Maintenance Staff
THE WORKING DAY
Maintenance staff look after NHS buildings and the grounds around them. As the needs of the NHS change, existing buildings need to be extended or renovated and new sites built. The fabric of the building needs to be looked after – walls, floors and windows – as well as the systems inside them – heating, power and ventilation. All this work needs a huge variety of workers – groundskeepers, painters, roofers, plumbers, joiners, decorators, tilers, technicians, engineers, builders and electricians – to create and maintain a safe and pleasant environment for our staff and patients.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE ME?
You are practical, hardworking and able to work either unsupervised or as part of a team to consistently high standards. You are happy to be out and about, or regularly on the move, often working unusual hours in a variety of settings.
WHAT’S NEXT?
You may need some academic qualifications or specific craft qualifications, such as a carpenter, painter and decorator or electrician. Apprenticeships in estates and maintenance roles are also sometimes available.
Many estates staff join the NHS with qualifications and experience from working and training elsewhere. If you have an interest in practical work and GCSEs in English and maths, there may be opportunities to train in one of the estates services roles. However you join the NHS, you will be encouraged to take further qualifications and progress. You could become a team leader and there may be chances to become a manager.