Job Description

SCHOOL CARETAKER (Full time - 35 hrs per week / split shift)

GRADE 4 Pt 9-17

27,254 - 31,022 per annum

14.93 - 17.00 per hour

Full-time position: 35 hours per week.

Hours of work: Split Shift - 7.30am-10.30am and 2pm to 6pm

Hours of work will be regularly reviewed to ensure the needs of the school are met.

Start date to be confirmed.

The School:

An exciting opportunity to join our team with our OUTSTANDING school (OFSTED January 2024).

Millstead is a primary special school with a community of fantastic children who have a wide range of interests, abilities and additional needs (including severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, sensory impairments and autism). We relocated to our purpose-built school building in September 2014. The facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, rebound therapy room, immersive suite, sensory integration room and 2 playgrounds.

The Role:

We are looking to appoint a full-time caretaker to join our premises management team to provide caretaking, security, maintenance and supporting with repair works across the school site. This role will support and complement the work of the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly.

The Person:

The candidate should be an enthusiastic, conscientious and self-motivated person who would like to provide a key role in maintaining our school site, to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for the whole school community. This is a 'hands on' and physical role. The successful candidate will have a broad range of demonstrable repairs, maintenance and caretaking skills, in addition to good computer literacy. The candidate should be able to work independently and be self-motivated but also be able to work as part of a team, have good communication skills and have a commitment to high standards.

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to keeping children safe. Any offer of employment will be subject to statutory pre-employment checks including satisfactory references and Enhanced DBS and Barred List checks.

This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended in 2013 & 2020) and shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any relevant criminal history prior to interview. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ's guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance

Our Child Protection Policy is located on our school website - www.millsteadschool.co.uk - signpost to Information - Policies.

Visits to the school are strongly encouraged. Further information about the school can be found by visiting our website and prospective candidates are welcome to contact Lynn Irwin, School Business Manager, to arrange an informal visit.

PLEASE NOTE: Application Form and Equal Opportunities must be completed.

CV's WILL NOT

be accepted.

Application packs are available to download from our website; www.millsteadschool.co.uk; navigate to the Information signpost - Job Opportunities. Paper copies can be collected from the school office by prior arrangement. Applications should be returned to: vacancies@millsteadschool.co.uk or by post.

Closing date for applications will be: 12pm Monday 29th September 2025 - Applications will not be considered after this time.

Shortlisting: Monday 29th September (pm).

Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview week commencing 6th October 2025

If you have not heard from us by 5pm on Tuesday 30th September please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

& Person Specification:

: Caretaker

Hours of work will be regularly reviewed to ensure the needs of the school are met.

Caretaker will be expected to cover holidays/sickness

Purpose of the job:

To undertake a range of caretaking duties including security and supervision of the site and related equipment, and other duties including porterage, cleaning and maintenance.

Supervision/training of cleaning staff where required.

Care for identified garden areas, making them useable for the children and appropriate for curriculum use.

Directly responsible to:

Head teacher

Functionally responsible to: Deputy Headteacher

Responsible for:

NA

Principal Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

Act as a key holder, carrying out security procedures for the buildings and grounds and the routine and non-routine opening of premises and grounds. Take responsibility for the premises and its contents in the absence of the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher or any other designated responsible person. Deal with enquiries from external contractors on site. Undertake additional cleaning to support the Cleaners. Within the scope of personal knowledge and training, maintain and repair tools, apparatus and equipment. Where this is not practical, refer arrangement for repair and servicing work to be carried out by a contractor. Undertake any required tasks in identified garden areas in order for them to be suitable for curriculum delivery and enrichment. Take delivery of stocks and materials for the school. Carry out porterage within school, move furniture and equipment, as required, assist in setting up for assemblies events etc. Ensure that adequate supplies of cleaning materials and other supplies are available. Operate the heating and pool plants when requested by the Head/Senior Leadership Team. Ensure that all caretaking and cleaning equipment is in a safe and working condition and arranging for repair as appropriate. Carry out routine procedures or checks on ancillary equipment. Carry out school based emergency procedures e.g. in the event of fire. Assist with the supervision and training of cleaning staff in the absence of/as requested by the Head/Senior Leadership Team. Contribute to the drawing up and execution of schedules and maintenance plans as necessary. Prepare the school premises and site for out of school hours activities. Report any damage and assist in organising any necessary repairs. Ensure that access and main areas are safe. Attend relevant staff meetings, participate in performance management arrangements and undertake training and development activities. Promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young and vulnerable people that you come into contact with.

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of maintenance and repair duties;

Experience of gardening activities.

Qualifications/training

Clear knowledge of safeguarding children guidelines;

Knowledge of relevant health and safety regulations;

Full, clean driving licence.

Practical Skills

Ability to undertake cleaning, routine and emergency repairs;

Physically able to move equipment and furniture and carry out general porterage duties;

Knowledge of COSHH Regulations;

Good IT skills.

Personal Qualities & Attributes

Have a real interest in working with pupils with severe learning difficulties;

Self-Motivated;

Enthusiastic;

Fit and capable of heavy work;

Work to high standards, both when working with colleagues and when working unsupervised;

Ability to take direction;

Able to work unsupervised;

Sense of humour;

Team player with excellent interpersonal skills;

Excellent attendance record.

Other

Emotional resilience in working with pupils who may exhibit challenging behaviours or have complex health needs;

Postholder will be required to work outside of normal school hours on occasion, with due notice;

To undergo an enhanced DBS check - individuals on the DBS barred list should not apply.

This job description is not meant to be definitive nor restrictive, but act as a broad guide and outline to the postholder. It will be reviewed and changed from time to time according to the changing needs of the school.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 27,264.00-31,022.00 per year

Ability to commute/relocate:

Liverpool L5 3LU: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Location:

Liverpool L5 3LU (required)
Work Location: In person