School Caretaker

Job content

For Children with Severe Learning Difficulties

Permanent Part-time Caretaker

20 hours per week

Monday – Friday 3pm to 7pm in the first instance

45 working weeks per annum

Grade 13 (£10.21 to £11.27 per hour)

£19,698 - £21,748 pro rata

Gross starting salary of approximately £873 per month

To start as soon as possible

An excellent opportunity exists for an enthusiastic person to join this ‘outstanding’ (OFSTED) school.

We are seeking a practical, hardworking & committed part-time Caretaker with a particular focus on DIY skills for repairs, maintenance and improvement projects across the school.

The post holder will complement the work of our existing full-time Caretaker and ideally provide cover when required. We are an expanding school so opportunities for additional semi-skilled project work will arise from

time to time.

There may also be further opportunities for additional evening, weekend and school holiday “lettings” work when required.

Full training will be given to support the role

Our school is committed to ensuring a ‘Safe Recruitment’ process including a Criminal background check.

Deadline for receipt of applications: Thursday 1 July 2021

Date for Interview: Thursday 8 July 2021

Only successful applicants will be contacted

Fiveways School

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Grade:

13

Department:

Education

Section:

Job Title:

Part-time - Caretaker at Fiveways School – 20 hours per week

Reports To:

Headteacher & Business Manager

Main Purpose of Job: Briefly – what is the job there for and why is it being done? Please attach an organisation chart to show clearly, the department structure and where the job fits with this.

This Job Description is directed towards a part-time Caretaker role within Fiveways (S.L.D.) School.

To ensure that the site, its fixtures and fittings, are maintained to the required standard for the benefit of the pupils of the school, inside and out.

Main Responsibilities and Duties: What needs to be done? – Describe the main responsibilities and duties required of the job. This should include responsibilities for the support or management of clients, employees, budgets, processes and equipment.

% of Time

General Responsibilities

Prime Responsibility

• To undertake repair and improvement works, maintaining a safe and ‘well cared for’ site for all users. To have excellent practical DIY skills to undertake in-house projects, repairs and maintenance across the site. Skills to include general building maintenance, decorating, basic plumbing and carpentry experience

Specific Responsibilities:

· to work towards complementing the schools existing Caretaker, to provide full caretaking cover when required.

· Using practical DIY skills to undertake in-house repairs and maintenance and project work across the site.

In support of the existing Caretaker to provide cover when necessary (including the school holidays) with the following tasks:

• Supervise and support the Cleaning Supervisor and cleaning staff in conjunction with the school Business Manager, to ensure that the highest standard of cleaning. This is particularly important bearing in mind the nature of the pupils within the school
• To oversee the security of the site
• To organise contractors to undertake specialist repair (via Property and Grounds Maintenance Team) and oversee improvement works in conjunction with the full-time Caretaker School Business Manager and Premises Admin Assistant
• To manage the maintenance and servicing of the school minibuses (ideally in school holidays) and maintain their cleanliness
• To undertake the management and maintenance of the school swimming pool, maintaining an appropriately clean environment.

Repairs and maintenance

• Undertake maintenance and improvement jobs, on a priority basis.

· Handyperson duties (ie those not requiring a qualified craftsperson) may include minor repairs to furniture and fixtures and some decorating tasks (eg remedial painting and decorating, repairs to fittings and small scale improvements, repairs to taps and cisterns, fitting shelves/ notice boards etc)

· Take reasonable action to keep drains, downspouts, waste pipes etc, clean and clear of minor blockages that are clearly visible.

• To respond to reports of faulty equipment in a prioritised manner, monitoring completion and quality of work
• To carry out an annual visual electrical check on Portable electrical equipment and keep appropriate records
• To organise contractors to undertake specialist works (e.g., electrical,
• To be responsible for ensuring the cycle of PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) of new equipment and evidencing with PAT testing stickers appropriately dated is undertaken
• To carry out an annual visual inspection of portable appliances and to keep statutory records
• Undertake light gardening duties and ensure school buildings, entrance areas and playgrounds are free from rubbish/leaves

· Ensure safe pedestrian access at all times, including keeping paths and entrances clear of leaves and moss, as well as gritting and snow clearing during severe weather

· Treat car park and playground areas with salt/grit as appropriate

· Ensure yard, flat roofs and steps are free from leaves, moss and mud

· Keep signage clean and free from algae

· Check trees for broken/ overhanging branches that could pose a safety risk

Cleaning, to work in support of the Caretaker
· To manage the training and induction of new staff, supported by the Local Authority

· To liaise with the Cleaner Supervisor who is responsible for locking the school in the evenings and will be the “go to” person for the cleaners working in the evenings.

· To support the organisation and allocation of duties to the cleaning workforce to ensure the efficient cleaning of all areas of the school and to organise cover for absent cleaners in the evening, before leaving work in the afternoon.

· To organise, in conjunction with the Premises Admin Assistant, contactors to undertake annual maintenance tasks, which are outside of the Local Authorities remit, such as window cleaning, service of horse riding simulator

· To monitor standards of cleaning and performance advising the Headteacher/Business Manager as necessary.

