What skills and experience we're looking for
Site Maintenance Officer Job Description
Basic Job Purpose
Maintain the security of school premises and contents – Job Holder designated as the registered key holder. Ensure that lighting and heating systems are maintained in good working condition.
Carry out daily duties and monitor the cleaning carried out by contractors on a day to day basis. Undertake minor repair and maintenance duties.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
1.
Complete daily checks both internally and externally to ensure the site is safe, secure and properly maintained in accordance with Health and Safety Policy.
2.
Liaise with contractors and monitor work being carried out by them.
3.
Monitor cleaning of building and ensure work is carried out in accordance with the specification.
4.
Maintain the grounds in a clean and tidy condition; remove accumulated internal and external waste, sweep the grounds using mechanical or other means.
5.
Monitor the conditions of the school’s sanitary provisions for both staff and pupils. Maintain supplies of materials and respond to problems arising from the improper use of facilities. Ensure safe storage and use of cleaning materials, in accordance with the requirements of COSHH.
6.
Check the heating installation daily during the heating season and ensure sufficient fuel supplies are maintained. Monitor and ensure the most economic use of water, gas, oil and electricity.
7.
Undertake general fire precautions and security tasks at the school; unlocking and unlocking the school premises, setting and disarming security and fire alarm systems and other security measures, etc.
8.
All staff have a requirement to follow the schools Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedure.
Notwithstanding the detail in this job description, in accordance with the School's Flexibility Policy the job holder will undertake such work as may be determined by the Principal/Governing Body from time to time, up to or at a level consistent with the Main Responsibilities of the job.
Are there any tasks/duties which the Job Holder carries out only occasionally or at certain times in the year? If NO, go to next section. If YES, please list them and say how frequently they are performed.
OCCASIONAL TASKS HOW OFTEN
PERFORMED?
Undertake occasional maintenance tasks – eg, cleaning out rainwater gullies and Occasionally drains, minor repairs to fixtures and fittings, replacement of light bulbs and fluorescent tubes, basic maintenance of central heating system and other heating equipment, etc - as necessary
1 RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPERVISION/DIRECTION/COORDINATION OF EMPLOYEES
Employees directly supervised by Job Holder
Not Applicable
Other Employees supervised by Job Holder (not in a direct line relationship)
No and FTE
Levels / grades
Types of work
Where based
Several
Cleaning Contractor
Daily/weekly cleaning of school premises
Primary School
What does the supervision of these employees involve?
Monitoring performance against contract specification; taking initial remedial action if necessary; and briefing management where necessary.
Does the job involve supervision, direction or management of people who are not employees? Eg contractors, students on secondment, etc
No and FTE
Level / grade
Types of work
Where based
Contractors (eg, electricians, plumbers, drainage and heating engineers, glaziers, etc).
Specialist servicing and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
Primary School
Does the Job Holder develop policy or provide advice and information which impacts on the supervision / direction / coordination of employees? No
2 RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Give details of any direct responsibility for financial resources.
Financial responsibility
Value of the financial resource (p.a.)
How often is the duty performed?
None
Does the Job Holder develop policy or provide advice and information which impacts on financial resources?
No
3 RESPONSIBILITY FOR PHYSICAL RESOURCES
Give details of any direct responsibility for Physical resources.
Physical resource
Nature of responsibility of Job Holder
How often is the responsibility exercised?
School Buildings
Key holder – ensures building is locked/unlocked and security alarm enabled/disabled
Routine maintenance and cleaning of school buildings and grounds.
Daily
Daily
Tools and Equipment
Use of power- and hand- tools, ladders and trolleys, etc for carrying out basic/routine repairs throughout the school.
Daily
Stocks and Materials
Occassional receipt and distribution of supplies, furniture and miscellaneous deliveries into the school;
Controls and issues stocks of toilet tissue, paper towels, etc.
Checks stocks of heating fuels, monitors consumption and raises purchase requisitions
Ad-hoc
Daily
Weekly
Furniture and Equipment
Room layouts for meetings, parents evenings, etc
Daily
Waste bins and wheelie bins
Removing internal and external waste.
Daily
Does the Job Holder develop policy or provide advice and information which impacts on Physical resources?
Yes
The Job Holder advises school management on changes and revisions in school resources required to comply with good working practices.
4 RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPACT ON PEOPLE
Task/Duty
Who benefits?
How they benefit?
Ensures that school systems are fully operational (eg, heating, lighting and electrical supply, toilets, kitchens, fire and security alarms, etc); carrying out minor repairs as necessary.
