Chigwell Parish Council is seeking a Caretaker to join our team. The Caretaker is responsible for maintaining Victory Hall and associated premises, ensuring they are safe, clean, secure and welcoming environments for all users. This includes scheduled opening and closing of the halls, providing urgent on-call support to hirers, ensuring compliance with terms of use and monitoring post-event conditions. The Caretaker works closely with the Administration Assistant to ensure consistent coverage including evenings and weekends.
Key responsibilities include general and deep cleaning of communal facilities, replenishing supplies, managing stock levels, porterage of furniture and equipment and overseeing the safe use and storage of cleaning materials and tools. The role also encompasses low-level maintenance such as basic repairs, replacing consumables and setting up or dismantling furniture for events. Regular fire safety checks and adherence to health and safety policies are vital parts of the job.
The role requires a practical, proactive and community-oriented individual who is approachable and professional. A flexible attitude to working hours and experience in a public facing role are essential. Ideally suited for a local resident, this role plays a key part in ensuring that community spaces are safe, functional and inviting for public use while upholding the values of the Council.
Working Arrangements
• Location: Primarily based at Victory Hall, plus the Parish Office and the Cemetery Office in Chigwell.
• Hours: Part-time, including some weekend and out-of-hours work.
• Reporting To: Admin Assistant, Open Spaces Senior Supervisor and Clerk
• Collaborating With: Council Clerk, Open Spaces Team and hall users
Requirements
Essential Skills and Experience
• Proven experience in building caretaking, facilities maintenance, or a similar role.
• Ability to carry out cleaning duties to a high standard, including deep cleaning and use of appropriate equipment.
• Sound knowledge of general maintenance tasks (e.g., minor repairs, furniture setup, changing light bulbs).
• Experience following cleaning schedules and health & safety protocols, including COSHH guidelines.
• Competence in using cleaning tools, equipment and PPE in line with safety standards.
• Ability to monitor and maintain stock levels of consumables and cleaning materials.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and outside normal hours as needed.
• Good organisational skills, including the ability to manage hall booking access and support event setup/close down.
• Confidence in being a keyholder and performing building locking/unlocking duties.
• Experience checking and reporting faults or damage to equipment, furniture, or premises.
• Basic knowledge of fire safety systems and procedures, including alarm testing and maintenance.
Desirable Qualifications
• Formal training or certification in health and safety or manual handling.
• Experience managing PAT schedules.
• COSHH awareness training or equivalent.
• Basic handyman or trade skills certification (e.g., plumbing, electrics).
• First aid training.
• Fire warden training.
Personal Attributes
• Reliable, punctual and self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
• Positive, friendly and approachable manner when dealing with the public, hirers, and colleagues.
• Strong sense of responsibility and pride in maintaining safe, clean, and welcoming community spaces.
• Willingness to be flexible with working hours to meet the needs of the halls and events.
• Proactive in identifying issues and taking initiative to resolve or report them.
• Ability to stay calm and problem-solve under pressure, especially when providing urgent support to hall users.
• A team player who can collaborate effectively with administrative and maintenance staff.
• Local knowledge or residency within the area (preferred).
For an informal discussion about the post contact Chigwell Parish Council, Hainault Road, Chigwell, IG7 6QZ, telephone 020 8501 4275 or email:
recruitment@chigwellparishcouncil.gov.uk