Attendant

Job Summary

This position is for an Attendant, reporting to the Centre Coordinator or a designated supervisor. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that the centre environment is clean, safe, and well-maintained for all learners, staff, and visitors. Flexibility is essential, as duties may vary depending on the needs of the centre.

Key Responsibilities

The Attendant will be expected to carry out a range of cleaning tasks and respond promptly to any issues that may arise during the working day.

Duties include the following:

Cleaner Duties

Daily

• Daily sweeping / vacuuming / cleaning of surfaces and floors in classrooms, corridors, and offices as necessary

• Daily cleaning, wiping, and sweeping in kitchenette, staff room, and student canteen after break and lunch; mopping and making safe any water or spills on floors

• Cleaning and maintenance of reception area

• Removal of paper from desk areas and separation and disposal of waste

• Cleaning and disinfecting toilet areas

• Reporting any damage or hazards

• Responsibility for safe storage of all keys, fobs, hazardous materials, cleaning equipment, and tools

• Securing school doors and windows daily

• Cleaning of interactive whiteboards in classrooms

• Mopping floors in classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, and other areas as needed

Weekly

• Wiping down, dusting all window surfaces, and removal of graffiti where necessary

• Thorough disinfecting and cleaning of toilet areas, including urinals, toilet bowls, and floors

• Cleaning offices, including surfaces and floors

• Emptying waste and recycling bins throughout the school

• Ensuring refuse bins are placed out for collection from the premises

• Inspecting all areas to identify issues requiring attention

Monthly

• Carrying out a full review of all areas to identify and plan scheduled cleaning and upkeep

General

• Maintaining all floor areas and surfaces to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene

• Supporting the Centre’s Green Policy on recycling, waste disposal, and sustainability

• Preparing centre premises for special occasions and events

• Ensuring the centre is cleaned during holiday periods

• Flexibility in rotating duties with colleagues

• Working as part of a team

Caretaker Duties

• Caring for the centre premises and contents and preventing, as far as possible, damage to structure, furniture, equipment, and fittings

• Maintaining premises, furniture, and fittings in a clean and safe condition

• Cleaning all accessible glass in doors, windows, and similar areas without the use of long ladders

• Managing heating of the building during colder periods and maintaining central heating systems in good working order

• Safekeeping of keys for all rooms and ensuring no unauthorised access to the buildings

• Opening and closing the centre as directed by the Principal/Coordinator

• Under supervision of the Principal/Coordinator, managing planting, weeding, care, and maintenance of centre grounds, including grass cutting, and preventing trespass

• Receiving and recording delivery of stores, timber, iron, parcels, and other materials for general use, and managing transfers of stores, equipment, and similar transactions

• Carrying out minor repairs as required and touching up paint on walls, furniture, and fittings

• Checking equipment and reporting missing or broken tools or furniture

• Carrying out daily and weekly fire safety checks

• Carrying out and reviewing risk assessments

• Serving as an elected member of the Health and Safety Committee

• Complying with Waterford Wexford Education & Training Board Policy Statement on Safety, Health and Welfare at Work – Responsibilities of Caretaker

The role may also include light plumbing and carpentry duties, management of heating systems, fire and burglar alarms, keyholder and security systems, locking systems, and CCTV. Duties may also include landscaping, use of lawn mowers and outdoor/garden tools, manual handling, furniture movement, building safety checks, and setting up and taking down furniture for school events, as well as additional project work as agreed with the Coordinator.

This list of duties is not exhaustive. Any other duties may be assigned from time to time by the Coordinator or designated person.

This job description provides a broad outline of the key duties of the role and is designed to be flexible and adaptable. It will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains aligned with organisational needs.

Essential Requirements

The following outlines the essential qualifications, skills, and competencies required for candidates applying for the Attendant position. These criteria are designed to ensure applicants possess the necessary foundation to perform the role effectively and contribute to organisational objectives.

▪ Be capable and competent of fulfilling the role to a high standard

Desirable Requirements

The following outlines desirable requirements for candidates applying for the Attendant position and may be used for shortlisting where there is a high volume of applicants:

▪ Previous work experience in a similar post

▪ 1 to 2 years’ experience in an educational setting or similar

Person Specification

▪ Clear understanding of Health & Safety procedures, particularly in relation to maintaining a safe school environment

▪ Proven experience / ability to undertake cleaning duties

▪ Basic maintenance, technical, and problem-solving skills

▪ Strong attention to detail to ensure the building is clean, safe, and in good working order

▪ Good communication, time management, and organisational skills

▪ Good understanding of safety awareness

▪ Ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as lifting, carrying, and operating machinery

▪ Punctual, reliable, and trustworthy

▪ Ability to work effectively and supportively as part of a school team

▪ Good interpersonal and communication skills

▪ Ability to act on own initiative and deal with unexpected problems as they arise

▪ Strong organisational and time management skills

▪ Flexibility to deal with unexpected events and changing work activities

▪ Willingness to work flexibly and outside normal hours as required

▪ Willingness to undertake further training and development as required

▪ The successful candidate will be patient, kind, generous, and enjoy working as part of a large staff team with the best interests of learners, staff, and visitors at heart

▪ The successful candidate will also be community focused, patient, kind, generous, and enjoy working as part of a large staff team with the best interests of children and young people’s social and emotional wellbeing and education at heart

Eligibility to Apply

Candidates must, by the date of job offer, be:

▪ A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

▪ A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

▪ A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

▪ A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

▪ A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

▪ A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a Stamp 4 visa