Pupils and Staff
School environment is conducive to the education of pupils.
Does the Job Holder develop policy or provide advice and information which impacts on people?
NO
5 KNOWLEDGE
Type of knowledge
What knowledge is essential?
Why are these needed?
How is it normally acquired?
Health and Safety
Understanding of Health and Safety legislation (including COSHH) and Council/School procedures.
Risk Assessments
To ensure work is undertaken in a safe manner.
Ensure contractors follow health and safety procedures.
Ensure safety of employees, teaching staff, and pupils
On-the-job experience and training
Works orders procedures
How to order maintenance work.
To ensure that maintenance work contracts are placed on external contractors and work is undertaken according to specification.
School procedures
Literacy and numeracy
skills
Basic English and Maths knowledge
To write simple reports for senior management team.
To make basic calculations when carrying out routine repairs of equipment.
Basic education
Technical
Operating characteristics of cleaning equipment, power tools and other hand tools.
Location and isolation of Site services (ie, gas, electricity and water supplies).
Basic servicing and maintenance of equipment
Safe operation of site
On-the-job experience
On-the-job experience and instruction
Organisational
Planning and scheduling of work
To facilitate efficient operation of school activities.
On-the-job experience
6 MENTAL SKILLS
a) What sort of problems does the Job Holder typically have to deal with? Give two examples of typical problems solved on a regular basis.
Example
When the heating system fails, the Job Holder investigates to determine the cause (eg, lack of fuel, no power, pilot light out, or some other more serious failure requiring the services of a specialist service engineer).
Example
Recommending to the Principal that a classroom should be closed to allow contractors to undertake essential maintenance or refurbishment work.
b) Give an example of the most difficult or demanding problem the Job Holder has to solve.
Example:
The Job Holder would decide whether to allow contractors to continue working throughout the weekend to ensure that work is completed in time for the school to be fully operational on Monday morning. Such decisions are taken without access/reference to a member of the senior management team.
c) Approximately how often would the example in (b) occur?
Once per month
Give details below of the mental skills required in the job and reasons why they are needed.
Mental Skill
Why Needed?
Judgemental/Analytical
Determine the causes of breakdowns/failures of equipment or buildings systems (eg, boilers, drains, etc)
Planning
Plan and allocate work, several days ahead – in accordance with the needs and demands of the academic year timetable.
7 INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR THE JOB
Skill
Used for?
With whom?
Oral and written
§
§
§
Providing basic instructions on maintenance and repairs, etc work required around the school; including health and safety standards, practices and procedures.
Dealing with occasional complaints (eg, visitors’/parents’ cars parked in the road; litter, etc).
Reports/memos on progress of contractors’ work; recommendations on repairs/ refurbishments needed to maintain the school environment at optimal efficiency.
§
§
§
External Contractors and
other School Caretaking staff
Local residents
Principal and senior
Leadership team
8 PHYSICAL SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR THE JOB
Give details (if any) of the Physical skills essential to do the job properly.
Physical skill
Used for?
Any precision/speed requirements?
Hand/eye co-ordination and dexterity
Operating cleaning equipment, hand- and power-tools for carrying out basic repairs and maintenance of buildings and equipment, etc.
Precision more important than speed.
9 INITIATIVE AND INDEPENDENCE
Allocation of work
a) How is work allocated to the Job Holder?
Written or verbal instructions/requests from the Principal or Site Manager. Job Holder prioritises instructions/requests and the allocation and deployment of resources in the most cost and time effective manner
b) What is a typical cycle for allocating work to the Job Holder e.g. hourly, daily, weekly?
Cleaning of playground - daily.
Opening and closing of school including enabling/disabling alarms etc - daily. Cleaning of hall and gym areas - daily Repairs – as when they are required.
Annual cycle of maintenance (major work normally carried out during school summer holiday period). Scope for initiative
c) How much freedom/discretion does the Job Holder have to change the way work is done and to allocate their time to duties?
The Job Holder determines and allocates work within set procedures/schedules; using own initiative
d) What is the level of guidance/instructions available?
School procedures stating which and how contractors should be hired. Health and Safety procedures and guidelines. Operations manuals.
e) What sort of direction, management or supervision is given to the Job Holder?
Type of Direction
From Whom
How Often
Advice and guidance on work schedules/ requirements
Principal/Site Manager
Daily
f) Give three examples of problems or decisions the Job Holder would be expected to deal with themselves without reference to a Supervisor/Manager. How often do these occur?
