An exciting opportunity has arisen with ESNEFT to join the Estates Maintenance Team based at Colchester Hospital as an Grounds and Gardens Maintenance Assistant.
Reporting to the Estates Officer. the post holder will effectively maintain all grounds, gardens, paths, roadways etc. within East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) premises so as to provide a safe and pleasant environment for patients, staff and visitors.
The successful candidate will be self motivated, flexible and a relevant qualification. You will have previous 'in house' training associated with building services and a good general knowledge of maintenance and recording requirements including the use of relevant tools and equipment. If this sounds like you, this could be the perfect role for you.
• Undertake grounds, gardens and building services maintenance duties including but not limited to road sweeping, waste collection, weeding, hoeing, grass cutting, pruning, strimming, planting, tree felling, gritting of roads and pathways etc.
• Duties will include provision of routine maintenance on a range of equipment, including the use of hand and power tools e.g. strimmer’s, mowers, hedge cutters, blowers, use of chemical spray methods for weed elimination, etc. and the post holder will be required to undertake user checks and minor routine maintenance of such tools, and to report any defects to their line manager.
• Required to assist other Estates craft staff in building services maintenance as required and organise daily routine to incorporate regular task requirements and schedule work requirements to the most efficient way, with guidance from line manager and senior colleagues. The post holder will sometimes be required to work with minimum supervision when carrying out tasks as directed by senior colleagues and must have the ability to work on their own initiative.
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here -
• Undertake grounds, gardens and building services maintenance duties including but not limited to road sweeping, waste collection, weeding, hoeing, grass cutting, pruning, strimming, planting, tree felling, gritting of roads and pathways etc.
• Duties will include provision of routine maintenance on a range of equipment, including the use of hand and power tools e.g. strimmer’s, mowers, hedge cutters, blowers, use of chemical spray methods for weed elimination, etc. and the post holder will be required to undertake user checks and minor routine maintenance of such tools, and to report any defects to their line manager.
• To learn new techniques and attend training courses as necessary, as required in this multi-skilled role.
• On completion of work ensure that the work area is maintained in a safe secure and tidy manner.
• Required to assist other Estates craft staff in building services maintenance as required and organise daily routine to incorporate regular task requirements and schedule work requirements to the most efficient way, with guidance from line manager and senior colleagues. The post holder will sometimes be required to work with minimum supervision when carrying out tasks as directed by senior colleagues and must have the ability to work on their own initiative.
• Complete works instruction dockets and time sheets using own initiative and make decisions and take appropriate actions for maintenance activities as they develop.
• To undertake overtime working by mutual agreement so as to ensure the needs of the service are satisfied and to be available for ‘on call’ for inclement weather e.g. snow clearance and salting of roads and footpaths.
• Identify and report to the line manager any item of plant or equipment that requires replacement or repair.
• Prior to use of any tools, machinery or equipment visually inspect the item, carry out any pre use checks and report all defects to their supervisor.
• Be prepared to undertake duties as a lone worker throughout ESNEFT.
• Respect and adhere to Health Board policies including patient confidentiality.
• Provide general non-clinical advice or information to staff, patients, carers or relatives and visitors.
• To drive/operate plant, machinery and ESNEFT vehicles as directed after appropriate CITB training and licensing and these will include tractors, mowers, tipper trailer, gritter, etc.
• Undertake their duties in a safe manner and working within Health Board and departmental Health & Safety policies and procedures, ensuring that working practices comply in both spirit and practice.
• Advise colleagues, contractors and other health care staff on operation of any restrictions on plant and services as necessary.
• To liaise with supervisors, colleagues and stores persons in the adequate provision of materials for the work in hand.
• To participate in the training, technical advice and support of peer groups, trainees and to pass on knowledge relating to their sphere of work.
• To have an understanding of the relationship of other craftsperson’s work to his/her own trade.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of workshop safety practices.
• To work with ladders, cradles, zip-ups and scaffolding as and when required and after receiving the appropriate training.
• The post-holder is required to carry Trust communication devices such as two way radio, mobile phone etc. at all times while at work. This is to facilitate immediate response to emergencies and to improve the service delivery.
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
This advert closes on Wednesday 5 Mar 2025