Assistant Caretaker

Hilden Grange School is a co-educational preparatory day school for children aged 3-13 years. We have a thriving community and pride ourselves on our friendly atmosphere, outstanding teaching, impressive examination success, thriving sports and vibrant extra-curricular activities.

Our children are encouraged and given every opportunity to develop enquiring minds and self reliance. Our excellent teaching staff teach their specialist subjects in small classes and are expert at motivating and stimulating their pupils.

The school has access to more than twenty acres of attractive grounds, on the northern fringe of Tonbridge, Kent.

We are looking to recruit an Assistant Caretaker from September 2024. This is a part time role for 15 hours per week, term time only.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To assist the Site Manager and Groundsman in the routine maintenance of the school site and grounds, including the preparation of sports pitches and facilities
• To train as a road crossing patrol officer and to carry out duties as required
• To drive the school minibuses as and when required
• Opening and locking of school buildings as required in term time and school holiday periods, including unlocking and locking external doors and de-activating and activating security alarms, checking for fire hazards, checking all windows are closed, noting and reporting all damages
• Carrying out swimming pool tests in advance of use by pupils and staff during pool opening months (April – October)
• Cleaning the swimming pool and maintaining the swimming pool plant and dosing equipment, ensuring that regular checks of water samples are undertaken – specialist certified training will be provided
• Ensuring sufficient stocks of chemicals and consumable spares are maintained for the pool, and also consumables and sundries for school vehicles; and ensuring that appropriate health and safety procedures and COSHH regulations are followed for the handling of pool chemicals
• Cleaning and regular servicing/preparation of the schools transport – minibuses and people carrier – including replenishing fuel, oil, screen wash etc.
• Assisting with the supervision and direction of contractors whilst on site
• Carrying out other duties as required by the Head/Site Manager, including opening and securing the school site before and after school events at weekends and during the evening

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

Experience –

• Experience of working in a similar role
• Experience of working in a school environment would be desirable
• Experience of using horticultural machinery would be an advantage

Skills –

• A good standard of DIY skills
• A clean driving license, preferably D1 or above
• Good horticultural skills desirable
• Confident use of information and communication (ICT), including familiarity with basic Microsoft packages e.g. Word, Outlook

Knowledge –

• An understanding of security and safety requirements in a school environment

Personal competencies & Qualities -

• Evidence of being a strong team member
• Enthusiasm and a positive outlook
• An ability to work to deadlines and to work independently and as part of a team when required