PURPOSE OF POST

To provide multiskilled, hands-on maintenance across Mary Seacole Housing

Association’s supported accommodation properties and offices — carrying out day-to

day repairs spanning basic plumbing, minor electrical work, carpentry, general building

fabric, decorating and gardening — escalating only the work that legally requires a

licensed or certified specialist.

To promote health and safety within all properties, and to support residents through

supervised, hands-on involvement in maintenance tasks where appropriate.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Carry out general and multiskilled maintenance of MSHA properties — including basic plumbing, minor electrical work, carpentry, doors/locks/keys, general building repairs, decorating and gardening — in line with MSHA’s Health and Safety Policy and current legislation.

Identify, at the point of inspection, which jobs fall within the postholder’s competence and which require referral to a licensed/certified specialist contractor (e.g. Gas Safe engineer for boiler work, certified electrician for wiring/fuse-board work, licensed pest control, fire-door compliance, damp/mould remediation), escalating promptly and clearly.

Liaise with the Facilities Manager and Service Managers on all aspects of property maintenance, including prioritisation of jobs across MSHA’s property portfolio.

Inspect properties for maintenance needs, plan and carry out repairs, and manage own workload against demand.

Undertake a schedule of cyclical and preventative maintenance and gardening across MSHA properties.

Log and update the status of all maintenance tasks accurately and promptly through MSHA’s management system, including category and completion details, to support ongoing workload monitoring.

Promote health and safety with hostel staff and external contractors, ensuring copies of contractors’ Statement of Health and Safety Policy are obtained and current.

Maintain and apply working knowledge across multiple trades (e.g. carpentry, basic plumbing, minor electrical, general building fabric) sufficient to complete the majority of day-to-day requests without external referral.

Act as a mentor to young residents where appropriate, supervising and providing on-the-job training in basic maintenance and trade skills.

Identify residents’ strengths and support their development, with a view to onward volunteering, training or employment opportunities within premises maintenance.

Maintain tools and equipment to a standard that meets health and safety requirements.

Undertake basic report writing to record completed work, ongoing issues, and recommendations for further action.

This appointment provides MSHA with a Multiskilled Maintenance Operative who takes the lead on the fabric of buildings and gardens across the property portfolio, resolving the great majority of day-to-day maintenance requests directly and escalating only genuinely licensed or certified work — providing regular updates to the Facilities Manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The following qualities are regarded as (E) essential or (D) desirable for a MMO. Skills may have been gained through paid or voluntary work.

	Essential	Desirable
Qualifications	• Full driving licence • Good general education • Working knowledge of Health & Safety requirements relevant to building maintenance • Ability to carry out risk assessments	• Recognised trade qualification or training in one or more of: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, general construction (e.g. NVQ, City & Guilds, or equivalent demonstrable experience) • Basic Gas/electrical safety awareness training (non-certified)
Experience	• Working across more than one trade area (e.g. plumbing and carpentry, or electrical and general building repairs) • Working as part of a small team • Working with local contractors	• Experience of working within a residential or supported housing environment • Experience of working in a multi-cultural community
Skills	• Ability to diagnose a maintenance issue and judge whether it is within a generalist’s competence or needs specialist referral • Ability to deal with emergency situations • Ability to use initiative and make decisions • Ability to work unsupervised and manage own workload across multiple sites • Good communication and interpersonal skills • Ability to undertake basic report writing • Ability to provide practical solutions to maintenance problems across more than one trade	• Ability to train or mentor others in basic trade skills
Knowledge	• Local maintenance suppliers and contractors • Maintenance of tools and equipment to meet health and safety requirements • Awareness of which jobs legally require a licensed/certified specialist (e.g. Gas Safe, certified electrical, fire door compliance) • Indicative costs for common repairs	• Legal requirements relating to maintenance of residential/supported housing environments
Personal Characteristics	• Mature, flexible approach to working patterns • Efficient, patient, calm and self-motivated • High level of commitment • Ability to relate to people from all backgrounds • Team player, outgoing but sensitive to others’ needs