Caretaker/cleaner

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**Job Title**

Caretaker

**Position Number(s)**

Various (57.5 FTE positions)

**Department**

Housing Management

**Section or Service**

Environment and Estate Services

**Grade**

C

**DESIGNATION**:
**Responsible to**:
Estate Manager

**Employees directly supervised **_(if applicable)_**:
N/A

**Family Tree: Extract of structure illustrating local relationships. Estate Manager typically manages 8-12 staff per team**
- **JOB PURPOSE**:
To proactively monitor and maintain housing estates in a clean, safe, tidy and attractive condition for the benefit of our residents. To represent Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea during the performance of duties on site communicating with stakeholders on matters affecting the upkeep of the estate.
- **DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES**:
**Operational Tasks**
- To conduct daily inspections to identify, resolve or report any potential health and safety issues on the estates. Assess the risk and escalate appropriately where required. This includes checking the operability of fire alarms, AOV’s, lift closures, flat door closures, emergency lighting, common security doors, fire doors & closures, lifts, free access and egress of communal walkways, bin and storage areas, fire hazards, quarterly utility meter readings, evidence of unauthorised trespass, vandalism or mis-use, contamination, slip & trip hazards and other similar risks as may be prescribed. These daily checks to be confirmed each week through submission of an electronic form identifying activities complete, items checked and hazards reported.
- To be responsible for keeping communal areas, both internally to blocks & externally, in a clean, tidy, safe, debris free condition, including: floors, landings, stairways, balconies and corridors, walls, ledges, windows, doors, fixtures & fittings; open spaces; bin rooms; walkways and other hard surface areas. Clean surfaces using appropriate solutions and equipment suitable for different types of surfaces performed on.
- Remove graffiti from non porous surfaces either chemically or by patch overpainting using like for like products.
- To rotate and sanitize bulk refuse bins to ensure empty bins are accessible and chutes operate freely. Keep refuse rooms locked and secure, open as required for Refuse Services access. Assist Refuse Services with bin movement where required.
- To maintain lifts car surfaces and panels clean, check & unblock door runners.
- To secure and hold supplies of work and safety equipment, day to day cleaning/caretaking materials and to ensure adequate stock is maintained on site at all times. To keep and store any authorised flammable materials in accordance with health and safety and fire regulations.
- To inspect all equipment used in the performance of caretaking duties to ensure it is operable, and to take out of service and report faulty equipment requiring repair or replacement. This includes power driven mechanical equipment. Carry out basic servicing of equipment in accordance with manufacturers guidelines (eg oil or fluid top up).
- To report any issues of fly tipping and arrange removal. Where possible identify the origins and refer to the Neighbourhood Co-Ordinator. Move bulk waste and sacks to a storage area on the estate and guide the Bulk Waste Removal Service as required.
- To report instances of unauthorised parking, blocked road access, vehicles which appear to be abandoned, dangerous or in an unroadworthy condition.
- To be familiar with the location/layout of all plant, electrical intake cupboards, mains fuses, gas meters, mains water stop cocks, and any other statutory or landlord services on the estate. To hold in safekeeping keys to communal and other locked areas (including lift or roof rooms where appropriate) and to enable access to these areas to representatives of statutory undertakings, emergency services, police, contractors and such other persons authorised by management from time to time.
- Place and maintain service notices, contacts and other material on communal noticeboards, ensuring all information on display is current and well presented. This includes information confirming Caretaking provision and attendance as well as other related services.
- To visually check the landlord’s external and internal electrical lighting to communal parts of buildings, including access halls, landings, staircases exterior, and replace spent light bulbs/starters accessible by step ladder up to 1m in height.
- Carry out occasional minor repairs including: boarding up, setting time clocks, lock changes, taping down trip hazards, re-fixing screws to fixtures, tighten bolts, lubricate metal mechanisms, taping off hazardous areas and placing emergency notices where required.
- Monitor work undertaken by internal and external contractors for repairs, cleaning and grounds maintenance and report any concerns to the relevant departments.
- Undertake quarterly meter readings in communal areas and reset estate time clocks and