• Job Description

  Req#: B0203-25-0024?language=en&page=12&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Join Our Outstanding Hospice!

  Were seeking an experienced and capable Housekeeping Team Leader to lead our dedicated team and ensure the delivery of a consistently clean, safe and welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors. Youll play a vital role in supporting patient comfort, infection prevention, and the smooth running of our hospice.

  This is a hands-on leadership role that requires a deep understanding of housekeeping standards alongside strong people management skills. Youll oversee daily operations across all areas of our hospice site including a 15-bed inpatient unit, day hospice, and non-clinical areas and lead a small team through changing needs, high standards, and occasional challenges.

  Youll need the confidence to guide others, the experience to solve problems calmly, and the motivation to keep standards high even under pressure.

  Main duties of the job

  Main Duties:

  • Lead, supervise and support the housekeeping team to deliver consistently high standards in all clinical and non-clinical areas.
  • Use your expert housekeeping knowledge to ensure compliance with COSHH, infection control, and health and safety regulations.
  • Monitor quality through audits, inspections and regular checks, taking action to maintain service standards.
  • Manage staff rotas, annual leave, and absence to ensure effective cover and continuity.
  • Build a positive team culture, offering coaching, guidance and support to individuals and the wider team.
  • Address and resolve team issues proactively and sensitively, including performance concerns or conflict.
  • Support staff development through induction, training, and appraisal.
  • Liaise with clinical and operational teams to respond to cleaning needs, including specialist requests (e.g. barrier nursing).
  • Oversee ordering and stock control to ensure availability and value for money.

  About us

  Ashgate Hospice, based in North Derbyshire, offers free palliative and end of life care for adults with life-limiting or incurable illnesses, including cancer, neurological diseases, and advanced heart, kidney, and lung conditions. Last year, we cared for over 2,400 people. Our aim is to support our patients by keeping them informed, managing their symptoms, and improving their quality of life from diagnosis onwards.

  We also provide vital support to the people who are important to them, offering practical assistance and emotional support, including bereavement services.

  We're more than a care provider. We're a campaigner for sustainable end of life care funding in the UK, and we continually invest in our services and workforce.

  Our values are at the heart of everything we do. We are compassionate, a team, respectful, open, and inclusive.

  We strive to create a workplace thats inclusive, happy, safe, and supportive and our team seems to agree! In fact, 86% of staff would recommend Ashgate Hospice as an employer.

  We know how important wellbeing and work-life balance are, which is why we're open to flexible work arrangements, including job sharing.

  As part of our team, youll have access to training opportunities to help you grow, both personally and professionally. Whether you want to develop in your current role or explore new career paths, well support you every step of the way. To find out more, visit our website or check out our social media channels.

  Details

  Date posted

  01 August 2025

  Pay scheme

  Other

  Salary

  £27,817 to £29,545 a year

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  ASH1128173

  Job locations

  Ashgate Hospicecare, Ashgate Road

  Old Brampton

  Chesterfield

  Derbyshire

  S42 7JD

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  As Housekeeping Team Lead, you will lead the delivery of safe, high-quality, and person-centred housekeeping services across all hospice settings, including clinical and non-clinical. You will be a visible and proactive leader, responsible for maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, infection prevention, and environmental presentation, ensuring a welcoming and dignified space for patients, visitors, volunteers, and staff

  The role involves the day-to-day line management of the housekeeping team, overseeing all housekeeping standards, scheduling, training, and resource management to ensure a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for patients, families, visitors, volunteers, and staff.

  The post holder will ensure compliance with infection prevention protocols and promote the hospices values of compassion, dignity, and excellence in service delivery.

  The post holder will be a visible leader, capable of developing the team and building strong working relationships across departments. They will be adaptable, organised and capable of balancing operational demands with effective staff support and performance oversight.

  What youll bring:

  • Significant experience working in housekeeping or cleaning services, with a strong grasp of industry standards, infection control, and best practice.
  • Experience in supervising or managing a team, ideally in a healthcare, care or hospitality environment.
  • The ability to lead a team through change and challenge with confidence, empathy, and fairness.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to give feedback and handle sensitive issues constructively.
  • Strong organisational skills and the ability to plan and prioritise in a busy environment.
  • IT literacy and familiarity with rota or reporting systems.
  • A values-driven approach, demonstrating care, respect and professionalism in all that you do.

  Desirable but not essential:

  • Experience supporting audits or inspections (e.g. CQC).
  • Training or experience in coaching and mentoring.
  • Familiarity with digital systems such as Cascade, Outlook, Teams or Excel.
  • Prior experience working in a hospice or palliative care environment

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  As Housekeeping Team Lead, you will lead the delivery of safe, high-quality, and person-centred housekeeping services across all hospice settings, including clinical and non-clinical. You will be a visible and proactive leader, responsible for maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, infection prevention, and environmental presentation, ensuring a welcoming and dignified space for patients, visitors, volunteers, and staff

  The role involves the day-to-day line management of the housekeeping team, overseeing all housekeeping standards, scheduling, training, and resource management to ensure a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for patients, families, visitors, volunteers, and staff.

  The post holder will ensure compliance with infection prevention protocols and promote the hospices values of compassion, dignity, and excellence in service delivery.

  The post holder will be a visible leader, capable of developing the team and building strong working relationships across departments. They will be adaptable, organised and capable of balancing operational demands with effective staff support and performance oversight.

