Job responsibilities
Housekeeping Assistant
Pay Band 2
37.5 hours per week
Permanent
Alexandra Hospital Housekeeping
Accountable
to Facilities Manager
Reports
to Housekeeping Supervisor
Key Working Relationships Ward and Departmental staff, patients and
visitors.
Risk Assessment
Job
Purpose: To assist in maintaining a clean and hygienic
environment for patients, staff and visitors. To carry out general cleaning
duties in all areas of the hospital and to apply specialist-cleaning methods
using appropriate materials and equipment where necessary.
Key
Duties
Carry our specialised cleaning tasks, including isolation rooms,
theatres to agreed standards.
To decontaminate rooms as requested using specialist Hydrogen
Peroxide Vapour equipment in line with IPCT guidelines.
Have the ability to follow instructions and to suggest changes in
working practices
Use a two-way radio system.
Undertake the safe removal of body fluid spillages in public and
communal areas.
Occasional exposure to distressing circumstances e.g.
vulnerable/aggressive patients.
Wear the correct PPE at all times and in line with IPCT guidelines.
To clean using the correct method, equipment and materials.
Remove waste from work area and place in waste cupboards.
To undertake the cleaning of all surfaces including floors, edges,
ledges, fixtures and fittings.
To clean sanitary areas using the correct method and equipment.
To carry out high- and low-level cleaning.
To replenish supplies of paper towels, toilet rolls, soap, hand
sanitizer and hand conditioner.
Ensure that all work is carried out in a safe manner and hazard
warning signs are displayed.
Adhere to the departmental colour coding policy.
Comply with the Trust Infection Control policies and procedures.
Use mechanical equipment as required.
Report defective equipment to the housekeeping supervisor.
Clean equipment after use.
Use all cleaning chemicals in a safe and appropriate manner.
Working at heights as required.
Cleaning of ventilation grilles and light fittings.
Our Shared Values and Behaviours
We are committed to delivering outstanding care and creating
a culture where everyone feels respected, valued and supported. We seek
individuals who share our purpose of helping people live healthier, more
fulfilling lives, and who are motivated by our mission to be the best team we
can be. You will be expected to uphold our values by communicating openly,
acting with kindness, showing respect for others and taking responsibility for
your actions. These values guide how we work together and continually improve
the care we provide.
Our
values are
Being
open and honest we all communicate clearly and
honestly, asking for help when we need it, and making it easier for the people around us to share ideas and concerns.
Ensuring
people feel cared for we all take responsibility for actively
supporting and nurturing a kind and compassionate environment for ourselves and others.
Showing
respect for everyone we all act with consideration and fairness, valuing each other as individuals and appreciating our different perspectives.
Standard Clauses
The purpose of this post should remain constant, but the
duties and responsibilities may vary over time within the overall role and
level of the post. The post holder may
from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any such changes will be made in discussion
with the post holder in the light of service needs.
Competence
The post holder is responsible for limiting their actions to
those which they feel competent to undertake.
If the post holder has any doubts as to their competence during the
course of their duties, then they should immediately speak to their line
manager or supervisor.
Codes of conduct
All employees of the Trust who are required to be registered
with a professional body, to enable them to practise within their profession,
are required to comply with their code of conduct and requirements of their
professional registration. Those staff
that are not required to be registered with a professional body are required to
comply with the Trusts codes of conduct.
Confidentiality
The post holder must maintain confidentiality, security and
integrity of information relating to patients, staff and other Health Service
business.
Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on
them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Manual Handling
Operations Regulations (1992) and all relevant Trust Health and Safety Policies
and Guidance. This ensures that the
agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for
employees, patients and visitors to the Trust.
Infection Control
Employees must accept personal responsibility and
accountability for Infection Prevention and Control practice. Employees should ensure they are familiar
with, and comply with, all relevant Infection Control policies for minimising
the risk of avoidable Health Care Associated Infection. All Employees must undertake annual mandatory
updates in Infection Control.
Commitment to Improvement
Our improvement methodology supports delivery of our
strategic objectives by equipping teams with the skills and mindset to drive
continuous improvement. It promotes a shared approach to identifying,
communicating, and measuring change to enhance care quality and safety. You
will be expected to take part in relevant training to support this.
Non-Smoking Policy
The Trusts approach to
smoking is in line with the governments on-going initiatives for an eventual
smoke-free environment. It aims to adhere to the Worcestershire Health
Community Campaign to help Worcestershire stop smoking.
A no smoking
environment policy exists within all Trust premises including entrances and
exits to hospital buildings and on other Trust property. In June 2014 a ban was
implanted which meant staff, contractors and volunteers were no longer
permitted to smoke in any of the hospital grounds, including car parks.
Further to this, The
Alexandra, Kidderminster and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals, have all become
smoke free to all patients and visitors as of 17 June 2015. This means that, as well as staff, members of
the public, patients and visitors are not allowed to smoke in any of the acute
hospital grounds, including car parks.
Risk Management
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of
all employees of the Trust that they fulfil a proactive role towards the
management of risk in all of their actions.
This entails the risk assessment of all situations, taking appropriate
actions, and reporting all incidents, near misses, and hazards promptly. It is a contractual obligation that all
employees must co-operate with any investigations undertaken.
Children and vulnerable adults
You have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the
welfare of the children / young people / vulnerable adults that you come into
contact with or are responsible for in your job role and sphere of competence.
Disclosure and Barring Service
The Trust aims to promote equality of opportunity for all,
with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Criminal records will be taken into account
for recruitment purposes, only when the conviction is relevant. As the Trust meets the requirements in
respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974,
all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record
check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is
confirmed. This will include details of
cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. Postholders may periodically be asked to
undertake a re-check.
The Trust is legally required to check all staff against the
Disclosures and Barring Services Childrens and Vulnerable Adults barring lists
if they engage in what is defined as Regulated Activity or Controlled
Activity: Regulated Activity is defined as working closely with children or
vulnerable adults, paid or unpaid, on a frequent or intensive basis. Controlled activity is work that provides
opportunities for contact with children or vulnerable adults.
Equality and Diversity
The Trust promotes policies and practices that challenge
discrimination, promote equality, respect individual needs, preferences and
choices, and protects human rights. The
Trust has a clear commitment to equality for all in employment practices based
on an applicants ability, skills and aptitude for the post. A range of equality & diversity policy
initiatives are in place and all successful applicants are expected to familiarise
themselves with these. It is therefore
the duty of every employee to comply with the detail and spirit of these
policies and the law at all times. Any
issues or concerns you have should be taken up with your manager or the human
resource team as soon as possible.
Dignity
All employees must treat each person as an individual,
offering a personalised service respecting peoples dignity and modesty at all
times.
Conflict of Interest
The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the service
provided for patients and its care meet the highest standard. Equally, it is responsible for ensuring that
staff do not abuse their official position for personal gain or to benefit
their family or friends. The Trusts
Standing Orders require any member of staff to declare any interest, direct or
indirect, with contracts involving the Trust.
Staff are not allowed to further their private interests in the course
of their NHS duties.
