Housekeeping Attendant

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post as at 01/06/2026 is:

€35,433 - €37,294 - €38,681 - €39,260 - €39,504 - €40,081 - €40,673 - €41,137 - €41,696

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.

Key Working Relationships

The Housekeeping Domestic Attendant will work closely with the Housekeeping Team Lead, the Housekeeping Supervisors, the Deputy Housekeeping Service Manager, the Housekeeping Services Manager and hospital departmental heads to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality, efficient patient services.

Reporting Relationship

Housekeeping Manager / Deputy Housekeeping Manager / Housekeeping Supervisor or another designated deputy.

Purpose of the Post

• To provide a high-quality hygiene service in line with National, Regional and Hospital Infection Control Policies that ensures the wellbeing and safety of patients and staff through provision of a clean environment and the prevention of cross infection.
• To promote an environment that encourages safety, quality hygiene standards and prevents cross infection.

Principal Duties and ResponsibilitiesCleaning

• Ensure a high standard of hygiene is maintained in the area he/she is assigned to in line with ongoing Infection Control Guidelines and Hospital policies.
• In line with best practice, clean uniforms must be worn at all times when on duty. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing must be used when cleaning isolated or infected areas within the hospital.
• Staff must ensure that they comply with and use the hospital’s hygiene colour coding system in place.
• Using the appropriate cleaning systems in place (e.g. Flat Mopping System), staff must ensure that all designated wards and public areas are cleaned and maintained to a high standard (i.e. free from dirt and grime).
• All cleaning schedules and ward cleaning programmes must be followed and regular sign-off must be adhered to in line with best practice guidelines (e.g. HIQA, BICSc, Clean Pass, National Hospitals Office Cleaning Guidelines 2006).
• All cleaning equipment must be cleaned (free from dirt and grime) and stored appropriately at the end of each shift in the designated storage facility.
• Staff must adhere to all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Cleaning products must be kept in locked units or presses. Staff must be familiar with the relevant safety data sheets relating to cleaning and chemical products.
• In line with best practice and Health and Safety Regulations, all appropriate hazard alert signs must be used when washing, cleaning and buffing public and ward floors.
• In accordance with ward and department cleaning schedules, all high, low and horizontal surfaces must be cleaned and free from dirt and grime.
• In accordance with ward and department cleaning schedules, all chairs, tables and patient surface areas must be clean and free from dirt and grime.
• In accordance with cleaning schedules, all doors, window frames, radiators, skirting boards and waste bins must be clean and free from dirt and grime.
• In accordance with ward and department cleaning schedules, all bathrooms and shower areas must be free from dirt and grime. In line with best practice, the protocol for sign-off (paper or electronic) of all bathroom cleaning schedules must be adhered to.
• Regular schedules must be followed to ensure all areas within the ward or department (e.g. clean utility rooms, dirty utility rooms, store cupboards, offices and visitors’ rooms) are clean and free from dirt and grime.
• All appropriate checklists and sign-off sheets (paper or electronic), e.g. Toilet Check Sheets, must be completed as required.
• Use colour-coded cleaning cloths and equipment in line with hospital guidelines.

Waste

• In line with best practice, all guidelines including local policies around the bagging, tagging and storage of waste must be strictly adhered to. All staff must familiarise themselves with local waste policies and colour codes.
• All waste bins must be clean and free from dirt and grime. Cleaning schedules must be adhered to.
• All waste must be stored in a safe environment. Staff must ensure that waste is tagged and secured prior to collection.
• All staff must support recycling projects currently in operation within their working environment.

Education

• All Housekeeping staff must attend mandatory education within the organisation (e.g. Hand Hygiene, Manual Handling, Fire Lectures, etc.) along with other training as required.
• Staff must familiarise themselves with and adhere to Infection Control Guidelines when cleaning isolated or infected ward and patient areas.
• All support service staff must familiarise themselves with and observe safe methods of work and must comply with all Local and National Policies in relation to Health and Safety, Fire Regulations, Infection Control Guidelines, Hand Hygiene and Waste Disposal.
• Staff may be asked to attend regular department team meetings to ensure that service delivery to patients is of the highest standard.
• All defective equipment must be reported to the Housekeeping Manager, Supervisors or Ward Manager.

Operational

• Maintain a good standard of personal hygiene and ensure that uniform, personal protective clothing and ID card are worn.
• Report on and off duty to the Housekeeping Manager or Supervisors and adhere to agreed meal break schedules.
• Staff are expected to work as part of a team in delivering a first-class service to the hospital. A "can do, will do" attitude is expected at all times.
• Rotation of duties may occur and staff will be expected to be flexible to support continuous service delivery to patients.
• Staff must practise good hand hygiene as per the 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene and adhere to the "Bare Below the Elbows" policy at all times.
• In line with the Public Health Act 2004 (Tobacco), smoking within the hospital campus is not permitted, including e-cigarettes.

The Housekeeping Department provides cleaning services for all units and departments in the hospital. This service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The hours of work for all services may include:

• Night duty
• Weekend work
• Unsocial hours
• Shift work

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

• The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements of all relevant policies and procedures.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring compliance with hygiene service requirements in their area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
• The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect these may have upon the safety of others.
• The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health and Safety-related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.
• The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.

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 appropriate to the post which may be assigned from time to time and contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility CriteriaQualifications and/or Experience

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

• Possess a good standard of general education attained at a level that would enable him/her to discharge the duties of the post satisfactorily.

And

• Possess a competent level of spoken and written English to compile HIQA, Health & Safety and HSE documents.

And

• Have relevant 1 year recent employment (within the last five years) working in a catering or cleaning environment in the healthcare sector or hospitality sector.

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.

Character

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

Post Specific Requirements

• Experience working in a healthcare or hospitality setting.

Skills, Competencies and/or Knowledge

Candidates must demonstrate:

Professional Knowledge

• Demonstrate evidence of knowledge of HIQA requirements relevant to this role.
• Demonstrate evidence of experience working in a healthcare sector environment.

Teamwork

• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to the job.
• Demonstrate ability to present a neat and tidy appearance.
• Demonstrate ability to take direction to achieve positive service outcomes.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrate effective communication skills, including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate with colleagues in a professional and respectful manner.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate with patients in a compassionate, respectful and dignified manner.
• Possess a competent level of spoken and written English to compile HIQA documents.

Planning and Organising

• Demonstrate evidence of ability to plan work effectively and efficiently.
• Demonstrate a flexible approach to working hours and rostering, e.g. unsocial hours, shift work, night duty, on-call duties and attitude to work.

Commitment to Providing a Quality Service

• Demonstrate a focus on quality.
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.