Housekeeper

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The main elements of the role are ensuring the quality, delivery, cleaning, catering and minor maintenance, together with other specified tasks to meet individual patient needs as determined by the ward sister.

The ward housekeeper will be required to work closely with contractors and support service departments. He/she will monitor quality standards, report deficiencies and take appropriate action.

Support of Patients and Carers

To welcome patients, carers and visitors to the ward and promote a welcoming environment.

To explain to patients and visitors the ward layout, routines and facilities.

To ensure families and visitors are aware of refreshments facilities within the hospital (arranging carer access to the staff catering facilities where appropriate).

To assist people with accessing and interpreting information.

To ensure that patients and visitors are provided with information about the ward and visiting times etc.

To ensure that following a discharge the patient bed and surrounding area is thoroughly refreshed and prepared for the next admission.

To communicate to the wider health care team any additional patient or carer needs that become apparent to the housekeeper.

To promote the privacy and dignity of patients through effective ward housekeeping.

To ensure the patients space is respected.

To promote the safety of peoples property and belongings.

To ensure equipment on loan is returned promptly.

Maintaining the Ward Environment

To carry out monitoring of satisfactory service delivery especially relating to cleaning, food, linen maintenance and the environment in general (particularly ward clutter, e.g. notice boards and notices)

To take responsibility for ensuring clear signage that is up to date and well presented.

To inform ward sister of outcomes of monitoring and agree action plans

To take action as necessary to inform other departments e.g. cleaning, catering, laundry, supplies, maintenance etc.

To monitor ward the ward access and security and use of premises and facilities.

To manage the ward log books for maintenance and repairs and for domestic services, keeping the ward sister informed of any delays.

To liaise with Estates and facilities managers as required.

To provide household maintenance duties i.e. battery replacement in equipment and clocks etc.

To undertake medical equipment maintenance monitoring and ensure that cleaning between use is effectively undertaken.

To ensure that patient and visitor chairs and commodes are effectively cleaned and maintained.

To ensure clinical and other waste is bagged and disposed of correctly in accordance with the Trust Policy.

To clean and prepare beds and handle linen.

Catering

To prepare areas where food and beverages are served/consumed, clearing bedside tables and preparing patients for meal service and ensuring a pleasant environment is maintained.

To serve meals in conjunction with the nursing team and host/hostess, ensuring that patients receive meals appropriate to their special needs.

To provide assistance e.g. cutting up food, placing food within reach, encouraging patients to eat.

To ensure patients receive assistance to eat if required, alerting the nursing team as necessary.

To monitor patients food and fluid intake, in conjunction with the nursing staff.

To ensure that discharged and newly admitted patients meal requirements are actioned in conjunction with the ward nurse.

To co-ordinate extra meal requirements that may arise and obtain snack boxes for patients who require out of hours meals.

Cleaning

To assist in monitoring and maintaining cleaning standards on the ward to the satisfaction of patients and the ward sister.

To carry out spot cleaning to ensure that spillages and body fluids are dealt with swiftly and efficiently.

To ensure general and specialist equipment, e.g. drip stands and commodes are cleaned as to the cleaning schedule.

To ensure the ward is safe and tidy at all times, e.g. remove clutter, tidy notice board and ensure signage is clear

To identify any problems with cleanliness and report to the ward sister when action has not been taken.

To ensure satisfaction with specialist cleaning of surfaces and furnishings e.g. wall washing, curtain changes etc.

To ensure isolation nursing areas are cleaned appropriately and to monitor and ensure staff undertake appropriate hand washing and precautionary measures.

General Duties

To support the ward clerk by taking telephone messages and ordering supplies when required.

To assist with training of staff involved with domestic services into ward routines to achieve required standards.

To co-ordinate the work and activities of other staff at ward level, e.g. cleaners, porters, maintenance staff, security etc.

To co-ordinate Facilties services at ward level.

To undertake such other duties that are necessary to maintain a high standard of ward housekeeping.

To support the Ward Manager with the completion of clinical audits

Working Practices and Relationships

To ensure that Health and Safety and Fire regulations are adhered to

To maintain confidentiality with regard to all patient issues.

To be aware of Child protection and Vulnerable Adult issues.

Hand Hygiene, to ensure that supplies of hand cleaning solutions/alcohol rubs are constantly available in the ward and topped up as necessary. It is particularly important to check that supplies are available prior to going off duty in order to cover the night-time and weekend periods.

To co-ordinate hand hygiene promotion and publicity at ward level.

To ensure food hygiene regulations are maintained.

To foster peoples equality, diversity and right.

Person Specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Good all round general education.

Desirable

• English GCSE or equivalent

SKILLS/ABILITIES

Essential

• Good Writing Skills
• Work on own initiative.
• Monitoring and ordering of stock levels
• Able to prioritise
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability work in a team.
• Able to communicate at all levels

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Worked in the Public Services dealing with people

Desirable

• Relevant NHS experience with supervisory experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Address

Croydon University Hospital

London road

Thornton heath

CR7 7YE

Employer's website

https://www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/recruitment/ (Opens in a new tab)