Building Craft Operative

University Hospitals Sussex; Mid Sussex; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Mid Sussex is seeking a Building Handy Person to maintain the building fabric and carry out carpentry repairs. The role involves a variety of maintenance tasks including dealing with health and safety incidents, key cutting, and door lock repairs. Applicants should hold an NVQ Level 3 in Carpentry or Joinery and demonstrate experience in a similar environment. This full-time position offers a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, furthering your career in the NHS.

Qualifications

• Experience of maintaining building fabric internally and externally.
• Proven ability in carpentry and joinery.
• Experience in dealing with Health & Safety issues.

Responsibilities

• Maintain building fabric and perform carpentry repairs at Trust premises.
• Carry out planned preventative maintenance routines.
• Repair and replace locks, door furniture, and assist with emergency repairs.

Skills

Door locks

Key cutting

Bricklaying

Carpentry

Maintenance

Education

NVQ Level 3 or Equivalent in Carpentry / Joinery

Job description

View all our vacancies across our hospitals in Sussex. Search, find and apply for a job with us today.

Main area Building Handy Person with experience of door locks, key cutting & bricklaying Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Occasional overtime may be required) Job ref 279-7585475-DEC25

Employer University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site St Richards Hospital Town Chichester Salary £27,485 - £30,162 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/01/2026 23:59

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values . We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research , we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

To carry out carpentry and Building repairs and maintain the building fabric both internally and externally to Trust owned premises.

Deal with incidents such as damaged fire doors (Health & Safety) lost keys (departmental, controlled drugs cupboards) broken glass to doors, windows (Health & Safety)

To provide assistance if required to other craftsmen within the Estates Department.

To have a flexible approach within the Estates Team and carry out maintenance functions considered foreign to their profession provided such work is done within (Health & Safety) guidelines and they have the required training, skills and supervision

To carry out tasks in any site owned and maintained by University Hospitals Sussex SRH as required

Applicants will ideally have gained a City and Guilds, NVQ level 3 qualification in Carpentry & Joinery or other building skills. They should have experience of fitting, replacing and repairing door locks, cutting keys, repairing and maintaining automatic doors. Excellent painting skills. Experience of brick laying would be beneficial. In addition planned and reactive maintenance works which would have been gained within large complex building environments.

Main duties of the job

Planned preventative maintenance, (PPMs) routines on plant, equipment, building fabric and services in line with manufacturer’s recommendations, best practice and consummate with trained skills and experience.

Repairs and construction of timber fixtures and fittings

First and second fixing to new and alteration work

Carry out minor repairs to fencing and gates.

To repair or replace locks, door closers and door furniture of all kinds. If possible, cut keys.

Work on automatic doors

Repair all types of timber flooring

Minor repairs of blinds and fixing of curtain tracks and similar fixtures and fittings, coat hooks, shelving, notice boards, etc.

Erection and dismantling of, trestles, hop-ups, staging, ladders and step ladders providing training has been completed by the operative.

Deal with incidents such as damaged fire doors (Health & Safety), lost keys, departmental and controlled drugs cupboards, broken glass to doors, windows.

Carry out defective item maintenance on the carpentry and building fabric (internally & externally) in line with best practice, health and safety and consummate with trained skills and experience with the aim of returning the item to service within target time frames.

Carry out tasks as instructed/requested with a minimum of supervision, in line with best building practice and consummate with trained skills and experience.

Carry out refurbishment and/or new works, as required from time to time as directed by the Team Leader.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop.We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

Planned preventative maintenance, (PPMs) routines on plant, equipment, building fabric and services in line with manufacturer’s recommendations, best practice and consummate with trained skills and experience.

Repairs and construction of timber fixtures and fittings

First and second fixing to new and alteration work

Use of access equipment for carrying out minor repairs internally and externally to windows and roof lights on any form of construction.

Carry out minor repairs to fencing and gates.

To repair or replace locks, door closers and door furniture of all kinds. If possible, cut keys.

Work on automatic doors

Fit or replace laminates and Formica materials to fixtures and fittings.

Repair all types of timber flooring

Minor repairs of blinds and fixing of curtain tracks and similar fixtures and fittings, coat hooks, shelving, notice boards, etc.

Erection and dismantling of, trestles, hop-ups, staging, ladders and step ladders providing training has been completed by the operative.

Deal with incidents such as damaged fire doors (Health & Safety), lost keys, departmental and controlled drugs cupboards, broken glass to doors and windows.

Carry out defective item maintenance on the carpentry and building fabric (internally & externally) in line with best practice, health and safety and consummate with trained skills and experience with the aim of returning the item to service within target time frames.

Carry out tasks as instructed/requested with a minimum of supervision, in line with best building practice and consummate with trained skills and experience.

Carry out refurbishment and/or new works, as required from time to time as directed by the Team Leader.

To advise the Team Leader of health and safety /maintenance issues, perceived or otherwise which may affect the safe operation of the building fabric and clinical services.

To attend training courses as appropriate for the post including Health & Safety requirements.

To develop and maintain good working relationships with Clinicians, Departmental Heads, Risk Management and Contractors.

Person specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or Equivalent in Carpentry / Joinery.

Communication

Experience

• Previous role in carpentry or joinery
• experience of working in a Hopsital or similar environment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Important information for applicants:

A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.