Job title: Caretaker

Post number: CA1845

Reports to: Senior Caretaker/Duty Halls Manager/Halls Operations Manager

Department: Accommodation & Hospitality Services

Location: Halls of Residences, Brighton

Grade: 2

Purpose of the role: The role will involve general day-to-day maintenance tasks, providing a security presence, and general reception based duties. You will be the first point of contact for our students playing a key part in providing day to day assistance and support.

Line management responsibility for: N/A

Main areas of responsibility:

  • To maintain a predetermined standard of cleanliness and order for all users throughout the Halls of Residence buildings and report any areas of concern to the Senior Caretaker/Duty Halls Manager.
  • To assist with the safety, security and maintenance of the buildings and associated equipment, including responding to and reporting emergencies such as fire alarms, theft, and accidents in accordance with university procedures.
  • To provide portering services including the movement of furniture, linen, deliveries, stores and equipment as required.
  • To be responsible for building keys on a daily basis and to ensure that keys are issued in accordance with instructions from senior residences site staff.
  • To carry out general duties such as staffing the halls reception and the distribution of mail, as directed by the Senior Caretaker/Duty Halls Manager.
  • To help foster and maintain good customer relations.

General responsibilities:

These are standard to all University of Brighton job descriptions.

  • To undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser grade.
  • To adhere to the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy in all activities, and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible.
  • To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

The person specification focuses on the knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills (both general and technical) required to undertake the role effectively. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria. You will be assessed by your completed application form (A), at interview (I) and in some instances through an exercise (E).

Essential criteria / A, I, E
Knowledge /
  • Basic knowledge and understanding of essential services and facilities within an Accommodation environment
  • Understanding of the Health and Safety issues relevant to Halls of Residences buildings and their users
/ A, I
Qualifications /
  • CIEH Level 2 Health & Safety
/ A
Experience /
  • Previous experience of working in a residential environment (with students/young people)
  • Previous experience of working in an environment where high standards of cleanliness, safety, security and organisation were required
/ A, I
Managing people /
  • The ability to work as part of a small team, and contribute ideas to improving operations
  • The ability to work with limited supervision, use initiative and complete tasks independently
  • The ability to foster and maintain excellent working relationships with customers and staff
/ A, I
Technical/work based skills /
  • The ability to complete basic maintenance tasks and have a basic knowledge of building services
  • The ability to use Microsoft Windows, Outlook and other relevant software
  • The ability to be able to lift items (sometimes heavy) on a relatively frequent basis
  • Good working knowledge and commitment to relevant Health & Safety legislation such as C.O.S.H.H.
/ A, I
Communication /
  • Possess good communication skills, and able to respond clearly to enquiries and provide concise information about the buildings to various users
/ A, I
Desirable /
  • An awareness of the academic environment and the pressures currently facing students
  • Qualified in First Aid, or a willingness to undertake such, and other appropriate training
  • Hold a full drivers’ licence held for over three years and access to own transport
  • Previous experience of working in an environment with students/young people and an awareness of the academic environment
/ A, I
  • Any appointment is generally made at the bottom of the salary range for the grade dependent upon experience and previous salary.
  • This is a full-time post, working 37 hours per week across a seven day working week.
  • Annual leave entitlements are shown in the table below and increase after 5 years’ service. In addition, to the eight Bank Holidays, there are university discretionary days between Christmas and New Year. All leave, including bank holidays and discretionary days, is pro-rated for part time employees.

Grades / Basic entitlement per year / Grades / After 5 years’ service
1-3 / 23 days / 1-3 / 28 days
4-7 / 25 days / 4-7 / 30 days
8-9 / 27 days / 8-9 / 30 days
Band 10 and above / 30 days / Band 10 and above / 30 days
  • More information about the department/school can be found here Professional Services Departments or here Academic departments (schools and colleges)
  • Read the University’s 2016 - 2021 Strategy
  • The University has an attractive range of benefits and you can find more information about them on our website

Date: 04/2017