Head Housekeeper

Job Title: Head Housekeeper

Reporting To: Home Manager

Job Summary:
Responsible for the day-to-day management of the domestic cleaning service and its standards of cleanliness, ensuring a clean, tidy and safe environment for our residents. Uphold and actively promote the values and philosophy so each day is the best it can be for residents and staff.
As a Head Housekeeper you play a key role in ensuring our residents enjoy first class care that is: safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led.

Principles of Delivery:

• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness within the home and ensuring the domestic services run efficiently. Be aware of resident and home needs and identify where improvements and/or requirements need to be addressed.
• Compliance with and promotion of the relevant quality control systems and coaching staff to ensure quality, safety, hygiene and cleanliness standards are met and staff are engaged in these areas.
• Supporting the Home Manager in developing and managing effectively and efficiently the budgetary, human and material resources within the department

Primary Duties:

• As part of the working team, you will supervise the Domestic staff in their daily duties ensuring that cleaning schedules are completed to the required standard.
• To complete monthly rotas for Domestic staff and to maintain staff records on holidays and sickness absence.
• Maintain high standards at all times and training, mentoring, supervision and instruction of team members to ensure the provision of quality services.
• To inspect all rooms on a regular basis, checking areas for cleanliness and monitoring standards through record keeping and to ensure the highest standards of infection control at all times.
• To order stock and monitor stock control of supplies and to distribute throughout the Home, ensuring that supplies are used efficiently within the set budget.
• To ensure all relevant equipment is in good working order and in compliance with Health and Safety Regulations.
• To maintain Health and Safety records (including COSHH)
• To induct new staff into their job duties and to train them to the required COSHH and Health and Safety standards.
• To take personal responsibility in becoming fully aware of Health and Safety Policies in particular Fire Procedures, Control of Infection and COSHH.
• To assist in ensuring the security of all residents and the premises through the observance of security procedures and the challenging of any strangers in the Home.
• To participate in meetings and training events as required.
• Act as positive role model for team members.
• Commitment to own ongoing professional development.

Policy and Development

• Read and comply with the relevant policies and procedures.
• Comply with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, using discretion and judgement as appropriate.
• Contribute to developments in domestic cleaning procedures, standards and service provision.
• Identify own training needs and attend any reasonable relevant training as may be required.
• Supervise and train junior staff in domestic cleaning duties and ensuring they are compliant with the above regulations and policies.

Health and Safety

• Maintain and monitor appliances, surfaces, personal items and floors as per cleaning requirements and to ensure that the home is left in a clean and tidy state at all times.
• Ensure domestic cleaning standards are maintained at all times.
• Take personal responsibility in becoming fully aware of Health & Safety at Work Policies in particular Fire Procedures, Control of Infection, COSHH and Moving & Handling Policies.
• In accordance with the current Health and Safety at Work Act, you have a responsibility to take reasonable care of your own safety and that of colleagues and the general public and must co-operate with the organisation in meeting the statutory requirements of the Act.

External and Internal Contacts:

• As an ambassador for the Company, treat all individuals in the workplace (including residents, colleagues, resident relatives, other workers, visiting professionals and members of the public) in a friendly, courteous and efficient manner as expected of a caring organisation.
• Contribute to fostering a positive work environment both in the cleaning department and in the wider Home environment, in accordance with our Equality Policy and our Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policy.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• GCSE Grade ‘C’ in English
• Recent and relevant experience of domestic work for large numbers in a commercial setting.
• Experience of managing and motivating a team.
• Experience of providing service for clients who require clean items on a daily basis – prioritisation is essential.
• Experience in carrying out and ensuring compliance with quality/compliance checks/ audits
• Proficiency in spoken, written and aural English. Proficient numeracy skills.
  Knowledge of COSHH and Health and Safety regulations.
• Define and communicate goals to motivate others to achieve them, lead by example, inspire confidence and respect and take action to achieve success
• Confidence, self-awareness and ability to make a positive impression on others, verbally and in writing so as to be clearly understood and make impact
• Desire and ability to demonstrate initiative, to think ahead and take prompt action to solve problems, complete tasks and seize opportunities
• Demonstrates energy, drive and stamina, is accountable in order to achieve results, prioritise, meet expectations and improves personal performance
• Desire and ability to encourage, coach and support and manage the effective performance of people and to develop them to meet requirements
• Respects others, listens, takes into account different feelings, opinions and motivations. Is trustworthy, acts with integrity and the ability to respond constructively toward others, is open minded, listens actively
• Desire and ability to work co-operatively within own Home and across the Care family
• Application of basic budgetary and commercial knowledge. Risk management
• Identifies problems, analyses information and delivers solutions
• Develops and or maintains catering knowledge and applies this in the catering context to deliver a quality service