Housekeeper

Job overview

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Housekeeper to join our team working part-time (18.75 hours per week) at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust – The Christie at Macclesfield. This is a rewarding role where you will make a difference every single day. As a Housekeeper, you will be at the heart of the ward, helping to create a clean, safe, welcoming and well-organised environment for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Your work will directly support patient comfort, dignity and wellbeing at a time when it matters most. What you’ll be doing:

• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and infection prevention across the ward environment
• Ensuring patient areas are tidy, comfortable and welcoming
• Monitoring and restocking supplies
• Supporting meal service
• Reporting maintenance or safety concerns promptly
• Being a friendly, reassuring presence for patients and visitors What we’re looking for:
• A caring, kind and approachable individual
• Someone who takes pride in creating a clean and safe environment
• A team player with good communication skills
• Reliable, organised and motivated
• Previous housekeeping or healthcare experience is welcome but not essential

Main duties of the job

Working closely with the Ward/Unit Senior Sister and Matron/Deputy Service Manager, you will:

• Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness across the department.
• Carry out daily and weekly cleaning in line with Trust infection prevention policies
• Clean clinical equipment such as infusion pumps and drip stands.
• Remove clinical and household waste appropriately
• Monitor and record fridge temperatures and carry out daily water checks
• Ensure linen supplies are stocked and maintained
• Order and manage ward stock via NHS Supply Chain
• Assist with meal services and provide drinks to patients
• Support with basic clerical duties, answering phones, and message taking
• Escort and assist patients where appropriate under nurse direction
• Report and monitor minor maintenance issues
• Help maintain a safe environment, including fire exit access and general ward safety You will work as part of a wider team, helping create a calm, clean and supportive space for patients undergoing treatment. Full training will be provided to enable you to undertake all duties.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Why join us? Working at The Christie means being part of a supportive and values-driven team that puts patients first. You’ll receive full training, ongoing support, and the opportunity to contribute to a service that makes a real difference to people’s lives. If you are motivated by helping others, take pride in your work, and want to be part of a team delivering world-class cancer care, we would love to hear from you. As part of one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, you will play a vital role in enhancing the overall patient experience and enabling our clinical teams to deliver outstanding, compassionate care. You will work closely with nurses and other healthcare professionals, ensuring the unit runs smoothly and efficiently. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Those responsibilities in standard type will be from immediate effect. The responsibilities in italics will be those the postholder will progress into during the period of the apprenticeship.

• To undertake cleaning duties in accordance with the schedules and procedures of the SACT unit including cleaning of windows, mirrors, pictures, tables, lights, beds, surfaces, drip stands and infusion pumps.
• Clean under beds and treatment chairs a minimum or weekly.
• To undertake domestic duties e.g. removal of clinical and household refuse, dishwashing and any other duties, which are appropriate to maintain a high standard of cleanliness in conjunction with the existing domestic service.
• To receive ward meal trolley and assist in meal service as required in line with trust hygiene and food handling policy.
• To provide hot and cold drinks to patients at regular intervals throughout the day.
• Check and record fridge temperatures daily.
• To ensure the unit area is clean and tidy with particular responsibility for clean and dirty utility rooms, storeroom, linen room.
• To order weekly stock items online via NHS supply chain
• To order some non stock items as instructed by ward manager/Senior Sister
• To receive and check stores and other supplies and put them away in appropriate storage places.
• To ensure blinds, curtains and soft furnishings are maintained and to co-ordinate cleaning and re-hanging.
• To assist and direct patients/visitors where and when appropriate.
• To assist with the movement and escort of patients as appropriate to patient needs under the direction of the nurse in charge.
• To check the wards linen and ensure supplies are maintained.
• To clean and daily co-ordinate maintenance/repair of clinical and non-clinical equipment e.g. infusion pumps as specified.
• To assist ward receptionist in clerical duties e.g. simple filing.
• To take and deliver messages, including answering telephones as requested as part of the ward team. To communicate well within the team at all times.
• To record and action requests for basic/minor maintenance e.g. light bulbs, blocked sinks etc and to monitor their completion.
• To check fixtures/fittings weekly and report for maintenance. If no action after two weeks then report to Senior sister/Unit Manager.
• To have an overall awareness of the SACT unit environment, including general safety aspects e.g. free access to fire exits and alarm bells
• The postholder’s duties must always be carried out in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• To ensure barrier and vacated rooms are cleaned according to policy.
• To ensure kitchen is kept clean at all times and ensure good stock rotation system is in operation for dry goods and provisions.
• To undertake daily and weekly cleaning of ward/Unit equipment/environment as per disinfection/cleaning policy including drip stands / suction points etc
• To monitor standard of cleanliness on the SACT Unit liaising with domestic service and Ward/Unit Manager.
• To carry out monthly mattress audit and report and concerns to the ward manager
• To carry out daily water checks, ensuring water outlets are run without problems. 1) commitments, prepares care plan to ensure the delivery of effective patient care. 2) Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour
• The postholder is responsible for taking reasonable care with regard to him/herself, as well as for any colleagues, patients or visitors who might be affected by any act or failure to act by the postholder in accordance with the Trust’s policies on Health and Safety at Work.
• Ensure hand-washing equipment soap, paper towels, alcohol hand gel available at all sinks.
• To work within a team of housekeepers as part of a larger chemotherapy team.
• These duties and responsibilities are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and management reserve the right to require staff to undertake other duties and responsibilities consistent with the grade of the post.

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.