Emergency Department Housekeeper

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a welcoming and passionate team. The emergency department is one of the busiest in the country and we need to recruit housekeepers to help cater for the patients that come to our doors with all different conditions.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and friendly person who is able to deliver a high standard of care and be able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team assisting staff in the emergency department to maintain a safe, clean and comfortable environment for our patients, their families and visitors.

Good communication skills and the ability to work well within a team are essential. Previous experience is desirable but not essential, as training will be given.

To work as part of the team you must be highly motivated and able to prioritise your workload. You must also be able to demonstrate an adaptable, enthusiastic approach to your work, and the ability to manage your workload with various competing demands for your time and attention within a busy clinical area.

The post is suitable for an individual wishing to work as part of the multidisciplinary Team, communicating with patients, families and clinical staff in the environment. You must be able to be courteous, respectful and helpful at all times.

Please note this vacancy may close early once a certain number of applications have been submitted.

To act as Housekeeper, ensuring the patient service and the clinical environment are managed and maintained to appropriate standards.

To maintain a high standard of cleanliness without direct supervision.

To support the department staff in the smooth running of their area
and to come into contact with patients.

The post holder will be instrumental in ensuring patients’ nutritional requirements are met.

The post holder is required to use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patient

We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children’s Hospital and run one of the country’s leading heart centres.

Our team is made up of more than 14,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

We work with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.

Our purpose is to provide ‘Caring at its best’ and our staff have helped us create a set of values that embody who we are and what we’re here to do. They are:

• We focus on what matters most
• We treat others how we would like to be treated
• We are passionate and creative in our work
• We do what we say we are going to do
• We are one team and we are best when we work together

Our patients are at the heart of all we do and we believe that ‘Caring at its best’ is not just about the treatments and services we provide, but about giving our patients the best possible experience.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (leicestershospitals.nhs.uk)

• Undertake the collection, ordering and distribution of patient food in a timely manner at appropriate mealtimes.
• Taking menu orders directly from patients.
• Taking delivery of food trolleys.
• The serving of food trays directly to the patient.
• Preparing patients for their meal and directly assisting patients assessed as

suitable by the Registered Nurse.

• The collection and return of trays to food trolleys, noting what patients have/have not eaten and report, where necessary to the nurse in charge.
• Completing bedside food and drink charts.
• Prepare and distribute water jugs to patients as required.
• Prepare and distribute hot and cold drinks to patients as required

Ensure housekeeping and day-to-day management of the kitchen is maintained in that:

• The area, including any utensils, is clean and fit for use
• The refrigerator temperature is recorded daily
• Any consumable items are properly stored and within date
• The ice/milk/drinks machines are cleaned and checked as per policy and

guidelines at hospital site.

• Monitor the adequacy of linen deliveries, reporting defects or inadequate

supplies to the Ward/Unit Manager or nurse in charge of shift.

• Keep the sluice and utility areas tidy and bag soiled linen in accordance with Trust policy.
• To act at all times in a responsible and safe manner while in the department and encourage a warm and welcoming environment for patients, staff and visitors.
• Promote and practice the highest standards of hygiene and the prevention and control of infection at all times.
• Assist the team to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness of clinical based medical equipment i.e., dressing trolleys, drip stands.
• Ensure and monitor that repairs are reported and carried out as quickly as

possible on any broken equipment.

• Monitor the clinical areas state of cleanliness, tidiness and carry out any other minor housekeeping duties as required, i.e., remove rubbish and tidy bedside lockers and tables.