Jobs in health and social care
Housekeeper
About the job
Some examples of a Housekeeper at work
What must you know to be able to do this job?
How do I become a Housekeeper?
Workplace Training
College Courses
Where can I get more information?
About the job
Housekeepers are responsible for maintaining a high standard of housekeeping within the area of the hospital under their control. They ensure that the area is cleaned and maintained, they report any mechanical or safety defects and notify the maintenance staff if there is a need for immediate repairs, they ensure that equipment and uniforms are cleaned and repaired, that patients meals are prepared, collected and served on time, and the dishes taken away, they ensure that rubbish and used equipment is taken away and disposed of safely
Some examples of a Housekeeper at work
Example 1
Hussein is checking the bathrooms on the surgical ward. He has to clean the toilets in turn according to the schedule and ensure there is always enough soap, towels and toilet rolls.Example 2
Fatima is working on the geriatric ward (the ward for elderly patients). She goes to the ward kitchen to collect the tea trolley. She then serves tea to those patients who want a drink but who cannot get out of bed, and she chats to them. One patient, Angela, is very confused and distressed this morning, she thinks that Fatima is her daughter and keeps telling her that she must not be late for school. Fatima spends a few minutes reassuring her before moving on to the next patient.Example 3
A child is waiting with her mother in the accident and emergency reception area. She is drinking milk from a glass, which she drops on the floor. It breaks and the milk spills on the floor. This is a health hazard, someone may slip and hurt themselves, and if the milk is left on the floor it will attract flies which can carry disease. The receptionist uses the bleep system to call Charlotte the housekeeper, who sends someone to clean up the mess. She places a warning sign to let others know they must be careful of the wet floor. When throwing away the glass, she has to follow health and safety protocols relating to waste - the glass pieces must be put in a special cardboard container which will then be incinerated.
How do I become a Housekeeper?
You will need to apply to a hospital that is advertising vacancies. You do not need any specific qualifications although if you have previous domestic experience, particularly in a large organisation, this would help your application. You need to be able to speak and write English but any qualifications obtained overseas would count in your application.
What must you know to be able to do this job?
- cleaning techniques
- food handling techniques
- health and safety procedures
- customer care
- teamwork
- good communication skills
- local waste disposal guidelines
Workplace training
Whilst working at the hospital, you will be trained in the various routines. You will also be taught food handling and health and safety, gaining certificates in both these subjects. If you already have a food hygiene certificate and/or a health and safety certificate, this will go in your favour when you apply for a job.
There are a number of qualifications in cleaning and waste management that you may be able to study for whilst working at a hospital. For example, you could study for a Cleaning Operatives Proficiency Certificate on a course that lasts for three weeks (you would go to college on day a week).
When you have experience of the various aspects of the job, and have received the qualifications mentioned above, you could apply for a job as team leader. This involves managing and supervising junior staff. To help you qualify for one of these jobs, you could take a year’s course (one day a week on day release) on supervisory management where you would specialise in cleaning or waste management (see below).
There are a number of part-time and full-time college courses which would lead you to gaining a qualification in cleaning or waste management, for example:-
- Scotvec Higher National Certificate in Waste Management - a one-day a week course running over two years, for people employed in the waste-related industry and who have a good level of education, including a minimum of 5 GCSEs
- Cleaning Operatives Proficiency Certificate
- NEBSM Certificate in Supervisory Management - a one-day a week course running for a year. You study human resource management, presentation of information, products, services and finance. This would qualify you as a supervisor
Where can I get more information?
- Your local hospital
- Colleges which run courses in cleaning and waste management include:-
Hackney Community College
Shoreditch Campus
Falkirk Street
London
N1 6HQ
Tel: 020 7613 9123
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