Housekeeper

Role overview

This position sits within the Facilities Team, specifically the Housekeeping and Domestic Services function at Cheswold Park Hospital. The successful person will handle cleaning and catering support tasks across the ward environment and report to the Housekeeping Supervisors and Housekeeping Manager. A flexible approach is essential, as the work can change based on service needs.

The role is offered as one 30-hour week, arranged as five 6-hour shifts on a rota that includes weekends and bank holidays.

Core purpose

The post is responsible for delivering a high standard of domestic, catering, and general household support for people with mental health needs, always working in line with the National Standards of Cleanliness.

Working arrangements

This is a permanent, part-time position with flexible working patterns. The advertised pay scheme is Agenda for Change, Band 2, with a salary of £25,272 per year pro rata.

Visa and right-to-work information

At the time this role was advertised, it did not meet the minimum UK Visas and Immigration requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship. Sponsorship for a skilled worker visa is therefore not available for this post.

Applications may be made by candidates who can show an existing right to work in the UK or who qualify through another valid visa route. These applications will be assessed in the same way as all others.

Key duties

You will be expected to clean designated areas to the required standard and confirm completion by signing relevant records. The role also includes serving food, completing associated documentation such as temperature checks, and preparing small quantities of food taken from frozen stock.

Day-to-day work also involves maintaining food, linen, and housekeeping standards; supporting ward staff and service users; and keeping all areas safe, clean, and well supplied.

Housekeeping and catering responsibilities

• Receive, store, and manage food supplies according to Trust procedures and agreed standards.
• Keep accurate records for food storage and food regeneration activities.
• Prepare, regenerate, and serve meals and additional food items in line with standards and service-user needs.
• Prepare ad hoc meals when requested, while coordinating with the named nurse so that care plans are followed.
• Get meal areas ready and display menus in line with required standards.
• Organise requests for food items, cleaning materials, linen, and equipment for approval by the Clinical or Facilities Service Manager.
• Remove dirty linen safely and place it in the correct storage area using appropriate moving and handling methods.
• Store linen and personal clothing after laundering and maintain enough stock to meet service-user needs.
• Launder bed linen within the unit when required, following Trust policy.
• Help service users use laundry equipment when needed.
• Work with nursing staff, catering, dietitians, and facilities colleagues to ensure special diets are provided in line with nutritional requirements and care plans.
• Communicate menu changes to service users and nursing staff, and deal with questions about those changes.

Cleaning and ward support duties

• Provide a complete housekeeping service across the ward in line with work schedules and address any issues as they arise.
• Damp dust bed-space items such as bedside cabinets, bed frames, lamps, and chairs, with furniture moved weekly to allow cleaning of pipes, skirting, and ledges.
• Damp dust other furniture and fittings, including tables, trolleys, and windowsills.
• Dispose of household and clinical waste in accordance with infection control and health and safety requirements.
• Replenish items such as paper towels, toilet rolls, and soap.
• Report defects, pest issues, and environmental or building faults to the relevant person.
• Follow ward procedures for securing and locking doors.
• Clean spillages promptly in line with infection control and health and safety requirements.
• Wash cups, saucers, side plates, and cutlery after drinks and meals.
• Clean heated food trolleys after each meal service.
• Clean kitchen surfaces and catering equipment.
• Damp mop kitchen floors and spot clean spills.
• Clean sanitary fittings such as toilets, urinals, bidets, slop hoppers, basins, baths, and showers.
• Clean related fixtures including tiled splashbacks, mirrors, and towel cabinets.
• Damp mop sanitary and sluice areas.
• Dry mop and sweep floors to remove dust and debris.
• Damp mop floors and spot mop spills.
• Machine scrub hard floors.
• Vacuum carpeted areas.
• Clean carpets using hot water extraction methods.
• Clean all equipment thoroughly after use.

Weekly and periodic duties

• Carry out weekly high dusting of walls and fittings such as bed rails, door frames, high ledges, and signs.
• Damp dust pipes and ledges each week.
• Deep clean catering equipment such as cookers and fridges on a weekly basis.
• Perform periodic maintenance of hard floors, including scrubbing, drying, and redressing where required.
• Wash painted surfaces when needed.
• Clean bed wheels and bedside lockers.
• Replace curtains when required.
• Carry out thorough cleaning of all domestic equipment and machinery.
• Clean storage cupboards used for materials and equipment.
• Deep clean furniture periodically.

Working conditions and standards

All duties must be performed with attention to health and safety, food hygiene, and COSHH requirements. The work involves manual handling, continuous movement, and standing throughout the shift. Tasks may also require stretching, bending, lifting light items, and pushing or pulling equipment. Occasional exposure to unpleasant odours may occur when cleaning sanitary areas and smoke rooms.

Staff are expected to follow Trust policies and procedures at all times, including equal opportunities and health and safety requirements. The post may be reviewed in line with service changes, and other reasonable duties at the same grade may be assigned by the Area Facilities Officer.

Additional information

Employees are strongly encouraged to keep their flu vaccination up to date to help protect staff and patients.

The Trust has noted that some applicants use AI tools when completing NHS application forms and discourages this practice. Applications may be screened carefully, and if AI has been used to support an application, it should be disclosed in the form.

About the employer

The employer is a specialist NHS Foundation Trust providing community, mental health, and learning disability services for people in Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield. It also delivers low and medium secure services and leads the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

The organisation’s aim is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities by offering high-quality care in the right place at the right time. It employs clinical and non-clinical staff who work to improve the lives of service users, families, and carers.

The Trust welcomes applications from all protected characteristic groups and values a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. As a foundation trust, it is accountable to its members, including around 14,300 local people and staff members. The organisation has more than 4,500 staff supporting the mental, physical, and social wellbeing of the people it serves.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share that commitment. It also reserves the right to close the vacancy early if needed.

Job details

Date posted: 16 June 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 2
Salary: £25,272 a year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, flexible working
Reference: C9378-QA01465A
Location: Cheswold Park Hospital, Cheswold Lane, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN5 8AR, United Kingdom