FM Assistant (Cleaning) - Colchester
The closing date is 02 April 2026
FM Assistant (Cleaning) Band 2 - £12.51 per hour (£24,465 per annum pro rata) 10 hours per week - See rota below The Lakes, Gosfield Ward, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 15.00 - 19.00 The Lakes, ECT, Monday 08.00 - 11.00
If you're interviewed for this role, you can discuss the rota's with the recruiting manager.
To participate in the provision of the in‑house FM services to a specified area within the Trust. The FM services comprise the cleaning, catering, portering and laundering services, however some of these services are unit specific. Therefore sections of this job description may not be relevant to all staff and will be identified where appropriate but are not exhaustive.
You must also be aware that your work will involve working alongside patients and occasionally interacting with them as you carry out your duties outlined below.
Please note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.
Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.
About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
£8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us.
Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Job responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Domestic Service including Rapid Response (CAT). Ensure that the ward(s) / areas you are assigned to are cleaned in accordance with the work schedule for those ward(s) / areas. This will include vacuuming floors; sweeping, scrubbing and mopping floors; high and low dusting; wiping over and polishing (where applicable) both vertical and horizontal surfaces, mirrors, chairs*, bed frames*, bins, sani‑bins; cleaning toilets, sinks, baths and showers; cleaning cookers, regeneration ovens, fridges, holding fridges, microwaves and other items in the kitchens; defrosting fridges on a regular basis; restocking consumables such as toilet tissue, handtowels, soap; descaling taps; and bins and replacing bin liners (* Providing they have not been soiled with body fluids). Work with your supervisor and other interested parties when the work schedule for the area you are assigned to is reviewed, ensuring it is manageable and appropriate. Inform your supervisor of any problems, e.g., with floor coverings, surfaces that may affect your cleaning. Use only the correct colour‑coded mops, cloths, buckets etc. assigned to those areas and store or dispose of them properly at the end of your shift to prevent cross‑infection. Use cleaning materials and disposables economically. Report to your supervisor if product quality deteriorates or if substitute products are delivered. Operate machinery/equipment (vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, regeneration ovens) safely, report faults, keep equipment clean, and use safety signs and circuit breakers appropriately. Store all equipment and cleaning materials securely and report any security issues. Dispose of general/domestic waste, recyclables and clinical waste correctly. Report any incidents of incorrect segregation, storage or disposal.
Food Services
Assist with the regeneration process of cook‑chill meals, taking and recording temperatures before placing food into the regeneration oven and commencing the cook cycle. Prepare soup, gravy and custard for the patient meal service. Responsible for the entire regeneration process, ensuring temperatures are recorded at the end of the cycle and for plating food to be served by clinical staff. Use oven gloves and cloths regularly and launder them. Serve and clear away meals served to patients in the ward/area. Clean crockery and cutlery used for serving meals.
Laundry Service
(Relevant to specific areas: Mountnessing Court and Fountains Court, Landermere Centre, Henneage Ward and Kingswood Centre). Ensure that all items of patients' clothing, duvet covers, duvets and curtains requiring laundering are washed, dried and finished appropriately. Re‑process or iron garments that do not meet the required standard. Label patients' personal items. Keep dirty and soiled items separate from clean items to minimise cross‑infection. Place completed items in the agreed area. Maintain the laundry area clean and tidy, completing the cleaning checklist to evidence all tasks have been completed. Work with colleagues to keep washing machines and tumble driers clean and report faulty machinery immediately.
Portering
Deliver routine tasks including pharmacy boxes, medical records, clean linen, bread, milk, general stores, meal trolleys, collection of dirty linen and waste. Obtain signatures for items where appropriate. Carry out ad‑hoc tasks such as transporting patients (alongside nursing staff at Basildon MHU), medical gases, specimen and bloods, furniture removal, and setting up meeting rooms. Maintain medical gas supplies, report defects and cryogenic liquid levels. Operate the electro‑hydraulic waste compactor with appropriate training. Attend community site buildings using Trust vehicle for collections and deliveries, assist with vehicle loading/unloading, keep car park clear of litter. Assist with fire calls and guide the fire brigade to the designated fire panel and key box. Undertake gritting and snow clearance during severe weather. Keep waste compound, storage areas and all equipment used for the service clean and tidy.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Understanding of cleanliness and good hygiene practices.
Skills/experience
No specific experience or skills listed.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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