About this role
Job summary
Bank Environmental Porter
As an Environmental Porter, you will play a vital role in maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for patients, staff, and visitors. Working as part of the Facilities team, you will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day operation of healthcare premises by undertaking a range of portering, waste management, and environmental services duties.
The role includes the collection and transportation of waste and recyclable materials, moving equipment and furniture, maintaining external grounds, supporting infection prevention standards, and responding to service requests across the site. Environmental Porters help ensure that wards, departments, and public areas remain safe, clean, and operational at all times.
The successful candidate will have a positive attitude, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Previous experience in a portering, facilities, environmental services, or healthcare setting is desirable but not essential, as full training will be provided.
A bank role in the NHS is a flexible, temporary position where you work on an ad-hoc basis rather than holding a permanent or fixed-term contract. You join the NHS Trusts staff bank and pick up shifts to fill staffing gaps caused by sickness, annual leave, or high patient demand.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities:
Collect, segregate, and transport waste and recycling in accordance with Trust policies.Move furniture, equipment, supplies, and deliveries safely around the site.Support environmental cleanliness and infection prevention initiatives.Maintain external areas, including pathways, entrances, and waste compounds.Respond promptly to portering and facilities service requests.Assist with room moves, event setup, and general site logistics.Adhere to all health and safety, manual handling, and infection control procedures.This is an excellent opportunity for a reliable and motivated individual who takes pride in delivering high-quality support services and contributing to a safe and positive healthcare environment.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
To carry out a range of duties associated with; waste disposal, meal deliveries, ad hoc portering duties and other activities in support of patient services and other business related areas across Wonford site and other Trust sites as requested.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Unloading, loading and storage of equipment and deliveries from internal and external sources.
2. Delivery of equipment and materials in support of departmental cleaning schedules, National Cleaning Standards, including specialist cleaning as required by Infection Control.
3. Safe operation of and daily checks of all vehicles employed during the course of your duties.
4. Ensuring correct waste segregation and disposal procedures in accordance with Trust policy.
5. Collection and transportation of waste from end user areas to the centralised waste storage compound.
6. Removal of soiled linen and distribution of clean linen to/from wards and departments.
7. Completion of documentation as required by department, Trust, legislation, and standing instructions.
8. To observe hygiene, hospital and client policies and procedures at all times, reporting any faults, defects or operational issues to the Line Manager.
9. General portering tasks as requested ensuring compliance with Health and Safety procedures.
10. Other duties in accordance with the needs of the service, specifically cleaning duties during periods of absence of other related staff.
11. Ad hoc deliveries/collections to/from other Trust locations.
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
Providing and receiving routine information orally and in writing to assist in understanding own job and communicating same to colleagues and service users.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Judgement on compliance with Health & Safety, Waste, and COSHH regulations.
Planning and Organisational Skills
Attendance at meetings and training sessions as required. Organise own day to day work tasks or activities. Plan and organise straightforward ongoing activities.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
Ad hoc contact whilst providing portering assistance to patient support services.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation
Follows departmental policies and comments on proposals for changes in working practices.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
Personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Authorised signatory for routine deliveries.
Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
Demonstrates own duties to new starters and/or less experienced employees. Can explain policies and procedures relating to own tasks.
Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties
Records personally generated information. Completes timesheets and similar work records.
Responsibility for Research and Development
Undertakes surveys or audits, as necessary to own work
Freedom to Act
Is guided by Trust policies and procedures, good practice and established precedents at all times, reporting any faults, defects or operational issues to their Line Manager. Will deal with generally routine matters and enquiries referring all others upwards.
Any Other Specific Tasks Required
Other duties in accordance with the needs of the service, specifically during periods ofabsence of other related staff.The post holder may be required to carry out other duties, appropriate to the grade at the discretion of the Manager
General Information
Equality & Diversity
Devon Partnership NHS Trust is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce and so we welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion or sexual orientation, maternity/pregnancy, marriage/civil partnership or transgender status. The Trust expects all staff to behave in a way which recognises and respects this diversity in line with the appropriate standards.
Recovery
It is a requirement of all employees to have an understanding of the broad principles of the Recovery Approach and to incorporate them into every aspect of their work in support of the Trusts aim to provide services that support peoples recovery through being holistic and promoting social inclusion, self management, personal autonomy and independence.
Risk Management / Health and Safety
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out and maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.
Records Management
The post holder has responsibility for the timely and accurate creation, maintenance and storage of records in accordance with Trust policy, including email documents and with regard to the Data Protection Act, The Freedom of Information Act and any other relevant statutory requirements.
Clinical Governance, Compliance and Performance
The post holder will be responsible for proving that the Care Quality Commission outcome areas have been met in all registered/related activities for which the post holder is responsible. Where outcomes are not met the post holder is expected to put in place/recommend action to improve. The post holder will proactively seek and engage the support of the governance teams in the Compliance and Corporate Development directorate to gather information as required. The post holder will build an understanding of and adhere to the CQC guidelines as well as the Trusts guidelines on the approach to maintaining CQC registration.
Prevention and Control of healthcare Associated Infection
The post holder is expected to comply with Trust Infection Control Policies and conduct themselves at all times in such a manner as to minimise the risk of healthcare associated infection.
Smoking
The Trust operates a non smoking policy. Employees are not permitted to smoke anywhere within the premises of the Trust or when outside on official business. Staff must also be mindful of public perception and must therefore not smoke whilst travelling in Trust identified vehicles or when can be identified as Devon Partnership Mental Health Trust staff.
Policies & Procedures
Trust employees are expected to follow Trust policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines. It is your responsibility to read and familiarise yourself with all policies relevant to your job role. These are grouped into two sections, HR and Clinical and can be found on the Trust intranet site or via your line manager. You will also be required to comply with any training needs that arise from reviews or variations of policies and procedures.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is part of everyday practice and all Trust employees are required to work in accordance with policies, procedures and professional codes to safeguard people who use our service, their children, families and carers from abuse. Staff must be aware of any children that live with, or have contact with, the person in their care, promoting the Childs welfare and ensuring their needs have been taken into account as part of the overall assessment and practice process, engaging other agencies as appropriate. All staff should have the knowledge and skills to work in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of abuse, be alert to, and take appropriate action in relation to, safeguarding issues. Where staff are unsure what appropriate action to take, they should always escalate their concerns and speak to a senior member staff.
Statement of intent
Climate change poses a substantial challenge for human health and wellbeing and for the provision of health and social care services. Sustainable development is key to minimising the harmful effects of human activities on the climate and environment. Devon Partnership NHS Trust, as one of the largest public organisations in the county, is committed to sustainable development and reducing the harmful effects of its activities on the environment
This is a specification of the qualifications, skills, experience, knowledge, personal attributes and other requirements which are required to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post (as outlined in the job description).
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience in the use of electric-powered vehicles/general driving.
Desirable
Reliable, flexible and enthusiastic IT/PC competent Ability to travel to all DPT Sites as required. A *Standard / Enhanced CRB Check will be required for this role.
Qualifications Essential
Level 2 Food Hygiene NVQ Level 2 Facilities Services
Desirable
Manual Handling Health & Safety Waste segregation
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 Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address Wonford House
Dryden Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 5AF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)