Job description

The post holder will work as an integral part of the ward team. He/she will assist in the coordination of all patient facilities/services in the ward area and to ensure a clean, safe and comfortable environment.

The main elements of the role are ensuring the delivery of cleaning delivery rooms, catering and minor maintenance, together with other specified tasks to meet patient needs, as determined by the Supervisory Sister.

The post holder will work closely with contractors and support services departments as directed by the Supervisory Sister. He/she will assist in maintaining quality standards and rectify deficiencies.

We have an exciting opportunity for housekeepers to join our friendly and dynamic teams within the Women and Children's Division. You must have the enthusiasm and desire to deliver a high quality service to our patients and their families. The candidate must have excellent communication and organisational skills, be work independently using their initiative and within a team ensuring a clean, safe environment is maintained for patients safety.

This role will be a valuable addition to our ward team, you will be responsible for ensuring the ordering and distribution of patients meals and drinks and assisting when needed and ensuring the ward is adequately stocked with consumables. You will be working together with the multidisciplinary team to ensure the departments are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness of both the ward environment and clinical equipment .

The successful applicant must be flexible and willing to work shifts covering a Monday to Sunday service, including bank holidays and nights.

Our maternity services provide a full range of maternity care. Our staff are committed to providing personalised care to the highest standards.

We are based at Southmead Hospital and provide a full range of obstetric services .The maternity department is one of the largest in the country, was awarded ‘Good’ by the CQC has more than 5200 births each year.

These include a Consultant led Obstetric Unit with 12 and a pool room. The antenatal ward hosts a Triage, day assessment area and inpatient ward. The postnatal ward prides itself on giving the best quality postnatal care, caring for each other and the new mothers, families and babies.

There is an Alongside Midwifery Unit , a Freestanding Midwifery Unit at Cossham Hospital , and Home Birth Team. There are highly skilled midwifery teams who value the autonomy and varied responsibilities of these areas.

The Maternity services are well renowned nationally and internationally, having created and developed PROMPT and has a wide research portfolio. Room 10 is a truly multi-disciplinary hub room on the central delivery suite which demonstrates the value of working alongside others with professionalism and safety.

We offer an induction programme and will support you with achieving your career goals. You will work a day/night shift pattern.

Staff working at NBT describe the kindness and care that is demonstrated to each other. Great importance is placed on civility and a team ethos of going the extra mile together

Cleaning

• To assist the Senior Sister in maintaining cleaning standards on delivery suite and maternity theatres.
• To carry out cleaning of general and specialist equipment, e.g. drip stands and observation machines as per cleaning policy.
• To assist in keeping the ward safe and tidy at all times, e.g. remove clutter, room cleans.
• To maintain upkeep of patients bed areas.
• To assist in specialist cleaning of surfaces and furnishings
• Catering
• To prepare and serve hot/cold snacks (e.g. breakfast) as requested offering a 24 hour snack service.
• To serve meals in conjunction with the team, ensuring patients intake is known and that their dietary needs are met.
• To prepare areas where food and beverages are served/consumed to ensure a pleasant environment for patients.
• To check that the ward kitchen is clean and tidy at all times, e.g. discarding out-of-date food and stock rotation beyond the daily clean by the patient support team (PST).
• To ensure refrigerated food is labelled and stored correctly in accordance with Trust operational policy.
• To co-ordinate extra meal requirements that may arise
• Maintaining the Environment
• To assist in the monitoring and audit of service delivery, especially related to cleaning, food, linen and the environment, at the agreed frequency, and to inform the ward sister of the outcomes.
• To assist in completing the wards defect call log book, ensuring all defects are logged, reported, recorded and closed down as appropriate.
• To assist in co-ordinating other ad hoc maintenance, liaising with the support service helpdesk as required for other services.
• To assist the Senior Sister in carrying out regular equipment monitoring as necessary in accordance with procedures.
• To transport and dispose of clinical, domestic and confidential waste as per the policy, e.g. taking waste to the ward disposal area in conjunction with the PST.
• To participate with ward staff in monitoring the access and security and use of premises and facilities.
• To ensure that patients space is respected including attending to patients perishable items e.g. fruit.
• To respect the privacy and dignity of patients whilst carrying out housekeeping duties.
• To liaise with the Senior Sister concerns relating to the potential for adverse behaviour and security breaches.
• To use communication skills to help manage and prevent any aggressive and abusive behaviour, and escalate this to a senior member of staff as necessary.
• To ensure the safe storage of equipment.
• To ensure equipment is in good working order. Ensure equipment repairs are carried out in line with trust policy.

• To assist in maintaining and updating paper-based records and information as required.
• To respond to requests for general information.
• To receive and pass on information to others, maintaining confidentiality.
• To understand the Trusts Complaints Procedure and act in accordance with this procedure.
• To assist with training of staff involved with ward housekeeping services explaining the required standards.
• To be aware of any new food hygiene standards, changes to waste categorisation.