· To provide caretaking support in respect of lettings as and when required, ensuring layouts are appropriate and fit for use

Fire systems, to work in support of the Caretaker

• To assist in the process of, and maintain accurate records of fire practices/alarm activations
• To undertake regular tests of the fire system and maintain records as required by Somerset County Council

Security, to work in support of the Caretaker

• To be responsible for ensuring the school buildings are unlocked in the mornings and ensuring they are locked and secure in the evenings.
• To act as a ‘Key Holder’
• To respond to security alarm call outs when necessary, affecting or organising appropriate repairs (if necessary).
• To maintain records of any breaches of site security or vandalism, to inform future actions by the Governors and/or the police.

Swimming Pool, to work in support of the Caretaker

• To maintain, clean and monitor the swimming pool water and plant equipment, as advised by Somerset Scientific services
• To maintain the cleanliness and/or organise the cleanliness of the surrounding areas of the pool and changing rooms
• To contact Property and Grounds Maintenance Team to affect repairs when necessary
• To advise office staff as soon as possible if the water conditions prevent swimming, putting up the necessary out of order/Pool Closed signs

Minibuses, to work in support of the Caretaker

• To be Responsible for undertaking weekly mini bus checks and maintaining safety records
• To maintain the cleanliness of the minibuses, during half term holidays.
• To affect any very minor repairs (non-technical e.g. tangled seatbelts!)

Health and safety, to work in support of the Caretaker

• To check play area for hazards on a daily basis
• To undertake porterage as requested
• To work with the headteacher/Business Manager and other key staff to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all of the users of the school.

This list of tasks may not be exhaustive, but provides an indication of the main areas of work. The postholder may be asked to undertake other specific duties by the head teacher.

Facts and Figures: Give facts and figures that help to give a picture of the job. This should include any statistics relevant to the job, for example the number of clients supported, type and value of equipment, resources or premises for which the job has responsibility, size of budgets controlled or which the job has some impact on and, if appropriate, numbers of staff managed.

Grounds 25,073 square meters

SUPPORTING PROCESSES

Problem Solving and Creativity: Give examples of the problem solving and creativity involved in the job. This should include resolving issues over interruptions to work deadlines, priorities and changing demands. How often do these issues occur?

The postholder will need to work as part of a team to consider creative solutions to a range of problems, referring to the Business Manager or Headteacher for confirmation/advice.

To play an active role in the life of school

Decision Making: Give examples of the types of decisions which the job has responsibilities for making, including where appropriate those relating to resources, budgets and employees. Show where there is authority of freedom to act and where there is an impact via recommendations or advice.

Working with the Headteacher, Business Manager, Premises Admin Assistant and teaching staff to agree priorities for actions – which will be in the main concerning premises cleaning, repairs or improvements.

Within the agreed school policies, guidelines and rules, decide on when and how to apply a range of strategies for the benefit of pupils in relation to their education activities, behaviour and care. These decisions often need to be made immediately to deal with the situation presented.

Guidance is normally readily available from the Business Manager. More complex or controversial decisions will be referred to the Headteacher.

Physical Effort and Working Conditions: Give details and the frequency of any special effort needed, including the prolonged or frequent use of IT equipment and describe any particular working conditions, other than those encountered in a normal office environment, to which the job holder is subjected eg noise, outside working, unpleasant surroundings.

The postholder will be expected to undertake a range of practical repair and improvement works throughout the school which may involve physical effort. Practical skills will be required for these tasks.

The Caretaker will undertake porterage of a range of loads throughout the school.

Contacts and Relationships: Give details of the range and type of people within the Council or external organisations and including the recipients of services it is necessary to contact in order to carry out the responsibilities of the job. What is the range and purpose of the contact e.g. providing information or advice, directing, monitoring, influencing, motivating.

v The postholder is responsible to the Headteacher and through him the governing body of the Fiveways School for matter relating to the school site and its grounds.

v The postholder will receive advice and support through the School Business Manager

v The postholder will have contacts with a range of staff throughout the school and a variety of different contractors and Local Authority staff.

v The postholder will supervise and monitor the work of the Cleaning Team, the Cleaner Supervisor and all workers appointed to service and maintain the site, issuing stock where necessary.

Additional Information: Anything else which is relevant to the job which is not adequately covered elsewhere.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience: (To be completed by the Line Manager) The minimum general education standard, qualifications, training and level of experience required by the job holder to be fully effective in the job. Note that this information should relate to the requirements of the job and not what may be available from existing job holders.

Desirable:

¨ Experience of working in schools

¨ Working as part of a team

¨ A background in property maintenance and/or repairs

¨ Experience of managing a small group of staff

Agreed that the Job Description is a fair and accurate statement of the requirements of the job:

Job Holder: …………………………………………………………. Date: …………………

Line Manager: ……………………………………………………… Date: …………………

Designated Senior Manager: …………………………………….. Date: …………………

Reference ID: CARETAKER, PART-TIME

Application deadline: 08/07/2021

Job Type: Permanent

Salary: £10.21-£11.27 per hour

Benefits:

• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work remotely:

• No