Housekeeper - NICU

Job overview

Closing Date:  06.05.26  (this may change dependent on response).

Shortlisting to take place in the week following closing date:  commencing 07.05.26

Interview expected to take place 15.05.26

Due to current Home Office Guidelines, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is unable to provide sponsorship for this role.

The Neonatal Service at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), caring for some of the smallest and most vulnerable babies across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

An opportunity has arisen for a housekeeper to join our team. We are looking for an honest, dedicated and enthusiastic individual with exceptionally high standards. The successful applicant will assist in providing a clean, comfortable and safe environment for babies and their families.

Housekeepers play a vital role in maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for vulnerable newborns. Premature and critically ill infants are highly susceptible to infection, making strict cleaning and disinfection essential. You will ensure patient areas and equipment surroundings meet infection control standards, helping to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. This role supports the wider clinical team by maintaining cleanliness and contributing to patient safety and the overall quality of care within the unit.

Please contact Julie Pearce (Ward Manager) at [email protected] if you would like to discuss this role further.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as an integral member of the Neonatal Unit team, ensuring a clean, safe and well-maintained environment for babies, families and staff. Key duties include cleaning clinical areas and a wide range of medical equipment, such as incubators, ventilators, monitoring equipment and breast pumps, to a high standard in line with infection prevention and control policies. The role involves dismantling, cleaning and safely reassembling equipment, as well as identifying and reporting faults or maintenance issues.

You will be responsible for maintaining stock levels, ordering supplies, receiving and checking deliveries, and ensuring items are stored appropriately. Regular tasks include restocking clinical areas, managing the milk kitchen, preparing equipment for use, sterilising patient items, and ensuring all waste is disposed of correctly. You will also clean and prepare cots, manage laundry, and maintain family and ward areas to a consistently high standard.

The role requires accurate record keeping, participation in audits and quality improvement activities, and supporting the wider ward team in daily tasks. You will be expected to uphold high hygiene standards, challenge poor practice where necessary, and maintain patient confidentiality, dignity and safety at all times.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Housekeeper role within the Neonatal Unit is a key non-clinical position that contributes directly to the safety, cleanliness and effective day-to-day running of the service. Working as an integral member of the ward team, the post holder supports the delivery of high-quality care by ensuring that the environment in which babies are cared for is maintained to the highest possible standards. The Neonatal Unit cares for premature and critically ill newborn infants who are highly vulnerable to infection, and as such, the housekeeping function is essential in supporting infection prevention and control and maintaining a safe clinical setting.

A core responsibility of the role is the cleaning and decontamination of both clinical areas and a wide range of medical and non-medical equipment. This includes specialist neonatal equipment such as incubators, ventilators, monitoring equipment and breast pumps. The post holder will be required to develop the knowledge and skills needed to safely dismantle, clean and reassemble complex equipment in accordance with local policies and manufacturer guidance. Ensuring that equipment is thoroughly cleaned and ready for use in a timely manner is essential to support the clinical team in delivering continuous care.

The Housekeeper is expected to take a proactive approach to maintaining exceptional standards of hygiene across the unit. This includes identifying any issues with cleanliness and addressing them promptly, or escalating concerns to the nurse in charge when necessary. The role also involves the preparation and management of cleaning solutions, such as ensuring disinfectants are prepared correctly and replaced as required. Maintaining a clean and tidy environment extends beyond clinical spaces to include family areas and parental facilities, which must also be kept to a high standard to support the wellbeing of families during their time on the unit.

Stock management is another significant aspect of the role. The post holder is responsible for ensuring that adequate levels of consumables and supplies are maintained at all times to support the safe delivery of care. This includes ordering stock, receiving and checking deliveries, and storing items appropriately. It is important to ensure that all deliveries are accurate and that the unit is not charged for missing items. The Housekeeper will also restock clinical areas, including intensive care and special care areas, so that nursing staff can focus on patient care without interruption.

In addition to general stock control, the role includes responsibility for managing specific areas such as the milk kitchen, ensuring that it is kept clean, organised and compliant with hygiene standards. The Housekeeper will also be involved in the preparation of equipment and supplies for use by nursing and medical staff, ensuring that everything required is readily available and in a suitable condition.

The safe handling, storage and maintenance of equipment is a further key duty. The post holder must ensure that equipment is stored correctly, is in good working order and is charged where necessary. Any defective equipment must be identified, reported and sent for repair in line with Trust procedures. Accurate records must be kept for equipment, including tracking items that have been loaned out and ensuring their timely return.

Waste management is an important part of maintaining a safe environment. The Housekeeper is responsible for ensuring that all clinical and domestic waste is disposed of in accordance with Trust policies and infection control guidelines. This includes the safe assembly and disposal of sharps bins. The role also involves handling linen, including cleaning and preparing cots and beds, and ensuring that clean linen is readily available.

The Housekeeper plays an active role within the wider ward team and is expected to support colleagues in the delivery of daily tasks where appropriate. This may include assisting with audits, participating in quality improvement initiatives, and contributing to discussions aimed at improving standards and patient care. The role requires good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively in a busy and sometimes demanding environment.

Communication is an essential component of the role. The post holder must be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals, including nursing and medical staff, support services, and occasionally external stakeholders. Clear and timely communication helps to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and that any issues are addressed promptly. The ability to receive and pass on information accurately, while maintaining confidentiality at all times, is critical.

Although the role is primarily non-clinical, there is an expectation that the Housekeeper will interact with families in a professional and compassionate manner. Being approachable and supportive helps to create a welcoming environment for parents and carers during what can be a stressful and emotional time. The post holder must always respect the privacy and dignity of patients, families and colleagues, and act in a way that promotes a positive experience for all.

Infection prevention and control is central to every aspect of the role. The Housekeeper must adhere to all relevant policies and procedures, ensuring that their own practice contributes to reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections. This includes maintaining a clean and tidy work environment, using appropriate personal protective equipment when required, and completing all mandatory training related to infection control.

The role also carries responsibilities in relation to health and safety. The post holder must follow safe working practices at all times, including those related to moving and handling equipment and stock. The Neonatal Unit can be a physically demanding environment, requiring the movement of equipment and supplies, and the ability to work in a warm environment while wearing protective clothing such as face masks when required.

Record keeping is an important aspect of the role. The Housekeeper must maintain accurate and up-to-date records as required, including those related to cleaning schedules, equipment maintenance and stock control. These records may be required for audit purposes or to support the Ward Management Team in monitoring standards and compliance.

The post holder is also expected to take responsibility for their own learning and development. This includes completing all mandatory training and engaging in continuous professional development to ensure that skills and knowledge remain up to date. Participation in training and development opportunities helps to ensure that the Housekeeper can carry out their role effectively and safely.

In addition to the practical aspects of the role, the Housekeeper is expected to uphold the values and standards of the Trust at all times. This includes demonstrating a commitment to equality and diversity, treating all individuals with dignity and respect, and contributing to a culture of safety and continuous improvement. The post holder must also comply with policies relating to safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection.

Overall, the Housekeeper plays a vital role in supporting the Neonatal Unit by ensuring that the environment is clean, safe and well organised. Through their work, they enable clinical staff to focus on delivering specialist care to vulnerable newborns, while also contributing to a positive experience for families. The role requires a high level of attention to detail, a strong commitment to maintaining standards, and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.