Housekeeping Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To maintain a high standard of cleaning and to provide a safe and attractive environment for our patients, relatives, staff and visitors. To provide a safe environment by

preventing cross infection between patients/staff;

minimising the risk of accidents.

At all times the needs of our patients and relatives are paramount, with confidentiality, sensitivity and flexibility essential.

MAIN DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure areas allocated to you are cleaned to a high standard, making sure every effort is made to conform to safety procedures when using cleaning materials and equipment; especially to:

o Put out a 'slippery surface' notice when cleaning floors;

o Ensure equipment does not cause any obstruction;

o Observe rules regarding specific cleaning practices for ward areas.

Ensure correct and economical use of cleaning materials.

Keep cleaning store, trolleys, vacuum cleaners, mops, etc. in clean and good working order. Report any equipment that needs overhauling to the Hospitality Manager.

Report to Maintenance Department any breakdowns in the area you are cleaning e.g. light bulbs not working, faulty switches, loose door handles, dripping taps, etc.

Report to the Hospitality Manager any major problems with fabric, furnishing or equipment.

Ensure that the areas allocated are attractive to the eye by arranging furniture, cushions, curtains, removing dead flowers, old newspapers, magazines, tea trays, etc.

Fill or top up all toilet paper, paper towels, and dispensers on a daily basis.

Seek advice from the Ward Manager about any areas that need particular cleaning attention or any that should be left according to the needs of patients and their relatives.

Undertake general duties in the hospice kitchen such as washing up, serving tea & coffee and clearing patients food trays, as and when required.

Undertake any other duties considered to fall within the scope of the position of Housekeeping Assistant, as directed by the Hospitality Manager.

Team/Self Management

To follow hospice procedures for incident/accident reporting, including escalation.

To work collaboratively with immediate colleagues and members of other disciplines.

To attend and participate in appropriate team meetings.

To engage with and contribute to the performance development process.

Quality and Service improvement

To ensure adherence to hospice and professional policies and procedures.

To participate in service development initiatives as required.

Development

To ensure personal compliance with hospice compulsory training requirements.

To act as a role model for employees and volunteers, participating in personal development initiatives as appropriate.

To assist in orientation of new colleagues, volunteers and visitors.

Through the performance development process, to plan your continuing professional and self-development, attending in-house study days and courses as appropriate.

To proactively maintain the appropriate level of competence as identified within the hospice's competency framework.

This is an outline job description designed to give an overview of the responsibilities of the role. We expect the job holder will work flexibly, responding to organisational need and changes as they occur. You will also contribute to the wider corporate and organisation needs of St Catherine's such as supporting our fundraising efforts.

Policies and Procedures

In addition to your professional code of conduct, you must familiarise themselves with, and adhere to St Catherine's policies and procedures as listed in your team induction schedule, including the following:

Information Governance

Data Protection

Risk Management

Raising a Concern

Complaints

Safeguarding

Mental Capacity

Health and Safety at Work

Equal Opportunities

Infection Control

HR Management

Incident Management

You have a duty to undertake the relevant e-learning modules as detailed in the Compulsory Training programme.

If you manage staff and/or volunteers it is your responsibility to ensure that your team are made aware of and understand the policies and procedures relevant to their work.

Information governance and confidentiality

Employment by St Catherine's often involves access to personal information relating to patients, carers, staff, volunteers and supporters. This information is confidential and must not be disclosed to anybody, other than when acting in a official capacity. Non authorised use, access of records or disclosure of personal or confidential information is a dismissible offence, and in the case of computerised information could result in prosecution for an offence or action for civil damages under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act

All employees have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults, children and young adults. It is essential that all safeguarding concerns are recognised and acted on appropriately in line with the policies and training. You must ensure you always act in the best interests of any person lacking mental capacity.

Health and Safety at Work Act

You have personal responsibility to take care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions at work. Ensure you observe the Health and Safety procedures, and carry out your work as instructed.

Infection control

All employees have personal responsibility for Infection Prevention and Control practice. You should ensure you are familiar with, and comply with, all relevant Infection Control policies and training for minimising the risk of avoidable Health Care Associated Infection.

Conduct

Employees are ambassadors for St Catherine's, each responsible for promoting, maintaining and upholding the reputation of St Catherine's at all times in line with our values.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent, good basic English & Maths

Desirable

• NVQs or equivalent

Attitudes and Behaviours

Essential

• Flexible attitude to working hours especially with regard to covering absence and holidays, including bank holidays, working evening and weekend
• High standard of integrity and reliability
• A positive and assertive attitude to all aspects of work
• Demonstrates commitment to St Catherine's vision and values.

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge & experience of working to H&SAW, COSHH, Housekeeping standards
• Good organisational skills
• Customer Service awareness
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels
• Good motivational skills with the ability to engage and empathise with others.
• High degree of commitment and integrity
• Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision and as part of a team
• Good presentation, high standard of presentation of work
• Ability to operate in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Attention to detail and a strong motivation to maintain high standards

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within a Housekeeping environment
• Basic PC Skills (Inc Word and Excel)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

St Catherine’s Hospice

Address

St. Catherines Hospice

Malthouse Road

Crawley

West Sussex

RH10 6BH

Employer's website

https://www.stch.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)