Domestic Assistant (20 hours/week)

THE POSITION

We seek to appoint a professional, motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our Domestic Services team in providing high quality, professional and responsive cleaning services to the Junior and Senior Schools.

The Domestic Assistant will join a multi-disciplined facilities team consisting of four caretakers, two maintenance staff, three grounds staff and twenty-two domestic staff. The Domestic Assistant will report to the Domestic supervisor who in turn, reports to the Head of Facilities and Estates.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The principal duty will be to provide and maintain a clean environment for students, staff and visitors to the school. Other duties will include:

• Daily cleaning throughout the whole school, including teaching rooms, laboratories, sports facilities including pool areas and other special facilities, common rooms, offices and all internal circulation spaces.
• Regular deep cleaning of the school out of term-time and for special events.
• Using a range of cleaning equipment, aids and agents, including vacuum cleaners, floor polishers and a range of appropriate cleaning materials.
• Collecting of waste from bins, including recycling bins.
• Reporting faults, e.g., broken furniture, failed lights, etc.
• Working independently or in close cooperation with other support staff teams, actively assisting in the provision of support services across the school, e.g. setting up and clearing away after events to ensure the school is ready for students the following day.
• Attending and participating in team meetings, training activities and performance development as required.
• Other reasonable additional duties which may be required from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

The following are essential:

• Cleaning experience.
• Good verbal communication skills.
• A strong commitment to quality standards and good practice as they relate to cleaning operations, including:
• An awareness of health and safety, safe use of cleaning materials and environmental health issues associated with an understanding of COSHH Safety procedures.
• An understanding of hygiene control.
• A willingness to actively support the ethos and vision of the school.
• The post holder must show a professional, positive and enthusiastic approach to work and must be flexible and sensitive to the needs of a wide range of school users.

The post holder must:

• be customer focused.
• be confident and courteous.
• be organised and methodical.
• have good timekeeping.
• have a tidy appearance.
• Show an understanding, or willingness to learn the issues associated with working among young people in a school.
• An ability to work as a member of a team in a busy environment.

The following are desirable:

• Experience of working in a school or similar environment.
• A qualification in cleaning science or similar.

HEALTH & SAFETY

An awareness of health and safety, safe use of cleaning materials and environmental health issues is essential. Assisting the Head of Facilities and Estates in providing a safe environment for the school community and its visitors, the post holder must perform their duties in accordance with the school’s health and safety procedures and policies, taking remedial action and reporting hazards where additional action is required.

• Ensure that appropriate signage is in place when cleaning is in progress.
• Make safe any hazards where possible, and ensure the area is cordoned off.
• During cleaning operations, ensure clear passage is maintained especially on fire escape routes, and that the site is safe and tidy.
• Ensure that all allocated equipment and materials are stored safely and securely in order to prevent unauthorised access and potential accidents/misuse.
• Ensure that cleaning cupboards are tidy, and that tools and equipment are in a safe condition at all times.

MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Start date: as soon as possible pending completion of the successful candidate’s pre-employment and safeguarding checks.
• This is a permanent, all year-round role which will include the compulsory safeguarding training at the start of each academic year and staff training days.
• Normal hours of work are 4.00pm-8.00pm (20 hours a week) on school days during term time.
• During the school holidays, the Domestic Assistant will work between 7.00am and 11.00am (20 hours per week).
• Some work outside these hours, including weekends, may be required in connection with special school events.
• The full-time equivalent salary for this role is in the region of £22899 gross per annum (Full time equivalent based on a 37.5 hour working week). The actual salary for 20 hours per week will be £12213 gross per annum, which is equivalent to £11.71 per hour. Salaries are paid in twelve equal monthly instalments.
• RGS Support Staff salaries are reviewed on 1st August each year.
• The employee will be required to comply with a range of RGS policies those regarding Data Protection, use of ICT facilities, Child Protection, Staff Code and Health and Safety, a copy of which will be made available.

