Caretaker & Grounds Assistant

Aurora Eccles School and Aurora White House School

We're currently looking for Caretaker and Grounds Assistant to join our team in Quidenham. You will be working across both Eccles and White House schools alongside the maintenance team to assist in maintaining the site by ensuring that requested resources and orders are delivered to the required areas and that the site is kept safe and secure as directed by the Site Manager or a member of the School's Leadership team. To also assist with grounds maintenance and project works thereafter and carry out various tasks for which you have been trained without direct supervision.

Part of the Aurora Group, Aurora Eccles School and Aurora White House School in Quidenham, Norwich provide day placements for students aged 6 to 16 years primarily with communication and interaction difficulties or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia.  Some may be on the autistic spectrum or have anxieties and difficulties that create barriers to learning.   

To take a virtual look around the schools please click here: Eccles Virtual Tour and White House Virtual Tour

Key Duties:

• Ensure all deliveries received are transported to their final destination as quickly as possible, liaising with Education and Finance colleagues in the process.
• Ensure critical supplies, such as drinking water and copier paper, are topped up in the relevant areas on a regular basis.
• Ensure that the site is kept secure, including securing the site at the end of the day and keyholding.
• General grounds maintenance – cutting grass and hedges and weeding ensuring compliance with wildlife protection legislation health and safety regulations and manufacturers' instructions.
• General site maintenance clearing gutters and drains across the site. Leaf-clearing and removal/destruction. Maintaining fences, including repairs and paint/treatment. Repairs on damage caused to internal and external fittings/finishes.
• Gritting pathways and drives in conjunction with the rest of the maintenance team in winter months.
• Clearing rubbish from the external areas and emptying bins where necessary.
• To undertake or assist with compliance testing as part of a preventative maintenance program.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of Eccles when required. Please see the link at the bottom of page for our full job description.

Skills:

• Ability to work well in a team and on own initiative
• Demonstrable attention to detail and pride in work
• Organised and able to prioritise own workload
• Ability to recognise the need for confidentiality
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills
• Ability to be flexible
• Professional trade qualification or experience (Desirable)

Knowledge:

• Understanding of safe working principles and Health and Safety legislation
• COSHH – safe use of chemicals
• Understanding impact of works on wildlife and adjustments required (nesting season and protected species)

Due to the location of the school, candidates must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle. 

How to Apply: 

For candidates that haven't worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at 

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.