Housekeeper Supervisor

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post is: (01/03/2025)

€40,710 -€41,772 -€42,906 -€43,993 -€45,156 -€46,353 -€47,588

Salary Scales are updated periodically and the most up to date versions can be found here: https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/benefits-services/pay/pay-scales.html

New appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit will be applied for recognised relevant service in Ireland and abroad (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, Local Authorities, Health Service and other Public Service Bodies and Statutory Agencies.

Purpose of the Post

·        To plan, organise and control the daily workload of the Housekeeping Services Dept ensuring high standards of hygiene are maintained throughout the entire Hospital.

·        To contribute to the health care of patients by using cleaning procedures which will control harmful organisms and help prevent the spread of infection.

·        To recruit, train and lead a team of skilled staff whether contracted in or directly employed by creating and promoting a healthy working environment which ensures good working relationships.

·        To ensure the fabric, fixtures and fittings of the building are being maintained.

·        To promote comfort and safety to patients, staff and visitors.

·        To identify and implement housekeeping and cleaning processes to best practice standards and to remain up-to-date with developing trends in industry.

·        To ensure close working relationships with, and rapid support to all department Managers who depend on the Housekeeping Services Department.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Housekeeping Supervisor will:

Professional

·        The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree.

·        Maintain throughout the Hospital awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.

·        Performance management systems are part of role and you will be required to participate in the Group’s performance management programme.

·        Monitoring of sickness/absence and implementation of local and national control measures at Department Level. Proactively manage persistent poor staff attendance.

·        To monitor each ward and Department ensuring cleaning schedules and frequencies are being carried out efficiently and effectively.

·        To order, issue and control cleaning materials, equipment and other related items.

·        To arrange roster and cleaning schedules in accordance with budget allocation.

·        To keep necessary records i.e. reports, control data, personnel files etc.

·        To review output, performance and quality and implement training as required.

·        To carry out regular patient environment audits.

·        To carry out regular maintenance checks and to report daily maintenance problems.

·        To carry out induction and “on the job” training for all employees.

·        To advise the Housekeeping Services Manager of new stock requirements.

·        To ensure all staff are trained in all aspects of Health & Safety and that regulations are complied with.

·        To supervise the daily work of all housekeeping staff and to deal with problems as they arise.

·        To carry out all other duties relating to Housekeeping Services as the Facilities Manager may from time to time reasonably require.

·        To lead by example a professional, punctual and dedicated team promoting open communications.

·       Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.

·        To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

1.      Professional Qualification, Experience etc.

     a)          Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

(i)               Have attained such standard of education as would enable him/her to discharge the duties of the post

And

(ii)              Have a minimum of 3 years relevant experience in a housekeeping environment in the healthcare/hospitality sector

And

     a)          Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability and professional ability, for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

2.      Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

3.      Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Post Specific Requirements

Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience as relevant to the role

Other requirements specific to the post

N/A

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Knowledge & Professional Knowledge

• Demonstrate knowledge of National Standards for Safer Better Hospital Standards.
• Demonstrate evidence of a good overview of the household service requirements and their role in the provision of safe hospital care.
• Demonstrate evidence of management experience.

• Demonstrate evidence of computer skills.

Planning & Organising Skills

• Demonstrate the ability to plan and organise day to day work in association with the wider healthcare team.
• Organise and prioritise own workload and to work on their own initiative.
• Be flexible in their approach to their work.
• Forward plans for service developments.
• Anticipates trends and identifies opportunities.
• Ensures that learning from new service models and practices influences service planning and delivery.
• Ensure that records are contemporaneous and are maintained in accordance with the ‘National Hospitals Office Code of Practice Health Care Records Management Standards’ (HSE 2007)
• Demonstrate capacity for management responsibility and demonstration of initiative, including decision making. Improve efficiency within working environment ability to evolve and adapt to a rapid changing Environment.
• The ability to ensure that critical human and material resources are allocated in an effective way, monitors activity levels and intervenes to align resources and maximise efficiencies.

Patient/Customer Focus

• Demonstrate awareness of Quality Focus initiative in line with the Group’s Continuous Quality Improvement Programme.

Leadership & Teamwork Skills

• Demonstrate leadership and team management skills, including the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job & service developments.
• Demonstrates a teaching ability and an educational focus.
• Demonstrate an ability to implement and evaluate change.

Decision Making & Problem Solving Skills

·         The ability to analyse information and make effective decision and solve problems in a timely manner.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
• Foster and build good communication with all other Healthcare Professionals and patients/families of service users.
• Demonstrate a willingness to share knowledge and/or new ideas with staff and colleagues
• Demonstrate negotiation/influencing skills

Policies and Procedures

• Ability to participate in the development and implementation of policies and guidelines.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore, it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.

Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives. Ultimately this will result in improved service user and employee experience. 

The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of age, civil status, disability, ethnicity and race, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, religion and sexual orientation are respected, valued and can reach their full potential. The HSE aims to achieve this through development of an organisational culture where injustice, bias and discrimination are not tolerated.

The HSE welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and offers a range of supports and resources to staff, such as those who require a reasonable accommodation at work because of a disability or long-term health condition.

For further information on the HSE commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, please visit the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion web page at https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/diversity/