Maintenance Operative

Job Type:                                Full – time, permanent

Location:                                 Katharine House Hospice, Stafford (and travel to other sites)

Salary:                                     £28,595.00 per annum

Hours:                         37.5 hours per week

Closing date:                            Monday 15th June 2026

Telephone Interview date:    Friday 19th June 2026

Face to face interview date:  Tuesday 23rd June 2026

Are you a practical person, with handyman skills and want to use your experience to make a difference?

About us

We are Katharine House Hospice, and we’re dedicated to providing compassionate care to people in our community affected by progressive illnesses. Everyone here plays an integral role in making this possible.

We value people – so much so, it’s one of our three key values as a charity.

The Role 

We are looking for a hard-working, well organised individual to help our maintenance team to help ensure the buildings and grounds of Katharine House are tidy and in good repair.

You will be required to travel to carry out preventative and reactive maintenance for all our sites, preferably in painting and decorating which include the Hospice, Business Centre and 15 retail premises. This is a physically demanding role; involving lifting, standing for long periods, manual handling, working at heights and on the floor, regular moving. Experience of basic plumbing, decorating and carpentry would be an advantage.  

Please note, an enhanced DBS clearance will be required for this role

A full driving license is required as you will be required to drive our company vehicles, (due to insurance purposes, the post-holder must be over 25 and have less than 6 points on their licence), as well as flexible approach to work with the ability to work within in a team or on their own initiative.  

What’s in it for you?

• Annual leave

33 days per annum, which includes bank holidays (pro rata for part time), increasing after five and 10 years’ service.

• Pension scheme

We match contributions up to 7% to a Aegon scheme. 

• Death in service benefit

Reassurance should the worst happen. 2 x salary to your family.

• Employee Assistance Programme Providing support for your wellbeing.
• Training and development opportunities Continuous learning and professional growth.
• Occupational sick pay Support during times of illness.
• Healthcare cash benefit plan Contributory plan to help cover health-related expenses.
• Limited parking

Skills and experience

• Painting and decorating
• Carrying out maintenance repairs to a high standard
• Planned Preventative Maintenance checks
• Good communication skills
• Own transport

Join us and make a difference

If you’re passionate about people and want to contribute to a mission that matters, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us continue to provide exceptional care and support to those who need it most.

If you’d like to know more about this role, without commitment, please contact the HR department on 01785 218257.

The closing date is 15th June 2026, however we may close this advert earlier, subject to response rates. 

If you require any reasonable adjustment to participate in this process, please do not hesitate to contact HR on the number above. 

How to apply

To the link below to submit an application via indeed.

Job Description

Maintenance Operative

“We help local adults with complex, progressive illnesses from diagnosis to the end of life through free, high quality, specialist palliative care, advice and guidance, and we support those close to them.”

Department and Role Objectives

It is essential to the delivery of this mission that efficient housekeeping, maintenance, catering and laundry services are available to all departments of Katharine House. Maintenance support is provided to 16 retail premises of varying age and size, in and around Staffordshire.

Part of the team

In order that Katharine House Hospice, Business Centre and Retail premises can be maintained, with due regard to the safety of the environment and in good repair the Maintenance Operative will be responsible for maintaining the buildings and grounds of all premises. 

Function and Responsibilities

Specific Objectives

The post holder will carry out repairs, maintenance tasks and statutory inspections. It is expected that the post holder will support the long-term maintenance programme. This is a physically demanding role which requires the post holder to be able to regularly carry out moving and handling tasks; including lifting, standing for long periods, manual handling, working at heights and on the floor.

Core Responsibilities

Key Area – Responsibilities & Outputs

Maintenance

• Carry out painting and decorating across all premises.
• Minor alterations and improve the fabric and appearance to premises
• Carry out general maintenance tasks, repairs and statutory inspections at all premises
• Carry our minor plumbing repairs such as changing isolation valves, taps and TMV’s
• Liaising with the Support Services Assistant Manager regarding maintenance requirements
• Ensuring all maintenance matters, emergencies and repairs are dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner
• Prioritising work in the absence of any of the Maintenance team  
• Ensuring all statutory compliance checks, inspections and services are carried out
• Using initiative to prioritise tasks as needed, ensuring this is communicated to the Support Services Assistant Manager.
• Booking of materials, to specific tasks to ensure costs are controlled
• Travel to all organisational premises as and when required
• Support out of hours emergency On Call Rota, as per an agreed rotation
• All employees have a responsibility to abide by the safety practices and codes authorised by Katharine House Hospice. They have an equal responsibility with management, for maintaining safe working practices.
• Ensure the costs of any materials is given prime consideration in order to minimise expenses.
• The Maintenance Operative may work individually but will frequently come into contact with visitors, members of the public, staff, volunteers and patients. They are expected to work in a courteous and friendly manner with everyone they come into contact with.

You will be required to travel to carry out preventative and reactive maintenance for all our sites, preferably in painting and decorating which include the Hospice, Business Centre and 15 retail premises. This is a physically demanding role, involving regular moving and handling tasks. Experience of basic plumbing, decorating and carpentry would be an advantage.  

There are a number of possible additional functions that the post-holder may be asked to take on, depending upon their specific skills and competencies. The successful post-holder will be able to multi task and should be aware that this job description is expected to alter in discussion with them upon appointment and at review meetings. As the organisation develops the job description will need to reflect the needs of the organisation and the support required by other staff teams.

Key Competencies and Skills Requirements

Qualifications

Essential

None, although experience in a wide range of construction

Desirable

A plumbing, carpentry, painting and decorating or electrical qualification.

Competencies

Essential

• Painting and decorating skills
• Good communication skills
• Proven Carpentry/woodwork experience
• Proven Plumbing experience
• Proven experience of general maintenance repairs including painting and decorating.
• Be able to use of a PC for training and emails
• Ability to liaise within a complex organisational structure
• The ability to carry out dynamic risk assessments for works or projects for keeping themselves and others safe
• An ability to prioritise tasks within an environment of competing interests
• An ability to be able to undertake the physical aspects of this demanding role
• Be able to carry out Planned Preventative Maintenance checks as part of their role

Interest

• A qualification in either a Carpentry, Electrical or Plumbing background would be an advantage.

Other

• Own adequately insured transport (mileage allowance will be paid) 

PERSON SPECIFICATION – Maintenance Operative

Qualifications

• Plumbing – Desirable
• Carpentry – Desirable
• Electrics – Desirable
• Health & Safety – Desirable

Experience

• Plumbing – Desirable
• Carpentry – Desirable
• Electrics – Desirable
• Painting and decorating – Desirable
• Carrying out maintenance repairs to a high standard – Essential
• Working in a multi-site operation – Desirable
• Working/volunteering in the charitable sector – Desirable
• Knowledge and awareness of construction industry and the challenges of buildings of varying ages and size – Desirable

Skills and Attributes

• Organisational skills – Essential
• Ability to communicate with others – Essential
• Able to liaise effectively – Essential
• Able to multi task – Essential
• Able to work to tight deadlines – Essential
• Decision making – Essential
• Hands on approach – Essential
• Managing conflicting demands – Essential
• Self-motivated – Essential
• Attention to detail – Essential
• Willingness to keep key skills up to date (to meet legal requirements) – Essential

• Able to work within health and safety parameters – Essential
• Provider of training – Desirable

Other

• Flexible attitude – Essential
• Positive attitude – Essential
• Team Player – Essential
• Good interpersonal skills – Essential
• Pride in your work – Essential
• Own transport – Essential
• Initiative – Essential