Estates and facilities
As part of the estates and facilities team, you'll look after NHS buildings and the grounds.
You'll make sure medicines, goods and patients are where they need to be so care is received at the right time and in the right place.
The choice is yours
There are many different roles in estates and facilities including domestic services, such as catering or linen services; the estates team in engineering or gardening for example; or as a porter or security staff.
Catering manager
NHS catering managers make sure our patients have nutritious, high-quality food and drink when they need it.
As a catering manager, you will:
recruit, train and manage staff
make sure all services meet health and safety and food hygiene standards
plan menus to take into account nutritional standards and medical requirements, such as low fat, gluten free, vegetarian
arrange staff rotas
control budgets
order and control stock
supervise catering staff to make sure meals are prepared and served correctly and supplies are available and carefully used
liaise with dietitians and dietetic assistants to plan meals for patients on special diets
work with chefs and cooks to plan menus.
Chef/cook
Chefs and cooks are responsible for cooking food in NHS hospitals and other services making sure our patients and staff have nutritious, high-quality food.
You'll work with the catering manager to make sure food and drink is nutritious and appetising. The food must meet patients' medical and cultural needs including gluten free, low fat, soft food, halal and vegetarian.
Domestic services staff
Domestic services staff are the lifeblood of the NHS. They keep hospitals, health centres, offices and other areas clean and hygienic so staff can care for patients while reducing the risk of infection.
Housekeeper
Housekeepers help make sure hospital wards and other settings are clean, safe and attractive places for patients and staff.
As a housekeeper, you will lead ward services such as catering, cleaning, equipment and supplies. The work can include:
talking to and reassuring patients
ordering non-clinical supplies
keeping the ward clean and tidy
serving and clearing away meals
preparing snacks and drinks
reporting faults
clerical and admin tasks
ordering patient transport
receiving visitors.
Linen services staff
Linen services staff are the hidden heroes of the NHS. They make sure hospital departments have stocks of clean uniforms and linen, such as sheets and towels, for patients.
Clean linen is an important part of healthcare. It has to be cleaned correctly to reduce the spread of infection.
Estates services
Like any building, NHS sites need repairs and regular maintenance. Estates services staff look after NHS buildings and grounds, so they are a safe and pleasant environment for our staff and patients.
As the needs of the NHS change, existing buildings need to be extended or renovated and new sites built. The fabric of the building needs to be looked after – walls, floors and windows – as well as the systems inside them – heating, power and ventilation.
All this work needs skilled staff, often from the construction sector.
Although some estates staff are multi-skilled, the main roles include carpenter, electrician, painter and decorator, plumber, estates technician. Outside jobs may need to be completed by a window cleaner, gardeners and grounds maintenance staff.
Support services
Support services staff carry out a range of tasks in different parts of the NHS. Some keep people or equipment safe, while others transport patients and equipment around hospitals and other NHS sites.
Safe places
Patients, staff and visitors need to be kept safe while they are in hospital or using other NHS sites. Buildings need to be safe to use, with suitable fire exits. Everyone who works in or visits an NHS site needs to know how to keep themselves and others safe. Roles include:
health and safety officer
fire safety officer
security staff
Moving around the site
Hospitals are big places, with long corridors, different wings and, often, separate buildings. Patients may need to be moved to different parts of the hospital or to and from a hospital or clinic. Equipment needs moving too, from the stores to the wards, for example. Specialist equipment for conferences and meetings needs setting up. Your role could be: Porter, stores and distribution staff, audio visual staff or as a driver.