HousekeeperNHS

Job summary

Responsible for providing general housekeeping services to clinical and non-clinical areas of the Hospice ensuring high standards of cleanliness are maintained.

Main duties of the job

Maintain good communication across all departments.

Report any equipment or fittings that require maintenance in line with Hospice procedures

Judgements involving straightforward job related situations

Prioritise cleaning tasks of the IPU in order to deliver a clean working environment,

Clean all areas as detailed in the cleaning schedule and instruction from the Guest Services Manager or Nurse in charge.

Ensure the patient bedrooms / communal rooms are cleaned daily and kept clean and tidy to ensure a safe environment.

Ensure that following discharge, all rooms are deep cleaned in line with Infection Control policies.

To support with the laundry, ensuring linen levels are maintained, ensuring adequate supply is available, tidy and ready for use.

Ability to plan ahead to ensure efficient running of the IPU in terms of meeting cleaning standards.

Carry out quality spot checks through the working day and rectify any issues found.

Normal cleaning duties that will be obtained through practice and practical training.

Carry out laundry procedures as and when instructed.

Ensure that personal privacy, dignity and confidentiality relating to all aspects of patient care is met.

Be aware of the Health and Safety policies and the requirements of COSHH

Adhere to Infection Control protocols in relation to cleaning and decontamination processes and ensure regular link to infection control group to ensure guidelines are followed.

Job description

Communication and relationships

Maintain good communication across all departments with staff, volunteers, patients and visitors.

Report any equipment or fittings that require maintenance in line with Hospice procedures

Analytical and judgement skills

Judgements involving straightforward job related situations

Planning and organisational skills

Clean all areas as detailed in the cleaning schedule and instruction from the Guest Services Manager or Nurse in charge.

• Physical skills

Normal cleaning duties that will be obtained through practice and practical training.

Carry out laundry procedures as and when instructed.

• Patient Client Care

Assists patients or relatives providing ancillary services and awareness of special requirements when working in patient bedrooms.

Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.

Policy & Service Development

Be aware of the Health and Safety policies and the requirements of COSHH

Comply with Hospice policies and procedures.

May comment on proposed change which applies to own area of work.

• Financial & Physical Resources

Contribute to effective stock control of all cleaning products and supplies.

Exercise personal duty of care when using expensive equipment i.e. carpet cleaner or window cleaner.

Report as necessary any faults re: equipment or office accommodation and ensure the safety and security of the building is met

Human Resources

Responsible for providing advice and support to new or less experienced employees in own area of work.

Attend mandatory training and training courses related to duties of the post ensuring regular updating

Maintain confidentiality in relation to all work matters

Information Resources

• Records personally generated information for own work area.
• Research and Development

Continually look for ways to improve the quality of the service one provides to guests, patients, visitors, volunteers and staff.

• Freedom to Act

Works within established procedures and work is supervised.

Physical

Ongoing light physical effort will be required for vacuuming and carpet cleaning.

• Mental

Care and attention must be applied at all times when working in areas with staff patients and volunteers in particular to keep a safe working environment.

• Emotional

Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances when working on the In Patient Unit.

• Working Conditions

Occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions.

• Data Protection and Confidentiality

All employees have a responsibility in line with information governance to maintain confidentiality and ensure the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 are applied to patients, clients, staff, volunteers and Hospice business information, including electronic information. Only information required to fulfil the duties of the role should be accessed by the post holder.

All employees have a responsibility to use electronic systems in a way that preserves the dignity and privacy of people, helps to ensure services of the highest quality, and is compliant with the law and Hospice policies and procedures

• Health and Safety

The Hospice will take all reasonably practical steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees while at work. Employees will familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and procedure as well as the fire procedures and ensure a safe working environment for self and others in line with these.

Safeguarding

All employees within the Hospice have a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and ensure they are protected from harm.

All employees should make themselves aware of the policies and procedures of safeguarding, take personal responsibility as far as is reasonably practicable, to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, complete statutory and mandatory training and take appropriate action as set out in the Hospices policies and procedures.

Infection Control

• All employees have a responsibility to ensure the risk of infection to themselves, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

Attending mandatory training and role specific infection prevention education and training

Challenging poor infection prevention and control practices

Ensuring their own compliance with Hospice Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedure.

• Equal Opportunities

The Hospice welcomes all persons without regard to race, religion or belief, age, gender re-assignment, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership, physical or mental disability. The Hospice aims to provide services in a manner that enables all members of the community to access them.

Employees must behave in a non-judgemental manner that respects the differing needs and cultures of others.

About us

About us: St Cuthberts Hospice provides holistic care for patients with life limiting illnesses. Our 10 bedded palliative care In Patient Unit provides individualised care planned to support the total wellbeing of each person, taking into account their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. Our Living Well Centre delivers groups and activities to enable people with life limiting illnesses cope better with their health and wellbeing and support them to regain control of their life. We value the contribution of all our workforce comprising of over 90 staff and 395 volunteers. We are an equal opportunities employer and believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, encouraging applications from all sectors of the community.

Our Values: Compassionate, Respect, Integrity, Professionalism, Choice, Reputation. These define who we are and guide what we do to ensure the highest quality care for those accessing our services and the highest quality experience for staff working here.