JOB DESCRIPTION
HANDYPERSON
REPORTS TO: Registered Manager/Site Manager
Accountable directly to the Registered Manager, with professional and technical support from the Property Department.
LOCATION:
NORMAL WORKING HOURS:
CONTEXT OF THE ROLE
Friends of the Elderly is a charity dedicated to supporting older people. We aspire to a society where all older people are treated with respect and have the opportunity to live fulfilled lives.
Our care homes provide high quality residential, nursing and specialist dementia care. We also support older people in their own home and offer dementia support in our day clubs. Our free-to-access services including telephone befriending, visiting and grant giving, also make a real difference in the lives of older people.
1. MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To meet the needs and expectations of our residents, keeping the premises maintained to a high standard of repair, presentation and readiness through;
· Carrying out or arranging to be carried out, planned and responsive maintenance and improvement works at the site and at other Homes and Services as required.
· Regularly reviewing the maintenance of the buildings and their grounds. Anticipating and solving problems in a timely manner and identifying opportunities for improvement.
· Being pro-active in making recommendations for improving property operations and solving maintenance related problems.
2. WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical Demands
· A Handyman has a physically demanding job. He/she will be expected to have the stamina to handle all types of materials, tools and equipment, within safe handling guidelines, across the workplace and throughout the working day.
Environmental Conditions
· As well as internal work the maintenance person will be expected to work outside in different weather conditions including hot and cold weather and rain.
Sensory Demands
· The Handyman may be exposed to unpleasant sights and smells. He/she may at times be in proximity to dangerous and/or toxic substances and must take necessary precautions to protect eyes, nose and skin from irritation and infection.
3. RESPONSIBLE FOR
· Maintaining records of inspection of buildings, plant and services.
· Maintaining adequate levels of spares and ordering materials as required.
· Monitoring the correct operation of plant, building services, equipment and tools.
· Complying with operational, safety, health and environmental policies and procedures.
· Ensuring compliance with Health and Safety regulations.
· Coordinating the work of any external contractors with the operation of the site.
· Providing a high quality, timely handyman service to the Home Manager.
· This role encompasses internal and external maintenance to buildings, grounds and gardens, its contents, fixtures and fittings.
4. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
· Works within our established financial procedures, taking responsibility for recommending to managers payments to contractors.
· Initiates actions that improve the efficiency of operating the property or reducing operating costs.
· Tracks, and improves key parameters such as energy and water consumption, maintenance costs etc.
5. WORKING RELATIONS
Internal: Maintain good working relationships with, Home Managers and all members of staff within the home, other handymen, Regional Directors and the Property Department at Central Office.
External: Maintain good relationships with suppliers of services and utilities, contractors and suppliers, gardeners and any consultants, including working relationships that may occur with residents and their families.
6. KEY OBJECTIVES
Minimum Requirements
To take responsibility for carrying out/or arranging each essential function satisfactorily. The scope of the role is summarised below and illustrates the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.
This list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive:
1. Statutory testing: Fire alarms, emergency lighting, hot and cold water temperatures including legionella checks, portable appliance testing (PAT), gas safety checks.
2. Periodic external inspections of buildings, grounds, boundary walls and fences and trees. Checking in particular for safety issues, neighbour issues, trespass or encroachment.
3. Building fabric maintenance: internal and external fabric including walls, doors, windows and roofs and including temporary as well as permanent buildings.
4. Internal finishes: painting and decorating and floor and wall coverings.
5. External finishes: painting and decorating, treatment of external timber.
6. Maintenance of internal and external signs.
7. Repairs to furniture, fixtures and fittings.
8. Ensuring the premises are kept in a highly presentable condition.
9. Ensuring a high level of availability of vacant rooms for viewing / letting (95%)
10. Basic security of premises: key control, locking of buildings, stores, fences and gates.
11. Heating and hot water services: Including plant controls and oil fuel, its ordering, storage and distribution plant.
12. Electrical supply and distribution: power and lighting including external lighting, stand by generators and their fuelling and fuel stocks.
13. Ventilation and cooling equipment.
14. Gas supply and equipment: limited to the correct operating and integrity of equipment and controls, ventilation, flueing and air supply.
