Job Title: Facilities Assistant
Location: The Wenlock School, Dudley, West Midlands
Salary: Up to £20,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Facilities Assistant to join our close-knit team at The Wenlock School.
If you are looking to join a dedicated team in a school that will welcome your ideas and re-engage our young people, we would like to hear from you. The successful candidate will support the Facilities Manager in the maintenance and health and safety across our site.
The Wenlock School opened in September 2018. We are a co-educational day school catering for pupils aged 7-18 with a range of needs including a range of social, emotional, and mental health needs and pupils who have been diagnosed with autism or demonstrate behaviours associated with autism.
You will contribute to making Wenlock School an Outstanding provision and a leading light for our young people and their families. We provide a therapeutic, supportive, and inclusive learning environment and are committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise their potential and supporting them through a personalised, engaging curriculum.
Our priority is to develop the foundation knowledge and skills required to make a manageable and smooth transition to the next life stage.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a Facilities Assistant who has a suitable qualification (or provide evidence of experience) of one of the following trades - carpentry, plumbing, decorating. Someone who is ICT literate for updating systems, able to priorities tasks anticipate and reduce risk where possible and an effective communicator.
Ideally, someone who is IOSH trained, has a current first aid certificate and experience of COOSH, PAT testing, asbestos awareness and working at heights but this is not essential.
The ideal candidate will have a strong ability to solve problems independently, have high expectations and standards who will lead our facilities department, deliver training and ensuring our practice remains outstanding at all times. There will need to be a high degree of accuracy working in accordance with the health and safety policies and procedures of the group.
The ideal candidate will enjoy working with children in a calm and engaging demeanour, whilst being resilient and innovative. Previous experience of working in a SEN environment would be desirable, excellent support skills and the right motivation, personal qualities and levels of resilience are also just as important.
The ability to contribute to the development of our new school is essential and we believe that energy, passion, and a commitment to high standards are key characteristics required. We are looking for a special individual who can help inspire and engage the young people that we serve.
This is an opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their skills and experience in a challenging, motivating and highly rewarding environment.
Key accountabilities
- Undertake general and emergency repairs and maintenance around the establishment, inside and out, including plastering, basic joinery, decorating, repairs to fixtures and fittings, furnishings and buildings, to ensure the site is a safe and well-maintained environment for pupils, employees and visitors
- To support in the maintenance of school transport and carry out transport duties including mini buss runs as required by the sites
- Ensuring garden and surrounding areas, including pathways, hedging, trees, car parking and external play areas are well maintained
- Move heavy and awkward shaped furniture and supplies as requested
- Maintain security of the site, i.e., opening and closing the premises in line with agreed opening and closing procedures
- Undertake required statutory Health & Safety including water checks (legionnaire testing), change and monitor gas bottles, oil supplies on various sites, ladder checks, and equipment condition checks
- Carry out a daily walk of the site, report any significant issues
- Ensure that all equipment and materials are used in accordance with Health & Safety guidelines. Essential Criteria
- Knowledge and understanding of Health & Safety and how to apply it in the workplace including carrying out checks and maintaining logbooks
- Excellent interpersonal skills, to gain credibility and respect from people at all levels and maintain a positive relationship with all customers
- Adaptability and flexibility - can handle multiple priorities
- High degree of accuracy, attention to detail and organisational skills
- Ability to deal with difficult and multiple tasks at any one time and prioritise work to meet demanding timescales
- Team orientated yet also able to work autonomously
- Full driving license
- Competent in the use of ICT skills. Desirable
- Understanding of pupils with SEN
- Health & Safety qualification
- Experience of taking responsibility of security of a building
Acorn Education and Care are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Check and safer recruitment checks.