Maintenance Assistant

Full Job Description

Job Title:         Maintenance Assistant

Salary:             £22,880 per annum

Location:         Acorn Park School, Norwich

Hours:             40 hours per week

Contract:         Permanent

If you really want to make your mark in a rapidly growing business that is committed to improving the lives of children and young people, we have the role for you!

About us

Acorn Park is a residential Special Educational Needs (SEN) School, set within a 30acre private estate. We educate up to 107 young people across the breadth of the autistic spectrum and ensure they live, learn and play in a holistic, happy and safe environment.

Our dedicated, knowledgeable team of onsite Education specialists are part of each student’s everyday life at home, at school and during leisure activities, which guarantees that each individual makes progress.

Our classrooms are well-resourced and class groups are small, with no more than 8 young people supported by a team of at least one qualified teacher, a higher level teaching assistant and a teaching assistant in every class.  For some young people, additional support is also provided.

Our autism-specific approach means that every young person’s learning needs, communication requirements and social interaction skills are met.

Our school includes primary, secondary and post-16 provision.  For young people working within, or close to, age-related expectations, our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum.  For our secondary pupils, we offer specialist teaching in almost all subjects and a wide range of optional subjects in key stage 4. For young people with moderate or severe learning difficulties, we offer a pre-formal and semi-formal curriculum using the EYFS framework or EQUALS.

About the Role

• Undertake porterage and handyperson duties, including moving goods and furniture, painting, minor repairs to property, fixtures, fittings and equipment
• Ensure reactive grounds maintenance is dealt with in a timely and safe manner
• Clearance of drains and gullies, general tidying, snow clearance, gritting, etc
• Liaise with external contractors on work beyond the scope of general maintenance and ensure they are aware of any potential hazards connected with their presence on the premises
• Ensure the Health and Safety of all on site at all times by helping to manage the School’s Health and Safety procedures including the reporting of incidents as appropriate
• Be responsible for the security of the premises and its contents, including the operation of fire alarms. You will undertake locking buildings, checking and securing windows and internal doors

The working pattern will be 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.  Once a week you will be required to work 1100 to 1900hrs. On call out of hours one week a month. As well as reasonable additional time as is necessary to adequately fulfil the requirements of the role.

Who we are looking for?

We are inviting applications from individuals with experience of basic maintenance and repair across all areas. A strong all-round knowledge and skill base in a multi trade environment would be preferable. Under direction, you will deliver an efficient and effective maintenance service within the school, residential setting and grounds.

• You will be required to understand and follow Health and Safety Guidance and ensure that the practices and procedures are conducted in line with our Health and Safety policy.
• You will have the ability to learn quickly and respond to the ever changing needs and demands of the role.
• You will be able to work under pressure in difficult situations and carry out a planned system of maintenance checks.
• You will be highly motivated and enthusiastic, able to prioritise, manage and organise your own workload.
• You will be a team player, working well within a small team, as well as having the ability to work independently.
• You will be required to be on call, one week in four, to ensure that damage is responded to and safety is maintained as soon as it occurs. Therefore you will need to have a driving licence and possess your own transport.

Why join us?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the children and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to children, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to a fully enhanced DBS. A full application form must be completed with all employment dates accurate and gaps in employment accounted for.