15. Water supply, storage and distribution: Including prevention of scalding and prevention of legionella.
16. Foul and surface water drainage: including all guttering, downpipes, soil vent pipes, above and below ground drainage, rainwater and road gullies and all manholes.
17. Alarm systems: Periodic testing and routine maintenance of fire alarm and resident call systems.
18. Television aerials and distribution systems.
19. Lightning protection.
20. Grounds and gardens; both hard and soft landscaping.
21. Boundary walls, fences and gates.
22. Roads, paths and car parks.
23. Exceptional events: work with Home Manager to develop, maintain and resource emergency plans and contingencies. Prioritise salting and gritting, flood prevention, fuel supplies etc.
24. Centrally organised contracts: maintain an oversight of the activities of all contractors working on centrally organised group contracts; e.g. lift maintenance, fire safety equipment, water hygiene, asbestos monitoring, electrical tests etc. monitoring compliance with specification and schedule of activities.
25. Major works: work with Home Manager and Property Department to support the delivery of major works, with particular care for the ongoing operation of the site and staff and resident safety and welfare.
26. Maintain appropriate records of all safety checks, risk assessments, meter readings etc.
6.1 Carry out planned and responsive maintenance works in the Home.
6.2 Deliver effective repairs and improvements.
6.3 Actively support centrally organised project work.
6.4 Uses resources effectively whilst taking responsibility for delivering maintenance and improvement works is aware of and makes timely use of advice and help from additional resources such as contractors, professionals and colleagues within Friends of the Elderly.
6.5 Control costs – comply with our established financial instructions and ensure that we achieve good value for money. Please also refer to Energy.
6.6 Energy – whilst meeting the operational needs of the home ensure that building services are as energy efficient as possible and running costs are minimised.
6.7 Neighbour Relations – post holders need to be aware of their local surroundings; extending beyond their buildings and site an awareness of their boundaries and the neighbouring land uses and potential planning issues is essential.
6.8 Health and Safety – to ensure that all areas of working are safe, this also includes colleagues and visitors, inside and outside the home. (Please also refer to section 12).
6.9 Communications – to communicate effectively, person to person and using phone calls, faxes, e-mails and meetings with contractors, governing bodies or colleagues, keeping file notes as necessary.
6.10 Maintenance and Repairs – Carries out preventive maintenance procedures on buildings and mechanical equipment on a scheduled basis. Carries out, or arranges to be carried out, minor and major repairs of all buildings and equipment. (Major repairs, in the main, will be carried out by a general contractor).
6.11 Inspection - inspect boilers, generators and related equipment and make/ arrange any necessary repairs.
7. RELATED TASKS
7.1 May be required to install computer cabling for IT department.
7.2 Responds to emergency maintenance requests as required.
7.3 Performs outside custodial duties such as snow removal and drain clearance as required.
7.4 Obtain estimates and quotes for suppliers, contractors, repair parts and ordering parts.
8. HEALTH & SAFETY
To comply with all regulations regarding the Health & Safety Policy and procedures, and to be aware of safety hazards at our sites of operation. Being aware of any risk assessments, follow method statements or safe systems of work including manual handling and lifting procedures.
9. APPRAISAL
To participate in Friends of the Elderly’s Annual Appraisal Scheme.
10. TRAINING
10.1 To undertake any training required to meet the requirements of legislation.
10.2 To attend in house and external training courses as required by your line manager or the Property Department.
11. SAFEGUARDING
To ensure that the people your service supports are protected from abuse and neglect; to follow the FotE Safeguarding Procedure and, if you witness or suspect abuse, to report it promptly as required by the procedure.
12. CONFIDENTIALITY
All staff must respect the confidentiality of any matters they may learn in the course of their duties relating to residents, staff and the general public as well as matters of business concerning Friends of the Elderly.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Abilities Required
Experience in caretaking or handyman work and various types of maintenance and repair. Good skills in organising time and work including the effective use of power tools, plant and contract services. The ability to start and finish a job to a high standard, with minimum disruption to the operation of the home.
Language Skills
Ability to speak, read, write and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memo’s in English. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to other employees.
Personal Attributes required in the role
· Be respectful,
· Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity,
· Be flexible in working conditions,
· Demonstrate sound work ethics,
· Be constant and fair.
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Handyperson JD 2016