Maintenance Operative

The Maintenance Operative role is permanent, all year round, to carry out day to day maintenance and repair works around site to help contribute to a safe and comfortable environment for our students and staff.

About OSH

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. The majority of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now on an exciting journey to become fully co-educational by September 2025. Girls joined us in September 2021 in Year 7, whilst the Sixth Form has been mixed since 2004.

OSH is calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. 

We have recently had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. You can see these via our website www.oshsch.com  We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We’re not about league tables, however. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years.

A major building programme has recently been completed which includes a large extension to an already impressive sports centre, an all-weather floodlit sports pitch, a new teaching block with a specialist arts room, a performing arts centre and a new senior boarding house.

Person Specification

Experience and skills

• A minimum of 6 years’ experience is required in a maintenance repair role;
• All works must be carried out in a safe and responsible manner ensuring Health and Safety procedures are followed at all times;
• Must be able to communicate confidently;
• An eye for detail and accuracy.

Personal attributes

• A professional manner and appearance
• Self-motivated with a positive, professional attitude
• Ability to work as part of a team yet also to work under own initiative;
• Flexible approach and adaptable; 

Job Specification

The Maintenance Operative will be responsible to the Estates Manager.

The person appointed will have the following essential skills and competencies:

Primary Duties

You must be able to carry out a variety of maintenance disciplines to a high standard and have experience in fields including:

• Carpentry;
• Plastering and tiling;
• Slabbing and basic bricklaying;
• Basic plumbing;
• Painting and decorating.

Other Duties

Other duties to ensure the smooth operation of the estates department within the School including:

• Advising the Estates Manager of any damage/defects found to the building fabric or grounds;
• Physically moving desks, chairs, beds, wardrobes, lockers and other equipment;
• Cleaning of gutters, drains and gullies;
• Unblocking toilets and sinks;
• Taking readings of gas and electricity meters as directed;
• Assisting with receiving, offloading and distribution of deliveries;
• Attending training course or completing on line training courses as required;
• Any other reasonable duties as required by the Headmaster, Bursar or Estates Manager.

Hours & Remuneration of Work

This is a permanent, 37 hours per week, all year round position.

The salary for your hours of work is £27,269 per annum

You will be entitled to 20 days’ annual holiday each year plus UK statutory public holidays. 

In line with current regulation you will, if you are eligible, be offered a workplace pension through NEST.

Equal Opportunity

Old Swinford Services Ltd welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to work with Children

Old Swinford Services Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised date if a large number of applications have been received.