  What youll bring:

  • Significant experience working in housekeeping or cleaning services, with a strong grasp of industry standards, infection control, and best practice.
  • Experience in supervising or managing a team, ideally in a healthcare, care or hospitality environment.
  • The ability to lead a team through change and challenge with confidence, empathy, and fairness.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to give feedback and handle sensitive issues constructively.
  • Strong organisational skills and the ability to plan and prioritise in a busy environment.
  • IT literacy and familiarity with rota or reporting systems.
  • A values-driven approach, demonstrating care, respect and professionalism in all that you do.

  Desirable but not essential:

  • Experience supporting audits or inspections (e.g. CQC).
  • Training or experience in coaching and mentoring.
  • Familiarity with digital systems such as Cascade, Outlook, Teams or Excel.
  • Prior experience working in a hospice or palliative care environment

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in Cleaning or equivalent
  • Knowledge and experience of Infection Control standards
  • Working knowledge and experience of COSHH and manual handling procedures
  • Basic Health & Safety awareness or training (e.g. risk assessments, safe systems of work)

  Desirable

  • Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor or equivalent leadership training
  • Formal COSHH training certificate
  • Previous Training in the correct manual handling technique
  • Formal Health & Safety qualification or Risk Assessment training

  Experience

  Essential

  • Proven track record in managing a cleaning or housekeeping team, ideally in a healthcare or hospitality environment.
  • Experience in staff rostering, absence monitoring, and conducting performance reviews.
  • Experience with procurement or stock systems.
  • Understanding of the importance of service improvement, and ability to support change in a team setting
  • Willingness to engage in and contribute to changes that improve service delivery and team dynamics
  • Ability to lead by example, build rapport, and motivate a team.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including tact and empathy when dealing with patients and families.
  • Strong organisational and time management skills.
  • Ability to lead during periods of change and maintain team morale under pressure.
  • Confidence to give and receive constructive feedback to support performance improvement.
  • Confidence in using Microsoft Office and staff systems such as rostering and time management software (e.g. Cascade or similar).
  • Able to work independently and take initiative while maintaining oversight of a busy and varied workload.
  • Able to maintain high standards under pressure and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

  Desirable

  • Experience in a hospice, care, or healthcare setting.
  • Experience in quality audits or inspections.
  • Experience of leading service or process improvements in a housekeeping or facilities team
  • Experience of implementing change or supporting others through change initiatives
  • Ability to mentor, train and develop staff
  • Skilled in managing change and improving team culture and morale
  • Ability to analyse service delivery and implement improvements for efficiency or quality.

  Additional Criteria

  Essential

  • Willingness to undertake further training relevant to the role.
  • Flexibility to work additional hours on occasion to meet operational needs.
  • Commitment to the values and mission of the hospice.
  • Physical ability to undertake manual tasks and move around the site.
  • Emotional resilience and ability to work around patients receiving end of life care.
  • Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and upholding professional standards at all times.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in Cleaning or equivalent
  • Knowledge and experience of Infection Control standards
  • Working knowledge and experience of COSHH and manual handling procedures
  • Basic Health & Safety awareness or training (e.g. risk assessments, safe systems of work)

  Desirable

  • Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor or equivalent leadership training
  • Formal COSHH training certificate
  • Previous Training in the correct manual handling technique
  • Formal Health & Safety qualification or Risk Assessment training

  Experience

  Essential

  • Proven track record in managing a cleaning or housekeeping team, ideally in a healthcare or hospitality environment.
  • Experience in staff rostering, absence monitoring, and conducting performance reviews.
  • Experience with procurement or stock systems.
  • Understanding of the importance of service improvement, and ability to support change in a team setting
  • Willingness to engage in and contribute to changes that improve service delivery and team dynamics
  • Ability to lead by example, build rapport, and motivate a team.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including tact and empathy when dealing with patients and families.
  • Strong organisational and time management skills.
  • Ability to lead during periods of change and maintain team morale under pressure.
  • Confidence to give and receive constructive feedback to support performance improvement.
  • Confidence in using Microsoft Office and staff systems such as rostering and time management software (e.g. Cascade or similar).
  • Able to work independently and take initiative while maintaining oversight of a busy and varied workload.
  • Able to maintain high standards under pressure and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

  Desirable

  • Experience in a hospice, care, or healthcare setting.
  • Experience in quality audits or inspections.
  • Experience of leading service or process improvements in a housekeeping or facilities team
  • Experience of implementing change or supporting others through change initiatives
  • Ability to mentor, train and develop staff
  • Skilled in managing change and improving team culture and morale
  • Ability to analyse service delivery and implement improvements for efficiency or quality.

  Additional Criteria

  Essential

  • Willingness to undertake further training relevant to the role.
  • Flexibility to work additional hours on occasion to meet operational needs.
  • Commitment to the values and mission of the hospice.
  • Physical ability to undertake manual tasks and move around the site.
  • Emotional resilience and ability to work around patients receiving end of life care.
  • Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and upholding professional standards at all times.

  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

  Ashgate Hospicecare

  Address

  Ashgate Hospicecare, Ashgate Road

  Old Brampton

  Chesterfield

  Derbyshire

  S42 7JD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Ashgate Hospicecare

  Address

  Ashgate Hospicecare, Ashgate Road

  Old Brampton

  Chesterfield

  Derbyshire

  S42 7JD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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