Cleaner

Role Overview

The Education Authority in Northern Ireland is looking to appoint cleaners to work at premises in Magherafelt. The role sits within a team and reports to the Cleaning Supervisor, or another nominated manager. The main objective is to keep assigned areas clean and hygienic in line with site requirements.

Core Duties

You will be expected to carry out a range of routine and specialist cleaning tasks across the premises, according to the areas assigned by the line manager.

• Use appropriate equipment to sweep, vacuum, mop, dry buff, spray-clean, spray-wax, machine scrub, strip, and re-polish floors.
• Treat soft flooring such as carpets and matting by removing marks and stains using suitable cleaning methods.
• Clean toilets and shower areas, including attached fixtures and fittings.
• Wash, dust, and clean ledges, walls, fittings, fixtures, and internal surfaces up to 3.35 metres, and polish furniture where needed.
• Empty internal bins, clean them as required, and take waste to the designated collection point.

Working Conditions and General Requirements

• All work must comply with health and safety law, including the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978, COSHH, statutory rules, and relevant codes of practice.
• Duties are to be carried out in the normal conditions expected for this type of job.
• You may be asked to cover colleagues who are absent due to sickness, following Education Authority procedures.
• Any absence must be reported using the correct process, and the required forms must be completed and signed by the Building Supervisor.
• Issued protective clothing or workwear must be worn while performing cleaning duties.
• Flat-soled, closed-toe footwear is required for cleaning work.
• Cleaning tools and equipment supplied by the employer must be used safely, maintained properly, and defects reported without delay.
• All required paperwork must be completed accurately.
• You may also be asked to carry out tasks at your grade level or below, provided you are competent to do so.

Training and Development

• Training may be required for higher-graded duties, and staff must accept such training where needed. Payment for higher-level work is only made when the authority requires those duties to be performed.
• Training to support duties within and up to the employee’s grade will include induction and refresher training.
• To meet health and safety obligations, the successful applicant will need to complete any additional training provided by the EA cleaning service.

Equality, Safeguarding, and Background Checks

The post-holder is expected to support good relations and equal opportunity in line with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and to give due regard to equality legislation at all times.

Because this role involves work in educational settings, it falls under safeguarding rules for regulated activity. The successful candidate will need to complete an enhanced disclosure check, which currently costs £33. Payment arrangements for this check will be confirmed in the employment contract. If appointed to a post involving regulated activity, the Education Authority will arrange the enhanced disclosure of criminal background, and the applicant will be expected to cover the cost of the certificate. Payment details will be provided at the pre-employment stage.

Application and Selection Notes

• Applicants must explain clearly on the application form how they meet each relevant criterion, both essential and desirable where applicable, or they may not be shortlisted.
• The evidence used for assessing criteria must be provided by the closing date, unless stated otherwise.
• Shortlisting will first be based on the essential criteria listed for the role.
• The selection panel may choose only the strongest candidates for shortlist consideration.
• If there are too many applications, desirable criteria may also be used at shortlisting, in the order shown, so applicants should also show how they meet those points.

Essential Criteria

Applicants are expected to show knowledge of the cleaning role, cleaning methods and machinery, and the health and safety requirements relevant to the job, including COSHH. This may be assessed through the application form and interview. Candidates must also demonstrate an understanding of the responsibilities of a school cleaner.

During interview, the panel will look for the ability to work independently, stay effective under pressure, meet deadlines, communicate clearly in English, follow instructions, plan and organise work well, work cooperatively as part of a team, and adapt to changing demands with a flexible attitude. The process will also assess alignment with the Education Authority’s ethos and values.

Desirable Criteria

Preference may be given to candidates who can show at least three months’ cleaning experience outside the home environment, as well as practical experience using commercial cleaning equipment such as buffing machines.

Values and Employer Statement

The organisation will also look for evidence that a candidate’s working style reflects a commitment to equality and high-quality service. The aim is to support children and young people equally, remove barriers to learning, and ensure fair access to excellent education services so every child can reach their full potential. The Education Authority is an equal opportunities employer.