Overview
We are seeking a dedicated School Assistant Caretaker to support the maintenance and cleanliness of our School (Cheam School in Newbury, Berkshire). The ideal candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the safety, organisation, and overall upkeep of the school environment. This position offers an opportunity to contribute positively to the school community by maintaining a welcoming and secure setting for pupils up to age 13, staff, and visitors.
Duties
- Help maintain a safe, secure and tidy site
- Wear issued PPE and maintain and use tools and equipment safely and appropriately
- Carry out routine caretaking duties, such as opening and securing buildings & checking premises
- Perform routine checks to meet regulatory standards (e.g. water temperatures, emergency lighting)
- Take regular meter readings to monitor utilities consumption and enable timely reordering
- Help manage goods inward and other deliveries safely and efficiently
- Support regular testing of the fire alarm and lockdown systems
- Report identified hazards, defects or other risk items to the Facilities Manager
- Support delivery of the School’s planned preventative maintenance programme
- Respond to urgent maintenance issues and triaged maintenance requests including minor repairs
- Liaise with, and supervise, contractors working onsite, as required
- Support initiatives designed to increase recycling and reduce waste, working in partnership with the Grounds team, Catering team, pupil-led Eco-Committee and the School’s waste contractor
- Ensure key equipment and infrastructure remains operational (e.g. clean CCTV camera lenses, replace lightbulbs, clear guttering, unblock drains)
- Set up furniture and equipment for key School events in the published termly calendar (e.g. exams, parents evenings, performances, sports day, open days)
- Help with the general upkeep and ongoing safe operation of the site (e.g. basic plumbing, furniture repairs, litter picking, lighting open fires, salting paths, managing traffic
- Assist with general tidying of classrooms, corridors, and communal areas to uphold high standards of hygiene and presentation.
- Carry out routine maintenance tasks such as checking lighting, heating systems, and plumbing to ensure they are functioning correctly.
- Support with setting up and dismantling furniture for events or activities within the school.
- Monitor the security of the premises by locking/unlocking doors and reporting any suspicious activity or safety hazards.
- Respond promptly to minor repairs or issues that arise during school hours, liaising with external contractors when necessary.
- Support staff in emergency procedures such as fire drills or evacuations, ensuring safety protocols are followed.
Experience
- General handy(wo)man skills with a basic understanding of building maintenance
- Awareness of health and safety procedures and a commitment to safe working practices
- Good team player with a flexible, positive ‘can-do’ attitude and a willingness to support a wide variety of tasks within a small team.
- Equally able and comfortable working independently.
- Reliable, punctual, courteous and trustworthy
- Good organisational skills with the ability to work calmly during periods of intense activity
- Basic IT skills to read and send emails.
- Willingness to learn how to retrieve files and fill in pre created maintenance record files within Excel
- Full clean UK driving licence
- Good sense of humour
- Previous experience in a caretaking or cleaning role within an educational or similar environment is desirable but not essential.
- Basic knowledge of health and safety regulations relevant to school premises.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Physical fitness to carry out manual tasks including lifting, bending, and standing for extended periods.
- Friendly demeanour with excellent communication skills to interact professionally with staff and pupils.
- Previous experience in a caretaking, maintenance or facilities support role would be beneficial
- Previous experience working in a school or educational environment would be beneficial
- Familiarity with facilities systems and software (e.g. for logging maintenance requests)
- Knowledge of safeguarding procedures within a school setting
- Plumbing &/or electrical experience would be beneficial
Pay: £27,000.00-£28,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
