About this role
Job summary
As head housekeeper you'll lead the housekeeping service at Ashness house and make sure the hospital is always clean safe and therapeutic for everyone who uses it. You'll supervise a small supportive team organise rotas oversee daily and deep-cleaning plans and ensure every area from bedrooms to clinical rooms is kept to a high standard. You'll guide infection-control work carry out regular audits and work with clinical staff to keep the environment safe.
You'll join a place where your standards and leadership truly matter. Your work shapes the space patients live in each day and you'll be trusted to run a service that supports safe and dignified care. You'll be part of a respectful and collaborative team valued for your skill and given the freedom to make improvements that have real impact. if you take pride in high standards enjoy supporting others and want a role with purpose influence and daily satisfaction you'll thrive here.
Main duties of the job
In this role you'll lead and support a small team of Housekeepers making sure Ashness House is always clean safe and therapeutic. You'll organise daily tasks manage rotas run team meetings and help staff grow their skills. You'll ensure every part of the hospital from patient bedrooms and bathrooms to clinical rooms and communal areas is cleaned to a high standard.
You'll oversee daily weekly and deep-cleaning plans respond fast to urgent cleaning needs and carry out regular audits to maintain quality. Infection prevention and control will be central to your work and you'll make sure staff follow IPC rules use PPE correctly and handle chemicals safely in line with CoSHH.
You'll manage stock and equipment keep accurate records and work with clinical and facilities teams to maintain a safe environment. You'll escalate concerns support risk assessments and ensure compliance with health and safety duties. Overall you'll play a key role in keeping the hospital running smoothly and safely every day.
About us
Ashness House is a specialist mental health hospital that offers a calm safe and therapeutic space for men with complex needs. The service supports recovery through steady routines high-standards and a focus on dignity safety and wellbeing. As part of the team you'll help maintain an environment where patients feel secure respected and supported each day.
The hospital has patient bedrooms bathrooms clinical rooms offices and shared areas and all must be kept to a high standard to ensure safety and comfort.
Ashness House works within CQC rules and strong infection-prevention and control practice and you will work with clinical teams to keep the setting therapeutic. It is a collaborative workplace where every role shapes patient experience and where your work will feel meaningful and rewarding.
Job description Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE Head Housekeeper
REPORTS TO Hospital Director
LOCATION Ashness House
HOURS Thirty-seven and a half hours per week
RESPONSIBLE FOR A team of four housekeepers, excluding this post
JOB PURPOSE The head housekeeper leads and coordinates the housekeeping service to keep the hospital clean safe and therapeutic for patients staff and visitors. You oversee a small team and ensure all cleaning tasks meet high-standards and follow infection-control rules CQC duties and hospital policies.
LEADERSHIP AND TEAM MANAGEMENT You provide day to day guidance and support to housekeepers. You allocate daily tasks manage rotas and ensure staffing levels across all areas. You run one to one meetings and team meetings and support staff development through training coaching and competency checks. You promote a positive respectful and inclusive team culture.
OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES You ensure all areas of the hospital including wards bedrooms bathrooms clinical rooms offices and shared spaces are cleaned to a high standard. You oversee daily weekly and deep-cleaning plans. You respond quickly to urgent cleaning needs spillages and infection incidents. You carry out audits and quality checks and act when needed. You keep accurate records of cleaning plans audits and incident reports.
INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL You ensure full compliance with infection-control rules including hand hygiene PPE use and cleaning protocols. You work with clinical teams to support isolation enhanced cleaning and outbreak management. You ensure safe use of cleaning chemicals in line with CoSHH.
STOCK AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT You monitor stock levels of cleaning materials consumables and equipment. You ensure equipment is used safely stored correctly and kept in good working order. You work with suppliers and facilities teams for repairs replacements and procurement.
COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION You work with clinical administrative and facilities teams to maintain a safe therapeutic environment. You communicate clearly with staff and patients and escalate concerns about safety cleanliness or maintenance.
HEALTH SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE You ensure compliance with COSHH health and safety law and CQC standards. You take part in risk assessments and support improvement work. You report accidents incidents and near misses in line with hospital procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
QUALIFICATIONS ESSENTIAL A good standard of general education. Training in infection-control CoSHH or health-and-safety or a willingness to train.
Desirable
QUALIFICATIONS DESIRABLE NVQ level two or three in cleaning and support services or an equivalent award. leadership or supervisory training.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ESSENTIAL strong understanding of infection-control principles. knowledge of CoSHH and safe chemical handling. ability to prioritise delegate and manage time well. strong communication and interpersonal skill. ability to stay calm professional and supportive in challenging moments. high attention to detail and commitment to high standards.
Desirable
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS DESIRABLE understanding of CQC rules for cleanliness and environment. knowledge of safeguarding principles.
Experience Essential
EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL experience in housekeeping cleaning or facilities work. experience supervising or leading a team. experience in a regulated setting such as healthcare care-home education or hospitality.
Desirable
EXPERIENCE DESIRABLE experience in mental-health hospital or clinical settings. experience carrying out audits or quality checks.
Personal Qualities Essential
A compassionate patient-centred approach. Reliable organised and proactive. A supportive leadership style with the ability to motivate others. Respectful non-judgemental and able to maintain confidentiality. Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities. A commitment to creating a safe therapeutic and dignified environment for patients.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Pathfinder Ashness Care
Address Ashness House House
2-6 Jersey Avenue
London
HA7 2JQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.pathfinder-group.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)