Centre Support Assistant (Cleaning)

Two posts available

APPLICATION PACK

Closing date:Thursday 3rd March 2016

Shortlisting:Monday 7th March 2016

Interview date: Monday 14th March 2016

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Leeds Mencap is an ambitious charity with our sights set on helping the future to be better for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers.

Our turnover is currently around £800,000. Our funding comes from a mix of sources including contracts with the Local Authority, grants, donations from individuals, income from events and community fundraising activities. Our service users also pay a small contribution to the cost of the services they receive and we hire out our meeting room.

Leeds Mencap runs services for children, young people and their families and a residential home for adults with learning disabilities (The Rookery). Our provision is split across two sites; one in East End Park and the other in Chapel Allerton.

We are currently in the middle of the build phase of a capital project that will result in a new centre in East End Park, to be located on Vinery Terrace, LS9. The centre will be about more than Leeds Mencap. It will be a centre for our own services but also for other groups supporting people with learning disabilities as well as the local community. It will include room hire facilities to operate in a similar way to a Community Centre and a Community Nursery for 2 to 4 year olds. We plan to open the new centre in April 2016.

The vision for the new centre is that it will be....

  • A friendly, fun and accessible space that is welcoming to the local community and children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and their families, and groups and organisations that work with them.
  • A vibrant place that encourages inclusion, partnership and intergenerational activities but that still offers discrete areas for community of interest groups who are coming together to share experiences and support each other.
  • A responsive place that supports and encourages community of interest groups and organisations to set up, develop and thrive, helping to meet local community needs and the needs of the learning disability sector across Leeds.
  • A sustainable and affordable place, with smart multi use spaces that can be easily shared - for Leeds Mencap, as the building owner and manager, and the service users, communities of interest groups and organisations that will be using it.”

The following table lists a range of activities against the key theme areas that we are expecting to deliver at the new centre. It aims to give a ‘flavour’ of the centre.

Overview of intended initial Activities/Services
Key Theme 1: Learning Disability Community
Increased family support work run by Leeds Mencap with additional improved facilities (121 room and therapy room)
Peer Support Activities eg. Establishing parent led support groups, peer mentoring, etc. run by Leeds Mencap
Increased places and better facilities for delivery of specialist youth clubs and play schemes – run by Leeds Mencap and intend to run family fun days as well
A range of other activities delivered by other groups making use of the affordable and well equipped facilities eg. Parent led groups
Weekend activities for families of children with learning disabilities using the new soft play and sensory rooms
Hearing tests and sensory room therapy sessions for children with hearing impairments – to be run by the Local Authority Deaf and Hearing Impaired Team
Specialist employability support for young people with learning disabilities run by Royal Mencap Society (National Mencap) who will be relocating to have their office space in the new building.
Key Theme 2: Local Community
Parenting Programmes
Therapeutic group work for children struggling at school
Targeted family activities during holidays
Employability Training Programmes
Healthy activities, including healthy lifestyle sessions
Dance and fitness sessions
Coffee mornings/Dance sessions for the elderly
Needs led/community led activities such as Family Fun Days; Parent and Toddler Groups
Community consultations and meetings
Key Theme 3: Childcare
Affordable and flexible childcare for parents on low incomes and government funded places for eligible 2,3 & 4 year olds
Creche facilities to support community learning activities

In addition the new centre will offer affordable office accommodation and affordable meeting rooms

Royal Mencap will be co-locating with Leeds Mencap (it is now their strategy to co-locate with local associations wherever possible). There will also be a ‘community hub’ area which will include open plan fixed desks. This space is to support community groups, or charitable groups that are working with the local community and groups working with children, young people and/or adults with learning disabilities.

We are looking for two people to work with the Centre Manager, Maintenance worker and Administrator to support the operational management of the building. These roles will have a primary focus on cleaning.

The cleaning support roles are key to the successful running of this new centre as it is essential that users of the building come into a clean, orderly, safe and well-presented building.

The table below shows a ‘typical’ core week of 29 hours of cleaning and support cover that will be required. Postholders would also be expected to attend team meetings and support and supervision meetings with the Centre Manager. The actual hours worked each week will vary according to the requirements of centre bookings. E.g. You will be expected to work in a flexible manner, e.g. starting later and finishing at 10.00 pm if there is a later community booking. The latest finish time would be 10 pm on weekdays and Saturdays and 6 pm on a Sunday.

Day / Start Time / End Time / Hours
Mon / 04.30 / 21.30 / 5
Tue / 04.30 / 20.30 / 4
Wed / 04.30 / 21.15 / 4.75
Thu / 04.30 / 20.30 / 4
Fri / 04.30 / 21.30 / 5
Sat / 18.00 / 20.30 / 2.5
Sun / 10.00 / 13.45 / 3.75

We are offering two posts. Both posts will be offered on variable hours contracts. The contracts will be for a core number of hours each week with any additional hours agreed on a week by week basis with the Centre Manager.

