Overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated Apprentice Caretaker to join our team. This entry-level position offers a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience in building maintenance and site management. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of experienced staff, assisting with a variety of caretaking duties to ensure the safety, cleanliness, and functionality of our schools and premises. This paid apprenticeship is ideal for individuals interested in developing a career in facilities management or property maintenance.
Main purpose of the job:
- To assist in ensuring the school sites are maintained in a safe, clean and secure condition, undertaking such tasks as may be necessary to create high-quality learning environments, incorporating the schools’ grounds, buildings, equipment, vehicles and facilities.
- Being responsible for site security and ensuring all health and safety checks are conducted as directed.
Key Activities / Responsibilities:
- Ensure maintenance of all school buildings, grounds and equipment.
- Operate an agreed programme of planned preventative maintenance using the systems provided, making sure any repairs are properly and promptly carried out. Undertake minor repairs (i.e. not requiring qualified craftsperson) and maintenance of the buildings and site
- Be responsible for premises security inside and outside school hours, reporting any breaches and ensuring any resultant damage is repaired or fault rectified properly and promptly. Responding to alarms or other emergencies outside normal working hours when required, liaising with the Police and other security teams where needed.
- Oversee the movement of resources across the school premises and between school sites.
- Operation of the schools’ heating systems, relative to the season, time of year and weather to ensure adequate heating and hot water.
- Ensure the school is safe and accessible during adverse weather, supporting the safe opening of cluster schools as applicable.
- Supervise contractors during building and maintenance work and inspect and snag work when completed to ensure satisfactory standards are achieved. Ensure adequate supervision of contractors, particularly during school hours, reporting any concerns to the Estates Manager and Office Manager.
- Supervise maintenance and refurbishment programmes on a day-to-day basis as and when required.
- Support with monitoring bought in services contract performance.
- Liaise with external contractors, the local authority & other providers of building services.
- Support the delivery of Health & Safety plans ensuring the schools’ obligations are met such as fire safety regulations, legionella compliance, electrical safety, COSHH etc. to ensure a safe working environment for all pupils, staff and visitors.
- Maintain the compliance records using systems made available by the trust, uploading service and compliance documents, making line manager aware of any reported remedial work required or overdue inspections.
- Utilise the site helpdesk ticketing system, ensuring works are carried out in a timely fashion and to the required standard. Liaise with line manager to book and price any work to be carried out by approved contractors.
- Read and work within the remit of risk assessments appropriate to this role, seeking support and training as appropriate.
- Ensure the safe use of tools and equipment, making sure to follow Risk Assessments and use the appropriate PPE.
- Ensure compliance in the management of school vehicles (as applicable), ensuring vehicle condition checks are routinely carried out and recorded.
- Liaise with school cleaning teams as required, arranging for emergency cleaning, removal of graffiti etc.
- Effectively use appropriate ICT packages e.g. premises/compliance database, Microsoft Office, email, etc.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role.
- Undertake statutory training and ah-hoc training related to your role.
Support for the school:
- Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person. Be vigilant for signs that children may be being abused
- Be aware of and support differences and ensure all children have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
- Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school
- Attend and participate in regular meetings as required
- Participate in training and other learning activities as required
- To support, uphold and contribute to the development of Equal Rights policies and practices in respect of both employment issues and the delivery of services to the community
Due to the nature of the role, there will be a requirement for flexibility within the working hours. During holidays or periods of sickness it will be necessary for the postholder to support cluster schools to unlock / lock the school sites. A working base within a cluster will be identified by the Head of Estates.
Line Management will be shared between the Head of School/Estates Manager for day-to-day operational matters and the Head of Estates for strategic oversight/co-ordination, estates management guidance, and general operation.
Qualifications and training:
- Willingness to participate in development and training opportunities.
- GCSE English and Maths or equivalent eg. Adult Literacy/Numeracy at level 2
- This is a public facing role and therefore is necessary to be able to demonstrate fluency and proficiency in spoken English. To be able to converse at ease with members of the public (including children) and provide guidance and advice in accurate spoken English.
A full job description and person specification are available via The Priestley Academy Trust website along with details of how to apply.
Pay: £8.00-£12.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
