Cleaning jobs in United Kingdom

Go back Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

The closing date is 26 February 2026

The role of Housekeeper is an opportunity to join a large team of dedicated staff. The role of a housekeeper is essential in maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients, staff and visitors. You would be involved in cleaning all areas of the hospital including areas which require specialist cleaning such as theatres, the hospital sterilisation unit and isolation rooms. The role is varied and staff may be expected to work as part of a team or alone.

The cleaning service operates 24/7 and uses a variety of different equipment both manual and mechanical.

All aspects of training will be covered and you will be joining a supportive and friendly team where all staff are valued for the contribution they make in maintaining high standards of cleaning.

Main Duties: General cleaning duties of all interior areas of the hospital including clinical, non-clinical and staff and public areas.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester.

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in SupportingInformation section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Pay Band: 2

Hours: 20 hours per week

Contract: Fixed term

Accountable to: Facilities Manager

Reports to: Housekeeping Senior Supervisor

Key Working Relationships: Ward and Departmental Staff: patients and visitors

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:

• Clean allocated work area to the agreed standards and frequencies as detailed in work schedules.
• Carry out specialised cleaning tasks; including isolation rooms, theatres etc. to agree standards.
• To decontaminate rooms as requested using specialist hydrogen peroxide vapour equipment in line with IPCT guidelines. This will include recording information so that an accurate record of processes is maintained.
• Have the ability to follow instructions and to suggest changes in working practices.
• Undertake the safe removal of body fluids spills in public and communal areas in line with IPCT guidelines.
• To act as a mentor for newly appointed staff, providing on‑job training and instruction.
• Occasional exposure to distressing circumstances e.g. vulnerable / aggressive patients.
• Always wear the correct PPE and in line with IPCT guidelines.
• To clean using the correct method, equipment and materials.
• Remove waste from work area and place at collection point in line with departmental procedures.
• To undertake the cleaning of all surfaces including edges, ledges, fixtures and fittings.
• To undertake the cleaning of all hard and soft floors using the correct method and equipment.
• To clean sanitary areas using the correct method and equipment.
• To carry out high‑ and low‑level cleaning using the correct method and equipment.
• To replenish supplies of paper hand towels, toilet rolls, soap, hand sanitizer and conditioner.
• Carry out specialised cleaning as specified by the housekeeping supervisor.
• Ensure that all work is carried out in a safe manner and hazard warning signs are displayed.
• Adhere to the departmental colour coding policies and procedures.
• Use mechanical equipment as required.
• Report defective equipment to the housekeeping supervisor.
• Use all cleaning chemicals in a safe and appropriate manner.
• Working at Heights is required.
• Cleaning of ventilations grilles and light fittings.
• Removal and cleaning of Radiators covers.

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 Trust’s codes of conduct.

Confidentiality:

The post holder must maintain confidentiality, security and integrity of information relating to patients, staff and other Health Service business.

Records Management:

All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records that they gather, create or use as part of their work within the Trust (including patient, financial, personnel and administrative), whether paper or computer based. All such records are considered public records and all employees have a legal duty of confidence to service users. Employees should consult their manager if they have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which they work.

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 system 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.

The Trust’s approach to smoking is in line with the government's ongoing 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 (with the exception of staff residences, as these are the homes of staff). In June 2014 a ban was implemented 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.

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 cooperate 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 Children 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.

• experience in the use of cleaning chemicals or equipment
• experience in a health care or similar apply

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.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust