School Caretaker

School caretaker or site manager is definitely not a nine-to-five job – with early starts and some evening duties, this type of work suits people with a flexible approach who enjoy the challenge of a varied routine. Whilst all caretakers and site managers are concerned with making sure that teachers and pupils can work in clean and safe surroundings, the duties can vary considerably in schools of different size. In smaller schools the term ‘caretaker’ tends to be used; in larger schools, where the work often involves supervising cleaners and other workers, the term ‘site manager’ may be preferred. Caretakers/site managers are employed by school governing bodies within local authorities that provide education services.

Work Environment
Caretakers and site managers work indoors – in classrooms, cloakrooms, corridors, halls and offices – and outdoors, in the school grounds. They are on their feet most of the day, and the work involves lifting and carrying. For tasks such as cleaning and repair work they may wear overalls, protective footwear and gloves. They work on their own or part of of a team, but meet a variety of people during the working day, including the school’s staff, pupils, parents and outside contractors.

Daily Activities
Caretakers and site managers are responsible for the safety, security and cleanliness of school premises. On a daily basis they walk round the school and grounds, checking cleanliness and tidiness, looking for damage and items needing repair. They unlock the premises in the morning and lock up at night. Other duties vary, but may include:

• cleaning or supervising cleaners;
• controlling access to the premises, maintaining security and reporting incidents, such as vandalism, to the police and head teacher;
• reporting items needing repair, carrying out basic repairs (such as replacing broken window panes or fixing leaking taps), arranging for outside contractors to do more complicated repairs;
• looking after the school’s swimming pool;
• maintaining the school’s grounds, or supervising staff carrying out this work;
• dealing with lettings in the evenings and at weekends.

Caretakers/site managers plan their own routines, to suit day-to-day requirements and the needs of the school.

Skills & Interests
Caretakers and site managers need to be:

• capable of establishing good working relationships with the head teacher, office and teaching staff, pupils, parents, cleaners, etc;
• flexible in their approach to planning the working day;
• well organised, conscientious and reliable;
• practical, with basic DIY skills;
• able to undertake physical elements of the role.

Entry Requirements
Academic qualifications are not required. Entrants of all ages can apply. Training may include short off-the-job courses – for example in first aid, health and safety matters, use of electrical appliances and cleaning.

All applicants will be subject to thorough employment checks and must have an Enhanced DBS on the Update Service certificate in place.

Candidates without an Enhanced DBS on the Update Service will have to apply for a new one.

If you believe you have the skills required for this role, please apply now. If you haven’t heard from us within two weeks of the vacancy closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Important Notice In order to apply for the above position all applicants must be eligible to work in the UK, or eligible to apply for a relevant work visa.

Excell Supply are unable to offer a work permit to any applicant or facilitate work permits for any vacancy on behalf of one of its clients. It is Excell Supply policy, as a matter of courtesy, to respond to all applications within three working days.

However, because of the volume of applications, we are sometimes unable to respond to individual candidates. If we have not contacted you within three working days your application has been unsuccessful and your details have not been retained.