Job Introduction
At the heart of every thriving school is a dedicated caretaker who ensures a safe, clean, and well-maintained environment for students and staff. We’re looking for passionate individuals to join our team as caretakers, offering not just a job, but the chance to make a meaningful impact in schools and the wider community.
As a school caretaker, you will play a pivotal role in the day-to-day upkeep of the school, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for students, teachers, and visitors. This role is ideal for individuals who are hands-on, enjoy variety in their work, and are looking for a meaningful way to contribute to their community.
A Day in the Life of a School Caretaker
Imagine walking into a school early in the morning, the halls quiet and still. As a caretaker, you'll begin your day with a variety of tasks: checking that everything is in order, addressing any maintenance issues, and making sure the school is ready for the day’s activities. Whether you're helping set up for a big school event or ensuring that the grounds are tidy, every task contributes to creating a safe, positive learning environment for students.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Maintaining school grounds and buildings (cleaning, repairs, security).
Ensuring health and safety standards are met.
Setting up and managing facilities for events and activities.
Being a trusted point of contact for staff and visitors regarding building-related concerns.
Why Join Us? The Benefits of Being a School Caretaker
School caretakers enjoy the stability of public-sector employment, with predictable hours and reliable benefits. The role often comes with the added advantage of school holidays, giving you extra time to recharge. You could also have the opportunity to work across more than one school, having impact across more sites.
The successful candidate will work as part of the premises team, the Site Manager will coordinate and carry out a range of duties, to ensure safety, security, maintenance and cleanliness
of the site and premises. The post holder will have specific responsibility for the carrying out and recording of regular Health and Safety Checks and being the main part of contact for Health and Safety.
The post holder may be responsible for supervising members of the premises team.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
Maintain the security of the premises and its contents, including the operation of fire and burglar alarms.
Be a trustworthy key holder responsible for the open and close of the site.
Be responsible for the cleanliness of the premises.
To assist with inspection of the heating plant on a daily basis, carry out minor maintenance and report other defects. (Items of minor maintenance should be carried out if within the capability of the Caretaker and if the appropriate tools are available in the school).
Provide routine development and maintenance i.e. minor decoration, repairs and those tasks which would not normally require the services of an outside contractor.
Attend to the heating and lighting of the premises and maintain the required equipment.
Be available to attend the school in cases of emergency outside the working week e.g. intruders, fire, weather damage.
To sweep all external hard surface areas, remove weeds from between slabs and at edge of building, clear leaves and litter from drain covers and disinfect drains.
To clear paths of snow and spread salt as required for the health and safety of pupils and staff
To receive deliveries and carry out porterage duties in any area of the site to include removal or rearrangement of furniture within the school.
To assist with handyperson duties which are within the capability of the Caretaker and for which the appropriate tools are available in school, and to report
defects of the fabric of the building.
To remove litter from all areas within the school grounds and within the premises.
To clear any blockage, spillage or other hazard arising during the course of the school day.
To assist with administrative duties, for example submit job orders, order cleaning materials, under the direction of the Headteacher.
If necessary to attend out of normal working hours any emergency situation which may arise.
To attend evening lettings when required.
Liaise with outside agencies/ contractors as necessary to carry out additional work.
Work effectively with the Academy to ensure services, resources and equipment represents value for money within the schools budgetary parameters.
To work within the detail of the school’s Health, Safety and Welfare Policy.
To have responsibility for the day to day management of health and safety within the school.
To carry out fire and health and safety risk assessments.
To take measures to minimize the possibility of arson and to reduce the opportunity to start fires.
To carry out weekly fire alarms checks and to regularly check fire extinguishers.
To carry out weekly and monthly emergency lighting checks.
To manage security systems and liaise with the overnight security provider and ensure the effective working of the alarm systems.
To manage the school asbestos register as the School Asbestos Duty Holder.
To liaise with the relevant contractors when necessary and ensure that they are aware of the school’s Health and safety requirements.
Other
The duties and responsibilities in this job description are not exhaustive. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties that may be required from time to time within the general scope of the post. Any such duties should not substantially change the general character of the post. Duties and responsibilities outside of the general scope of this grade of post will be with the consent of the postholder.
The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with LAAT Equal Opportunities policies.
The postholder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the LAAT Health and Safety policies and procedures.
All employees need to be aware of the possible abuse of children and vulnerable adults and if you are concerned you need to follow the Academies’ Safeguarding Policy. In addition, employees working with children have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of during the course of their work.
In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, please be advised that if shortlisted, we will carry out internet searches to support our commitment to safer recruitment. Please note that the purpose of this is to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the school might want to explore with applicants at interview. Internet searches will be carried out by someone who is not directly involved in the recruitment process and only relevant information will be shared with the interview panel.
Fluency Duty
In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
The school advertising the vacancy will contact you directly regarding the outcome of your application and any interviews. When interviews are taking place schools will follow all Government and Public Health England Guidelines.
All shortlisted candidates will need to verify their eligibility to work in the UK at interview.
