours and the removal of unpleasant substances as and when required. Necessary to use chemicals in pursuit of daily cleaning routine.
