Cleaning Operative
Job Description
Job summary
Lancaster Medical Practice (LMP) is a large General Practice organisation delivering patient-centred primary care across multiple sites. The cleaning service supports safe, accessible and clinically effective care by maintaining clean, hygienic and welcoming premises for patients, visitors and colleagues.
The Estates Cleaning Operative will help ensure that LMP clinical, non-clinical, patient-facing and staff areas are clean, hygienic, well-presented and safe for patients, visitors and colleagues. The post-holder will be expected to work across multiple LMP premises and may be required to provide cover at other sites to maintain safe and consistent cleaning standards.
The post-holder will carry out scheduled, periodic and responsive cleaning in accordance with LMP policies, local cleaning schedules, infection prevention and control requirements, COSHH arrangements and the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness. They will maintain accurate cleaning records, report concerns promptly and work professionally in live GP practice environments where confidentiality, dignity and discretion are essential.
Location: One post will be based at our University site, 3 hours per day, the other Owen Road site, 2 hours per day. The post-holder could be required to work flexibly across any LMP site in accordance with service need, rota arrangements, absence cover and operational priorities.
Main duties of the job
- Cleaning standards and schedules
- Presentation and high-touch areas
- Infection prevention
- Clinical areas and contamination
- Enhanced cleaning
- Waste and sustainability
- Consumables and storage
- Records, audits and evidence
- Defects and escalation
- COSHH and equipment safety
- Safe working
- Water safety support
- Security, confidentiality and site support
- Multi-site flexibility and team support
About us
Lancaster Medical Practice is a large, at-scale, GP provider delivering General Medical Services to around 68,000 patients in Lancaster and surrounding villages. Formed in April 2017 from our successful, legacy practices, Lancaster Medical Practice has continued to evolve to become the strong, high performing Practice it is today, receiving a rating of Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in August 2018.
We deliver our services from seven locations throughout the city of Lancaster and its surrounding area and are continuing to develop ourselves to improve what we do for our patients, staff and the local community. We are a progressive, modern organisation with patient-centred General Practice at our core. When joining #teamlmp you are joining an organisation with a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical roles but who all work together to provide the best care we can to our patients.
LMP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All successful candidates will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). All staff are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment and will be responsible for safeguarding the interests of children and adults who they come into contact during their work.
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Cleaning standards and schedules: Carry out agreed cleaning duties across clinical rooms, treatment rooms, waiting areas, reception areas, offices, corridors, toilets, staff rooms, kitchens and other designated areas, following local schedules, frequencies and recognised cleaning methods.
Presentation and high-touch areas: Maintain areas to a visibly clean, tidy and safe standard, paying particular attention to high-frequency touch points such as door handles, light switches, handrails, keyboards, telephones, chairs, taps and dispensers.
Infection prevention: Use the correct cleaning process, colour-coded equipment, products, PPE and hand hygiene practices for each area and task, preventing cross-contamination and escalating infection prevention concerns promptly.
Clinical areas and contamination: Clean and disinfect agreed clinical surfaces and patient contact areas, and respond to spillages or blood/body fluid incidents only where trained, equipped and authorised to do so.
Enhanced cleaning: Support outbreak, enhanced or ad-hoc cleaning requirements when requested by the Facilities Coordinator, Estates & Facilities Manager or IPC Lead.
Waste and sustainability: Empty and replace waste bags from designated bins, ensuring domestic, recycling, offensive/hygiene and clinical waste streams are segregated, handled and stored in line with local policy, training and environmental responsibilities. Loose sharps or unidentified hazardous items must be reported immediately and not handled.
Consumables and storage: Replenish agreed consumables such as soap, hand towels, toilet rolls, alcohol gel, waste bags and cleaning materials, and keep cleaning cupboards, trolleys and storage areas tidy, secure and appropriately stocked.
Records, audits and evidence: Complete cleaning checklists, sign-off sheets and electronic records accurately at the time work is undertaken; participate in cleanliness monitoring, IPC audits, service reviews and agreed remedial action plans.
Defects and escalation: Report faulty equipment, damaged surfaces, hazards, pest activity, repeated stock shortages, waste concerns or barriers to effective cleaning through the agreed route, including FaultFixers where required.
COSHH and equipment safety: Use cleaning products and equipment safely, following manufacturer instructions, product labels, COSHH information, risk assessments, training and local procedures. Chemicals must never be mixed or used outside agreed instructions.
Safe working: Use PPE, wet-floor signs, barriers and safe manual handling techniques as required; report accidents, incidents, near misses and health and safety concerns without delay.
Water safety support: Where specifically agreed by the Practice, and only following appropriate training, instruction and authorisation, support simple documented water safety tasks such as outlet flushing in line with local procedures. This is a supportive recording task and does not replace formal water safety management, risk assessment or specialist contractor responsibilities.
Security, confidentiality and site support: Work discreetly and professionally around patients, staff and visitors; follow local arrangements for keys, access codes, alarms, locking/unlocking and room security where these duties form part of the role.
Multi-site flexibility and team support: Work flexibly across LMP sites as directed, including planned rota arrangements, absence cover, service pressures, short-notice operational needs and support for new, temporary or cover cleaning staff with local schedules and escalation routes where requested.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- See attached Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- English & Maths GCSE (or equivalent) Level C/4 or equivalent practical experience, including the ability to read safety information, follow written instructions and complete basic records.
Desirable
- COSHH, infection prevention and control, healthcare cleaning, manual handling or health and safety training.
- BICSc, NVQ/VRQ Cleaning and Support Services, or equivalent relevant cleaning qualification.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Lancaster Medical Practice
Address
Lancaster Medical Practice
Lancaster University
Lancaster
Lancashire
LA1 4ZP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.lancastermedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