Expected problem
Nature of available guidance
Typical Frequency
Minor repairs (eg, broken window, storm damage, etc) – the Job Holder decides whether to undertake the work or
Experience, initiative, knowledge of SLA, Health and Safety guidelines
Several times per annum
whether it will be necessary to call in specialist contractors.
When the heating system fails, the Job Holder investigates the cause (eg, lack of fuel, no power, pilot light out, or some other more serious failure requiring the services of a specialist service engineer).
Experience, initiative, knowledge of operating procedures and features of the heating system.
Few times per annum
Unexpected problem
Nature of available guidance
Typical Frequency
Electricity power cut; Job Holder attempts to ascertain cause, including checking fuses/circuit-breakers.
Experience and operating procedures for power systems in the school.
Occasionally
g) Give two examples of problems or decisions the Job Holder would be expected to refer to their supervisor/manager. How often do these occur?
Problem or decision
Point of referral
Typical Frequency
A drain or toilet is repeatedly blocked, indicating that there may be a serious problem with the system, requiring the services of a drainage engineer/contractor.
Principal/Site Manager
Regularly
Pupil-related issues (e.g. a distressed, ill or injured pupil
Member of teaching or support staff in the school
Few times per annum
10 PHYSICAL DEMANDS
What sort of Physical demands does the job involve? (See guidance notes for examples)
Physical Demand
Typical Duration
How often?
Other details (e.g. how heavy?)
LIFTING AND CARRYING - receipt and distribution of deliveries of parcels, equipment and furniture throughout school.
Up to 1 day
Daily
Computers, desks, chairs, filing cabinets boxes of text books, photocopier paper, etc - up to health and safety maximum
PHYSICAL EFFORT:
§ Lifting of manhole covers and use of industrial rods to unblock drains;
§ Pushing waste and wheelie bins;
§ Climbing ladders to access roofs, gutters, etc (for cleaning and general maintenance)
§ Setting out tables and equipment.
Up to 1 hour
Up to 1 hour
Up to 1 hour
Weekly
Twice a day
Occasionally
up to health and safety maximum, although bins do have wheels
11 MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Nature of task
Mental Demand
Duration
Frequency
Operation of power- and hand-tools, industrial cleaning machines
Sensory concentration
Up to 15 minutes
Frequently
Use of potentially hazardous cleaning materials
Sensory and mental concentration
Up to 15 minutes
Frequently
To what extent is the job subject to work-related pressures e.g. regular deadlines, frequent interruptions, conflicting demands?
Nature of pressures/ interruptions
Source
For how long?
How often?
Deadlines
School timetable requirements for equipment, rooms, etc to be available for teaching
Daily
Interruptions
Failure of school equipment or systems (eg, heating, lighting, drains, etc) that requires urgent resolution
Up to half a day
Regularly
12 EMOTIONAL DEMANDS
Not Applicable
13 WORKING CONDITIONS
a) In what kind of places does the Job Holder normally work (e.g. office, library, gardens, clients’ homes)?
If more than one, give approximate proportion of time in each.
Location of work
Proportion of time
Primary School – buildings and grounds
70% indoors
30% outdoors
b) If the Job Holder works outside, are they expected to work regardless of the weather or are alternative arrangements made e.g. work on other duties?
School buildings and gates must be unlocked/locked; playgrounds must be cleaned daily - irrespective of the weather.
c) What unpleasant environmental working conditions or behaviour from other people are met in performing the job? (See guidance notes for examples)
Drains must be unblocked as necessary - working area may be flooded; drains may be blocked with noxious materials.
Clearing ice and snow in winter.
Maintenance and operation of heating systems.
d) What protection is offered (if any) e.g. against adverse weather (clothing, shelter), against infection, security measures etc.
Protective waterproof clothing, footwear and gloves (PPE)
e) What unpleasant environmental working conditions or behaviour from other people are met in performing the job? (See guidance notes for examples)
Working Condition or Behaviour from other people
How long does it last at any one time?
How often does it typically occur?
• Diluting of potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals
• Cleaning toilets, unblocking drains; removal of yellow waste bags (containing human waste products)
• Litter picking and emptying bins; picking up broken glass, clearing dog faeces from grass, cleaning urine from porch areas, etc
• Abusive behaviour and bad language from trespassers confronted on site
• Working alone in building
Few minutes
Up to 1 hour
Up to 1 hour
Few minutes
Whole shift during school holidays
Daily
Daily
Daily
Few times per week
Few times per annum
What the school offers its staff
Company Pension
Commitment to safeguarding
As a school, we take the safety of our children very seriously and so all candidates will be required to provide current references which will be called upon and checked. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check before taking up the appointment.