Caretaker

Start October 2023 or soon after

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 13th August

Salary: Competitive depending on qualifications and experience

 School Context

Devonshire House is a large co-educational prep school (500 on roll) in Hampstead, north London, on the cusp of a transformational period of positive change, intent on offering an outstanding education in every sense for its pupils and their parents. The school has just acquired a fifth building, giving more scope for outdoor play and sport, as well as doubling specialist teaching room capacity. The values of the school are unashamedly traditional, whilst its outlook on teaching pedagogy is very much modern. Devonshire House aims to recruit the best teachers and leaders available and retain them by providing an attractive package and huge scope for career advancement. This is augmented by its engaged governance as part of Dukes Education, which promotes inter-school collaboration and collegiality.

Summary of the role

 The post holder will be responsible for general maintenance of the Devonshire House School grounds. The post holder will work closely with the Premises Manager and Head of Estates and Compliance to ensure the safety, cleanliness and general maintenance of the school sites at Devonshire House remains at a consistently high standard.

 Job Description

·        KEY TASKS

·        To ensure that the buildings and school site are secure, and to attend rapid response

call-outs as required

·        To undertake basic day to day maintenance tasks

·        To escort contractors whilst working onsite

·        To ensure that all allocated equipment, furniture and materials are stored safely and

securely in order to prevent unauthorised access and potential accidents/misuse

·        To perform duties in line with health and safety requirements and take remedial

action where hazards are identified

·        To work with Premises Manager with regards to skilled maintenance

·        To report serious hazards to the Premises Manager/Head of Estates and Compliance immediately

·        To assist in the monitoring of goods inwards and deliver to departments

·        To help to maintain the school grounds to ensure they are fit for purpose

·        To carry out any other duties as may from time to time be required by the Head of

Estates and Compliance

·        To maintain confidentiality

·        To participate in training and other learning activities and performance development

as required

·        Undertake any other reasonable requests made by your line manager

Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential criteria:

·        Handy person or DIY experience

·        Ability to work as part of a team

·        Ability to work in accordance with the school’s health and safety policies and the

code of safe working practice for caretaking premises staff

·        Ability to work to deadlines

·        Ability to work on own initiative

·        Ability to lift and carry heavy items

 Desirable criteria:

·        Caretaking in a school or similar environment 

·        Driving license

Professional Qualifications and Continuing Professional Development

Essential criteria:

·        Good numeracy and literacy skills

·        Willingness to undertake induction training

·        Willingness to participate in ongoing training

Desirable criteria:

·        NVQ or equivalent qualification in Building Services

Personal Qualities

·        Enthusiastic and energetic 

·        A team player

·        Good organisational skills 

·        Resilient and Resourceful

·        Excellent practitioner able to inspire pupils in the love of sport

·        Ability to make decisions quickly and solve problems as and when they arise

·        Ability to communicate effectively with pupils, staff, and parents

Devonshire House Preparatory School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Devonshire House Preparatory School is an equal opportunities employer. If the candidate has lived in a country other than the UK for a period of 3 months or more since the age of 18, a foreign criminal policy check will be required irrespective of whether they worked in those countries.