Job Description

FM Assistant (Cleaning)

Band 2 - 12.51 per hour (24,465 per annum pro rata)

The Lakes, ECT/Reception Area

9 hours per week - see rota below

Monday 08.00 - 11.00

Tuesday 08.00 - 09.00

Wednesday 08.00 - 09.00

Thursday 08.00 - 11.00

Friday 08.00 - 09.00

The post will be vacant from the end March 2026



To participate in the provision of the in-house FM services to a specified area within the Trust, which may include in-patient areas and retail outlets: The FM services comprises of the cleaning, catering, portering, bed making and laundering services, however some of these services are unit specific. Therefore sections of this job description may not be relevant to all staff and will be identified where appropriate but are not exhaustive.



If you're shortlisted for this role, your interview will take place on 16 February 2026



You will be working as part of the Facilities Team and are expected to have a flexible approach to your duties.



You will be working as a valued member of the Estates & Facilities Management Team.



The Estates & Facilities Department is responsible for delivering high quality and cost effective services across Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.



You must be aware of the important part you play in maintaining the environment to an excellent standard.



You must also be aware that your work will involve working alongside patients and occasionally interacting with them as you carry out your duties outlined below.



P lease note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.



Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.



Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.



Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.

Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.

If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.

We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.



Benefits



27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.

Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.

Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.

8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us

Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.



Work that wraps around your needs

Work bank:

You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.

Flexible working:

available from day one for most roles.

Job share:

Applications for job shares are welcomed.



KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Domestic Service including Rapid Response (CAT)

To ensure that the ward(s) / areas you are assigned to are cleaned in accordance with the



Work Schedule for those ward(s) / areas.

This will include vacuuming floors; sweeping, scrubbing and mopping floors; high and low dusting; wiping over and polishing (where applicable) both vertical and horizontal surfaces, mirrors, chairs, bed frames, bins, sani-bins; cleaning toilets, sinks, baths and showers; cleaning cookers, regeneration ovens, fridges, holding fridges, microwaves and others items in the kitchens; defrosting fridges on a regular basis; restocking consumables such as toilet tissue, handtowels, soap; descaling taps; and bins and replacing bin liners.

(Providing they have not been soiled with body fluids)
To work with your supervisor and other interested parties when the work schedule for the area you are assigned to is reviewed. This is to ensure that the Work Schedule for that area is manageable and appropriate.

To ensure that you inform your supervisor if there are any problems for example, with floor coverings, surfaces etc which will have a detrimental effect on your ability to clean those areas properly.

To ensure that whilst you carry out your duties you only use the correct colour coded mops, cloths, buckets etc that have assigned to those areas and that these items are properly cleaned and stored or disposed of at the ends of your shift. You are doing this to prevent cross infection in the area you are working in.

To ensure that all the cleaning materials and disposables you use (ie floor cleaner, handtowels) are used economically. It will be your responsibility to report to your supervisor if you find the quality of the products you are using deteriorates in any way, or if substitute products are delivered to your ward. You must ensure that only chemicals provided by the Trust area used and that these are used appropriately and in the way you were trained to use them.

To use any machinery /equipment (ie vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, regeneration ovens) in such a way that you will not either endanger yourself or any other person in the area in which you are working. This will include: reporting any faults or broken equipment to your supervisor as soon as possible keeping equipment clean and/or cleaning items after you have used them changing vacuum cleaner bags on a regular basis only using equipment for the task it is intended for remembering to use safety signs and circuit breakers when appropriate.

To be responsible for ensuring that all the equipment and cleaning materials you use are stored securely and safely in the area in which you are working. You must report to your supervisor if you find that the security of these items is threatened in any way, or if you find your storeroom unlocked when you commence your shift.

To ensure that general or domestic waste, recyclables and clinical waste are disposed of in the correct manner and to bring to your supervisor's attention any incidences where waste is not being segregated, stored or disposed of correctly. Food Services

To assist (where applicable) with the regeneration process of cook chill meals by taking and recording the temperature of the cook chill food prior to placing it into the regeneration oven and commencing the cook cycle. To prepare soup, gravy and custard for the patient meal service. (Note - you will be responsible for the whole regeneration process, which will include ensuring temperatures are recorded at the end of the regeneration cycle and for plating food in order that it can be served to patients by clinical staff at Thurrock, Rochford and all sites in the North of the Trust.)

To ensure the oven gloves and cloths are used and laundered on a regular basis.

To be responsible (if applicable) for serving and clearing away the meals served to patients on the ward / area you are working in.

To be responsible for the cleaning of crockery and cutlery that is used for the serving of patient's meals.



Laundry Service



(This section is relevant to specific areas i.e. Mountnessing Court and Fountains Court, Landermere Centre, Henneage Ward and Kingswood Centre).

To ensure that all items of patients clothing, duvet covers, duvets and curtains requiring laundering are washed, dried and finished in the correct and most appropriate way for those items.

To ensure that any garment, once it has been washed and dried that has not reached the required standard is either re-processed or ironed so that it is returned to its owner in an acceptable condition. To ensure patients personal items are labeled.

To ensure that dirty and soiled items are kept separate from clean items to minimize the risk of cross infection.

To ensure that all items, once they have been through the complete laundering process are placed in the agreed area.

To ensure you keep the Laundry clean and tidy. This will include completing the cleaning checklist to evidence that all tasks have been completed to a satisfactory standard.

To ensure that you and your colleagues work together to keep the machinery (i.e. washing

machines and tumble driers) in the laundry clean and that faulty machinery is reported to the Supervisor so that it may be dealt with as soon as possible.



Portering

To carry out various routine tasks that include the delivery of pharmacy boxes and medical records (where appropriate) clean linen, bread, milk, general stores and goods received, meal trolleys and the collection of dirty linen, waste etc. Where appropriate to obtain a signature from an appropriate member of staff for these items. These duties include the Compassionate Empowering Open watering of plants in public areas and assisting with keeping public areas tidy over weekends and Bank Holidays.

To sort, deliver and collect mail (where applicable) as instructed.

Frank post for collection by royal mail (West Essex)

To carry out ad-hoc tasks as and when required for example transporting patients (accompanied by nursing staff - Basildon MHU only), medical gasses, specimen and bloods, furniture removal, setting up meeting rooms.

Ensure medical gas supplies are maintained and monitored for in patient wards at St Margaret's and Saffron Walden Community Hospitals.

To decant and deliver liquid nitrogen to the relevant department OPD (West Essex), reporting defects and cryogenic liquid levels for replenishment.

To safely operate the electro-hydraulic waste compactor (with appropriate training).

Attend Community site buildings using Trust vehicle for ad-hoc work including collections and deliveries

To assist with the unloading and loading of vehicles are required.

To ensure the site, including the car park is kept clear of litter and rubbish and external waste bins are emptied and kept clean.

To assist when required with vehicular access to site i.e. fire brigade in an emergency andmvisitors requiring assistance.

To attend fire calls as per the Trusts procedure and where required provide assistance to the fire brigade to ender the site and guide them to the designated fire panel and key box.

To undertake gritting and snow clearance around the site in times of severe weather.

To keep waste compound and storage areas and all equipment used for the service clean

and tidy.