Housekeeper

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring that patients have a daily menu and provide assistance with meal ordering (as necessary), collate meal numbers and complete all aspects of the M10 paperwork before passing to Cofely at the agreed time.
• Preparing the patient environment for meals. Inform patients of imminent food service so that they can wash hands or use wipes.
• Ensure patients who cannot wash their hands are assisted to do so.
• Ensure bed table is clean, tidy and within reach.
• Be aware of patients with special requirements, e.g., beaker, plate guards.
• Set up trays and ensure patients have cutlery, napkins and condiments.
• Participate and support the delivery of the protected meals initiative (`Red Tray/Serviette) system.
• Receiving food regeneration trolley to the clinical area, checking that the contents meet the set time and temperature standards and match meal requirements. If there are discrepancies take corrective action with the Trust service partners by informing their help desk.
• Assist clinical staff in the serving of food (ensuring food is served at the correct temperature).
• Ensuring that patients receive their correct nutritional requirements, including patients fasting and special dietary arrangements (under the direct guidance of the nursing staff).

• Serve beverages, collect cutlery and crockery for return to the catering hub.
• Order patient sandwiches for those requiring food outside of mealtimes and as required prepare and serve additional snacks and beverages to patients as appropriate. Collect cutlery and crockery and return to Cofely
• In conjunction with clinical staff, assist patients with special requirements at mealtimes.
• Take responsibility for the pantry, ensure it is clean at all times and check contents of fridge daily and record temperature. In addition, record dishwasher operating temperatures any equipment failures should be reported to Cofely helpdesk services in the first instance. Any actions taken must be recorded by the Housekeeper and followed up in a timely manner. Documentation associated with this should be completed as required on each occasion.
• Provide a water jug and glass to patients, filling jugs as necessary and changing them twice daily, morning and evening. Dirty jugs/glasses to be returned to catering hub. As part of this service routinely check that jugs and glasses are within patient reach at all times.
• Liaise with clinical staff with reference to admissions/discharges and update catering services regarding changes to meal requirements.
• Monitor meal wastage and adjust meal number requirements in accordance with the needs of the patient base, at the end of service before the M10 sheet is returned to Cofely, complete the no of unserved portions column

Additional Duties

• The Housekeeper will be familiar with the Trust Infection Control Policy, ensuring in their work schedule that this policy is adhered to at all times.
• Be able to understand and follow the National Standards of Cleanliness but specific attention to the colour coding requirements.
• Liaise regularly and effectively throughout the day with Nursing colleagues regarding the red and green clean requirements. The Housekeeper will communicate requirements to Assistant Housekeepers and work with them to ensure service needs are met. Any possible shortfalls in delivery should be communicated to the floor level Supervisor.
• Ensure patients are welcomed and are aware of ward/departmental daily arrangements and facilities (e.g., mealtimes, menus, telephones, and location of toilets). They should always be conscious of the needs of the patients.
• To ensure the clinical area is clean and tidy at all times, e.g., remove unnecessary clutter, keep notice boards tidy and up to date ensuring all notices are laminated in compliance with infection prevention and control policies. Ensure curtains are correctly hung. Liaise with clinical team and report any faults as appropriate.
• Ensure patients lockers are cleaned daily and, on discharge, both inside and outside of lockers and drug cupboard are cleaned.
• Clean spillages as and when they occur, swiftly and efficiently.
• To take prescriptions to pharmacy and collect drugs from pharmacy in a safe and efficient manner. The Housekeeper should go directly to and from the department in a timely manner.
• To take and deliver messages, including answering telephones. Ensure answering of telephone is done in a manner which the caller will feel confident they are speaking to someone who can deal with the problem.
• In liaison with Supervisors ensure periodic cleaning/curtain changing is undertaken at the scheduled frequencies.
• On a daily basis the Housekeeper will be responsible for the team of assistant Housekeepers ensuring that work schedules are followed and completed as required.
• Reporting daily operational issues to the Supervisors.
• Report pests/infestations to the PFI helpdesk.
• Ensure ward/departmental leader is aware.
• The Housekeeper will participate in the monitoring of the clinical area against the cleaning schedule and ensure standards are continually maintained and monitoring is completed.
• To ensure safe conveyance/movement of patient.
• The Housekeeper will be expected to attend regular team meetings as requested by their Supervisor.

Experience

Essential

• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work well as part of the team across the site.
• Ability to work flexibly, quickly, and accurately.

Desirable

• Previous experience in catering/caring environment.
• Previous NHS Experience.

Other

Essential

• Ability to satisfy Occupational Health screening.
• Adaptable and flexible according to the demands of the service.
• Understanding of need to maintain confidentiality.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education in English and Maths.

Desirable

• Level 2 Food safety Training.(expectation to work towards qualification within 3 months).
• NVQ 1 OR 2 in subject relevant to post, such as customer care, support services or infection prevention and control.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Friendly and respectful of colleagues.
• Ability to work on own imitative.
• Flexible.
• Good Attendance.
• Enthusiastic.

Knowledge & Awareness

Essential

• Good communication both written and verbal.
• Working in a team environment.
• Recognising Diversity.

Desirable

• Awareness of Health & Safety issues.
• Awareness of Moving & Handling issues.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships.
• Maintain a safe working environment for self and others.
• Willingness to take on tasks.

Desirable

• Record of efficiency.
• Good communication and positive contributions to previous employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).