The posts could be offered on the following basis:

  • Monday to Friday
  • Saturday and Sunday
  • Monday to Sunday operated on a rota basis with the second post. It is likely that this arrangement would result in working alternate weekends and vary between 12 and 16 hours per week.

We encourage anyone who is interested and can demonstrate that they fit the person specification to apply and hours will be agreed with successful candidates.

We are looking for people who have experience of cleaning a large building that is used by more than one group or the public. You’ll be very flexible and able to vary your working pattern week by week. You’ll have great communication and customer service skills and ideally be knowledgeable about health and safety, COSHH and cleaning products. You’ll be able to use equipment such as vacuum cleaners and floor polishers. You will need to be comfortable locking and unlocking the building and car park areas alone. These roles are central to us being able to offer a high quality experience to people using the new centre. We’re looking for people who will be motivated by the opportunity to join us at such an exciting time and work with us to achieve our ambitions.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Centre support assistant (cleaning)

REPORTING TO: Centre Manager

Salary: £14,040 full time equivalent salary. £7.20 per hour. Pro rata salary will be dependent on hours worked.

Hours:The post will be offered on a variable hours contract

Annual Leave: 28 days per year pro rata plus public holidays

Location: 20 Vinery Terrace LS9 9LU from April 2016

Purpose of the role:

To support the operational management of the Vinery Terrace building by:

  • Making sure that our building is kept in a clean and orderly condition
  • Ensuring the safety, security and efficient operation of the centre and facilities, in particular during evenings and weekends
  • Providing an excellent customer service to those using the centre

Key Tasks:

Cleaning

  • To clean all areas of the building as per the agreed cleaning schedule, this will include but not be limited to vacuuming, vinyl floor cleaning, cleaning the toilets and changing places facilities, cleaning kitchen/kitchenette areas, dusting and polishing office areas, window cleaning (internal and external), wiping all the soft play equipment, emptying bins.
  • Undertaking deep clean activities as planned with manager including de-frosting and cleaning of fridges, cleaning the bottom of ball pools, etc.
  • To replenish toilet facility stocks (soap, toilet roll, etc.)

Room Hire support

  • To ensure all rooms are ready and set up for booked activities
  • To assist any late arrivals to the centre who have not been able to contact their group leaders
  • Being the point of contact for evening and weekend building users – providing them with updates/information as required and getting their feedback.

Building security

  • To ensure that any unused zones of the building are properly ‘closed down’ checking that the zone is free of people, all windows closed, relevant equipment switched off, doors locked and all lights are switched off.
  • To be responsible for opening up when required at weekends (unlocking car park area, opening main reception doors and disarming burglar alarm).
  • To be responsible for closing down the building evenings and weekends – ensuring everyone has left the building, all windows closed, relevant equipment switched off, doors locked and all lights switched off, setting alarm and locking up car park.

Health and Safety

  • To use cleaning materials and products as per COSHH and risk assessment guidelines
  • Carrying out any minor repairs / maintenance as agreed with manager
  • Carry out any H&S monitoring tasks as agreed with manager
  • Supervising and overseeing the work of any external contractors as agreed with manager
  • Responsible for evacuating the premises in case of fire.
  • Conducting fire drills on a regular basis.

Administration

  • To keep manager up to date with facilities stock requirements to make sure cleaning and facilities supplies are always available as needed

General

  • Work as part of the wider facilities/administration team to ensure the smooth running of the centre.
  • Adhere to all Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection requirements
  • Report any serious concerns immediately to manager (or their deputy)
  • Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and post profile as required

PERSON SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE: Centre support assistant (cleaning)

In order to fulfil the requirements of the post, applicants must meet the following criteria. Candidates will only be short listed for interview if they can demonstrate in their application that they can, or have the potential, to meet these criteria (essential criteria are marked (e) and desirable criteria are marked (d)).

Criteria / How this will be assessed / Essential/Desirable
Experience
One year’s experience of cleaning a large building used by the public or different groups of people eg. School, community centre, offices / Written application and interview / E
Experience of maintaining COSHH register / Written application and interview / D
Skills
Ability to handle equipment and machinery required for the role eg. Vacuum cleaner / Written application and interview / E
Skills in following safety practices and recognizing hazards / Written application and test / E
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues / Written application and interview / E
Good customer service skills / Written application and interview / E
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing / Written application and interview / E
Knowledge
Knowledge of cleaning chemicals and supplies / Written application and test / E
Knowledge of material safety data sheets / Written application and test / D
Knowledge of health and safety requirements related to the role / Written application and interview / E

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