Job Description

Role: Facilities Assistant
Location: Woodrow High House, Cherry Lane, Amersham, Bucks, HP7 0QG
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £26,110 pa
Hours of work: 37.5 per week

Click here to apply for this role

Summary Purpose - what you will be achieving
Our Facilities team works hard to ensure that every guest visiting Woodrow has a safe and memorable visit. You will be working alongside the wider team to maintain all buildings, including our Grade II listed Manor House and Leisure Centre, and the outside grounds and activity areas, to ensure the site is welcoming, tidy and safe for all. You will assist the Facilities Manager in ensuring we remain compliant with relevant Health & Safety legislation; and will be involved in various duties that contribute to the wider success of the Centre and London Youth.

What you will be doing
The Facilities Assistant provides logistical and maintenance support for the Woodrow estate and holds the following core responsibilities. This is not intended as an exhaustive list, and the job may change over time to reflect the changing needs of our centre, as well as the personal development needs of the post holder.

Grounds upkeep:

• General upkeep of the 26-acre estate grounds e.g. pruning, mowing, planting, tidying gardens. 
• Keeping grounds, paths, and hard surfaces safe and free of ice, snow, leaves, weeds, etc. 
• Maintaining the 3G astro pitch, cycle circuit and outdoor activity areas. 

Buildings maintenance: 

• Undertake day-to-day minor repairs, e.g. patching, painting, leaky taps, hinges, caulking, etc. 
• Undertake cyclical / seasonal jobs e.g. clearing gutters, drains, drain gratings, etc. 
• Support with biomass boiler maintenance and receive woodchip deliveries. 
• Support with basic utilities issues as they arise, e.g. heating, plumbing, electrical, etc. 

Health and safety: 

• Undertake routine safety/compliance checks of all facilities including, among other things, legionella temperature audits, emergency equipment inspections and tests, etc. 
• Support the Facilities Manager with risk assessments and work procedures relevant to the role. 
• Maintain accurate records of all work carried out using systems in place for auditing. 

General duties: 

• Basic joinery, carpentry and build projects done in house, under direction of the FM. 
• Supervise outside contractors to ensure all jobs are carried out to agreed standards. 
• Supervise corporate volunteer groups who support us with gardening or build projects. 
• Support with setup and occasional on-the-day attendance at various events. 
• Undertake other duties as reasonably requested by London Youth's management that ensure the ongoing success of the charity and delivery of excellent customer experiences. 

What you bring to the role

Experience, Knowledge & Skills
We do not expect candidates to have expertise in all areas, but at a minimum experience of minor buildings repairs and maintenance and groundskeeping work is essential to this role. Training will be provided to address some gaps where necessary and relevant. 

• Experience with grounds maintenance including tree and lawn care, gardening, etc. 
• Experience of maintenance in heating, plumbing, electrical systems. 
• Demonstrable good practical DIY skills, including decorating, joinery, carpentry, repairs, etc. 
• Experience using power and maintenance tools, including small tractor with mower, jigsaws, strimmers, etc. 
• Demonstrable understanding of Health & Safety regulations relevant to this type of role; the importance of compliance, evidencing and contributing to this. 
• Hold a good level of fitness and able to work outside in variable weather conditions. 
• Experience of conducting regular compliance checks, recording and reporting on them. 
• Able to use digital systems for record keeping, including Microsoft Office and various apps. 
• A current driving license (tractor experience is also desirable). 

Qualifications in the use of a chainsaw, power tools, tractor driving, pool plant are desirable.

Attributes and Behaviours 

• Someone who takes pride in their work and enjoys getting things done. 
• Customer centric mindset and a firm commitment to customer excellence and safety. 
• Able to quickly establish a rapport and build effective relationships with a wide range of people. 
• Composed demeanor and calm under pressure, able to dynamically prioritise and problem solve. 
• Keen attention to detail, following procedures and recording actions reliably and consistently. 
• Able to work independently, demonstrating proactivity and initiative. 
• Collaborative team player with a willingness to work effectively with others. 
• Self-motivated with a positive attitude, growth mindset and keen willingness to develop. 
• Willing to both give and receive direction from others. 
• Impeccable work ethic with a practical, flexible and dynamic approach to work. 
• Absolute commitment to London Youth's principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

• Ambitious 
• Collaborative 
• Inclusive 
• Accountable 

Why work at Woodrow High House

• Health Care Cash Plan to help cover your healthcare essentials. 
• Free access for you and your family to the Employee Assistance Programme. 
• Free onsite parking. 
• Branded quality uniform provided. 
• Free access to the 'Headspace' app for you and your family. 
• Free access to the Charity Mentoring Network, as a mentee or mentor. 
• Free tea and coffee available in the 'Tea & Coffee Bar'. 
• Free meals provided whilst on duty when the kitchen is serving young people in residence. 
• Magnificent location on a historic estate, surrounded by nature. 
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• You'll be working with a fantastic team of passionate colleagues across London Youth. 
• An outstanding culture and ethos where staff and visitors enjoy, challenge, and achieve. 
• Occasional supply of sweet - sometimes savoury - always yummy - treats are guaranteed. 
• You will be making a difference to the lives of young people! 

About London Youth
We are London Youth: a charity on a mission to support the capital’s youth sector to improve the lives of young people. We do this with and through our members – a network of 600 youth organisations – and at our two outdoor residential centres, Hindleap Warren and Woodrow High House.

Throughout our 135-year history, community youth organisations have provided a constant lifeline and a vital safe space outside the family and formal education, where young people can develop confidence, resilience and skills. Young people need opportunities outside school to have fun with their friends, to make a positive change in their communities and to shape the city they live in.

We look to work with all young people, focusing particularly on those who wouldn’t otherwise have access to the kind of opportunities we offer.

In 2023-24, we worked with 591 member youth organisations who supported 710k+ young Londoners. 28,676 young people took part in our programmes, events and activities, with nearly 18,000 enjoying our outdoor learning centres, Woodrow High House and Hindleap Warren. 2,000 youth professionals benefitted from 184 training and network sessions we delivered. 

Click here to apply for this role