Residential Services Assistant

Durham; North East; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A higher education institution in North East England is seeking a Residential Services Assistant to ensure safety and compliance within its college environment. The role includes responsibilities such as conducting legal checks, assisting with emergency situations, and supporting students and staff. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and basic digital literacy. This full-time position offers a starting salary of £23,205 per annum, plus potential allowances, and comprehensive employee benefits including annual leave and health support.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus public holidays

Discounts via benefits portal

On site nursery

Support for health and wellbeing

Generous pension schemes

Qualifications

• Good spoken and written communication skills.
• Basic digital skills including the ability to use the internet and email.
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Experience of managing time to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Carry out legal compliance checks and security patrols.
• Provide emergency response and reception cover.
• Ensure larger maintenance issues are reported.

Skills

Good spoken and written communication skills

Basic digital skills

Experience of working in a team

Ability to follow instructions accurately

Education

Full Drivers Licence

Job description

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long‑term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]

Job Description – Residential Services Assistant (25001789)

Residential Services Assists (RSAs) cover multiple areas of a College and work in a supportive team carrying out legal compliance checks such as Legionella, security patrols to ensure the safety of buildings and residents. Responsibilities also include setting up meeting rooms, undertaking minor repairs and maintenance tasks and ensuring larger scale maintenance issues are reported to Estates & Facilities. During out of hours, RSAs are the first point of contact for all welfare and buildings issues, and provide emergency response and reception cover, liaising with appropriate College/Duty Officers and staff.

Specific Role Information

Contracts are up to any 5 days from 7 which may include bank holidays, nights and weekends. All contracts are 35 hours a week, full time and permanent. An indicative roster is assigned to each position which is subject to change with two weeks’ notice.

Within Residential Services there are 5 standard indicative shift patterns with a basic starting salary of £23,205 per annum. Depending on the shift pattern, an additional permanent allowance may apply up to £4,900 for weekend night shift resulting in a maximum annual salary of circa £28,000.

Typical Role Requirements

• Provide an excellent service to our students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role by carrying out your tasks using the relevant procedures (which we will provide training for).
• Look after yourself and others by following health and safety regulations including correctly wearing any protective clothing or equipment provided e.g. safety shoes, being aware of any hazards and risks and reporting any incidents.
• Carry out some tasks that may require specialist skills and may be physically demanding.
• Clean and look after specialist equipment and tools when necessary.

Teamwork

• Help and cooperate with the rest of your team.
• Help your colleagues when required with other key activities undertaken within your service.
• Help to move, set-up and dismantle any equipment or tools.
• Learn new skills and practices from more experienced colleagues.
• Bring any problems to the attention of more senior colleagues.

Communication / Personal

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Respond to routine requests for information.
• Use digital devices and apps (such as email) to communicate with students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Service Delivery

• Provide an excellent service to our students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role by carrying out your tasks using the relevant procedures (which we will provide training for).
• Look after yourself and others by following health and safety regulations including correctly wearing any protective clothing or equipment provided e.g. safety shoes, being aware of any hazards and risks and reporting any incidents.
• Carry out some tasks that may require specialist skills and may be physically demanding.
• Clean and look after specialist equipment and tools when necessary.

Working at Durham

• 27 Days annual leave per year (in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year), a total of 39 days.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• Discounts via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• On site nursery is available plus access to holiday camps for children aged 5‑16.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state‑of‑the‑art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24‑7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications, to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
• Generous pension schemes.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply

• Good spoken and written communication skills.
• Basic digital skills including the ability to use the internet and email.
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Experience of managing time to meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow instructions, spoken or written, accurately.
• Ability to follow health and safety guidelines.
• An interest or understanding of working in a buildings, estates & services area.

Full Drivers Licence (may be essential for certain colleges / roles).

Experience of working in a buildings or estates services area.

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications online. When you apply you need to submit a CV and/or a statement that tells us your experience and gives examples of how you meet the criteria above and/or submit the application form and include the information within the form.

We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e‑recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

Who to contact for more information

[e-mail]

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long‑term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]