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Facilities Assistant – Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (Lancing / Brighton)
Role Overview
Are you a reliable, detail-oriented individual looking to support essential healthcare services in your local community? Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a Facilities Assistant to join their facilities team at The Quadrant, Lancing Business Park (serving the broader Brighton and West Sussex area). This part-time position plays a vital role in maintaining strict infection prevention and hygiene standards across clinical and non-clinical environments, ensuring a safe, clean, and welcoming facility for NHS staff and service users.
Key Responsibilities
- Hygiene & Sanitation: Perform routine and deep cleaning duties across clinical, office, and communal areas in strict accordance with the National Specifications for Cleanliness in the NHS.
- Infection Control Support: Use approved cleaning chemicals, machinery, and waste handling procedures safely to mitigate cross-contamination risks.
- Record Keeping & Logging: Accurately record completed cleaning schedules, safety checklists, and inventory requests.
- Teamwork & Communication: Work collaboratively with healthcare staff and facilities colleagues, following instructions closely and responding promptly to daily maintenance requests.
Candidate Profile & Qualifications
- Education & Basics: Educated to GCSE or O-Level standard (or equivalent) with clear literacy and numeracy skills.
- Experience: Essential prior experience working in a cleaning or customer-focused role. Previous experience within an NHS or private healthcare setting is desirable but not essential (full training will be provided).
- Certifications (Desirable): Basic Health & Safety Certificate or NVQ in Cleaning/Facilities Services.
- Core Attributes: Strong attention to detail, excellent team spirit, ability to follow strict verbal and written protocols, and a customer-first mindset.
- Working Pattern & Visa Status: Part-time, 20 hours per week (Monday to Friday, late afternoon/early evening shifts such as 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM or 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM). Note: Due to UK government salary thresholds, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.
About Us
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is the main provider of essential community health and care services across Brighton & Hove, West Sussex, and High Weald Lewes Havens. Serving a population of over 1.3 million people, SCFT delivers high-quality care in community hospitals, health centers, schools, and homes, focusing on keeping people healthy, independent, and cared for close to home.
Website Link: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/
Benefits of This Role
- Competitive NHS Agenda for Change Pay: Fixed, predictable hourly rates based on NHS Band 2 structures (£25,272 pro-rata for 20 hours/week).
- Consistent Part-Time Hours: Evening shifts (Monday to Friday) that leave mornings and early afternoons free for personal, family, or educational commitments.
- NHS Pension & Benefits: Access to the world-class NHS Pension Scheme, generous holiday allowance, and eligibility for Blue Light Card retail discounts.
- Structured Training: Comprehensive onboarding and hands-on training covering infection control, Health & Safety, and specialized healthcare cleaning techniques.
Salary & Earnings Insight
- Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): £25,272 per annum.
- Pro-Rata Salary (20 Hours/Week): Approximately £13,660 per year (or ~£13.10 per hour), plus applicable NHS enhancements for bank holidays.
Career Guide Tips for Facilities & Domestic Staff
- Understand NHS Cleanliness Standards: Familiarize yourself with the National Specifications for Cleanliness in the NHS—the operational guidelines that govern hygiene, color-coding systems, and risk ratings in healthcare facilities.
- Prioritize Health & Safety (COSHH): Learn the basics of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, as proper chemical dilution and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage are central to healthcare cleaning.
- Detail Every Step on Your Application: The NHS shortlisting process relies on scoring every item on the person specification. Never leave fields blank on your application—explain how your past work history meets every essential criteria point.
How to Prepare a CV & Application for This Position
- Complete Every Section: Fully detail your employment history, duties, and qualifications on the NHS Jobs portal. Unanswered questions or generic summaries cannot be scored by shortlisting managers.
- Highlight Customer Service & Cleaning Skills: Explicitly detail past cleaning duties, handling equipment, managing stock, or interacting with the public in retail, hospitality, or commercial settings.
- Demonstrate Reliability & Compliance: Mention experience working strictly according to health, safety, or hygiene policies in previous jobs.
How to Prepare for an Interview
- Review Infection Prevention Basics: Be prepared to explain color-coding protocols (e.g., using specific mop/cloth colors for toilets vs. clinical rooms vs. offices).
- Demonstrate Reliability & Punctuality: Since these late-afternoon shifts ensure facilities are clean for the next morning’s clinical operations, punctuality and independence are crucial.
- Practice Scenario Responses: Consider how you would respond if asked to clean an unexpected spill safely or handle a concern raised by a member of staff or a patient.
Potential Interview Questions
- Hygiene & Standards: “How do you ensure your work consistently meets required cleanliness and infection control standards during a busy shift?”
- Prioritization & Time Management: “If you are given a routine cleaning list but are called to attend to an urgent cleaning request in a clinical room, how do you prioritize your time?”
- Teamwork & Safety: “Can you describe a time when you identified a health and safety hazard at work, and what action did you take?”
How to Apply
- Go to the official NHS Jobs portal (jobs.nhs.uk) or Trac Jobs.
- Search for “Facilities Assistant – Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust” or look for vacancies at The Quadrant, Lancing.
- Complete and submit your detailed application form online. (Note: If you are unable to apply online, call the NHS Recruitment Department at 01273 696011 ext. 5008 to request a paper copy.)
Disclaimer
This summary is an independent candidate guide created for informational and career advice purposes. Specific salary points, working hours, application methods, and visa eligibility requirements are managed directly by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Jobs. Please consult the official NHS Jobs posting to complete your application.