Clinical Housekeeper

Do you have experience in a clinical environment? Are you looking for a change? Then our housekeeper opportunity may be what you are looking for.

We are looking for someone who is organised, pays attention to detail and can work without direct supervision. You will have excellent spoken and written communication skills and be computer literate.

The post holder will work as an integral member of a specified ward. They will form part of the team to deliver quality services particularly pertaining to infection control, audit and non-clinical patient services.

The post holder will be required to work closely with contractors and support services. They will monitor quality standards and arrange for deficiencies to be rectified.

To assist the Sister / Charge Nurse in ensuring a clean and tidy, safe and comfortable ward environment for patients.

To work with all staff, patients and members of the public to achieve high standards of infection control.

Working with nursing staff to ensure patients receive food and beverages according to their needs.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Infection control
- Decontamination monitoring across all areas pertaining to non-ward equipment to ensure that is kept visibly clean during it’s use and prior to return to either the bed store or the equipment library
- Logging all additional equipment in use on the wards from external areas i.e. bed store, equipment library
- To ensure equipment to be returned for reprocessing is stored safely.
- Environmental monitoring using tools at hand and liaising with Cleaning Contractors on their weekly inspection
- Monitoring ward equipment checks for visible identification of decontamination (commodes, suction, drip stands etc)
- Delivering regular education to ward staff on the correct methods of decontamination
- To ensure the department is safe and tidy at all times, e.g., remove clutter, tidy notice boards, signage etc.
- To identify any problems with cleanliness and report to the Divisional Supervisor and Ward Manager or Matron
- To ensure specialist cleaning of surfaces and furnishings.
- To identify patients with infection due to be discharge and over isolation nursing areas are cleaned appropriately.
- To ensure that all dannicentres and alcohol gel containers are kept filled

Catering
- To ensure that light refreshments are available for patients if required, in accordance with National policy/standard
- To provide eating assistance, e.g., cutting up food, placing food within reach, encouraging patients to eat, as guided by the nursing staff.
- To assist nursing staff with hot/cold beverages including appropriate trolley/equipment.
- To ensure a pleasant environment for patients is maintained where food and beverages are served/consumed.
- To liaise with the nursing staff in notifying the catering department of discharged, transferred and newly admitted patients’ meal requirements.
- To co-ordinate extra meal requirements that may arise.
- Monitoring of catering standards.

Maintaining the Environment
- As part of the ward team the housekeeper will ensure the continual provision of the highest possible standards of service.
- Participate in the audit and use of environmental checklists as requested.
- Report environmental repairs and follow up outstanding work as necessary.
- To inform Line Managers of outcomes of monitoring and agree action plans ensuring action is taken.
- Ensure requests through the Housekeeping Monitoring Form are logged, reported, recorded and closed down as appropriate.
- To monitor and co-ordinate other ad hoc maintenance, liaising with the support service helpdesk as required for other services.
- If req