WHAT WE OFFER

• During term-time, staff are provided with a free lunch, if on site.
• For non-teaching staff we offer a support staff pension scheme, The Aviva Pension Trust for Independent Schools (APTIS). On receipt of a 6% employee contribution the school makes an employer contribution of 10%. There is also the option of a 3% employee and 5% employer contribution if preferred. This scheme is administered via Salary Exchange (also known as Salary Sacrifice) for those who are eligible. You can opt out of the Salary Exchange arrangement whilst remaining in the pension scheme. Further details of the scheme and salary exchange will be provided on appointment.
• Membership to life assurance scheme through Aviva which pays out five times annual salary in the event of death in service.
• The employee will become eligible for sick pay under the RGS Support Staff Sick Pay Scheme after a qualifying period. Details of the scheme will be provided on appointment.
• The school offers an optional healthcare plan for all staff which includes optical, dental and physio cover, access to telephone GP consultations and a host of other benefits (terms and conditions apply). Further information will be available to the employee once in post.
• As with all RGS employees, the employee will be encouraged to become involved in the wider life of the RGS community.
• We offer an interest free travel loan for a corporate Metro travel pass after a qualifying period. Further information will be available upon starting in post.
• We offer a Bike to Work scheme for qualifying members of staff. Terms and conditions apply. Details will be shared upon starting.
• It is the school’s policy is to allow all eligible members of staff to educate their children at the school at concessionary rates, subject to their children meeting the academic entry requirements and subject to a place being available.
• Ongoing educational support and development of all staff with the provision of external and internal training courses, and our middle leaders training programme for existing and aspiring managers.
• Opportunity to see free school productions in the Miller Theatre located in our Performing Arts Centre.
• Free use of a well-equipped gym, fitness suite and swimming pool at permitted times.
• Access to our onsite confidential counselling service.
• We offer access to the school medical team (1 doctor and 2 nurses) for triage medical advice and free flu vaccinations.
• Supportive and friendly community.
• Invitation to join staff clubs and wellbeing activities during term-time.
• Staff social events throughout the year.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates are advised to read the ‘Information for Applicants’ with particular care before applying.

Enquiries about this post should be made in the first instance to Simon Lymn (Head of Facilities and Estates) s.lymn@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk or by telephone on 0191 281 5711.

If, having looked through the website (www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk) and read this job information pack and the Information for Applicants, you think this particular post would suit you, please say so (and why) in:

1. A covering letter and

2. A fully completed RGS application form.

You must complete the application form, even if you want to also attach a CV. Please email all documents to jobs@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk by 9.00am Monday 25th November 2024.

TO APPLY

For full details please see www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/join-us/work-for-us

The closing date for this role is 9.00am Monday 3rd February 2025

Interviews will be held shortly after the closing date. We will hope to make the appointment as soon as possible following interview, offering the post and gaining acceptance.

Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment

RGS is committed to the safeguarding of children and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and those working in school to share this commitment. The school applies the Government’s Keeping Children Safe in Education Safer Recruitment procedures to all candidates including appropriate pre-interview checks on shortlisted candidates and pre-employment checks pending any offer. More information regarding the checks can be found in our Information for Applicants here, and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September 2024)

Equal Opportunities  

We are looking to appoint staff from a wide variety of backgrounds. Not just because it is the right thing to do but because at the RGS we recognise that those different experiences provide fresh perspectives, opportunities to challenge existing beliefs and provide opportunities to act as excellent role models for our diverse student body.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse school culture and our staff are at the heart of this. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of neurodivergence, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We strive to achieve a diverse workforce, fully representative of our pluralistic society and the ethnic make-up of the student population in the UK.   People of colour are under-represented on our staff team. We are keen to attract applicants from a diverse pool of candidates and determined to be a fully inclusive employer, and a great workplace for people of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority heritage as well as White heritage.

We encourage all candidates to complete an ‘equal opportunities’ form with your application. This will be sent directly to the HR team for monitoring purposes.