Facilities Assistant

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four ?

Our colleagues' wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we're always looking for new ways to improve everyone's work/life balance. We're taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we'll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group - so there's never been a more exciting time to join !

Job Title: Facilities Assistant

Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD

Salary: GBP26,000.00 per annum (not pro rata)

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm

Contract: Permanent, 52 weeks

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Facilities Assistant to join our close-knit team at Dibden Park School, part of the Acorn Education family.

About the Role

The Facilities Assistant will play a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the school by supporting the Facilities Manager in all aspects of site maintenance, health and safety, and facilities management.

You'll carry out a variety of routine and ad-hoc tasks to maintain a clean, safe, and secure environment for students and staff. This includes building maintenance, groundskeeping, health and safety checks, and supporting the delivery of school activities where required.

If you're someone who takes pride in keeping environments running efficiently and safely-and wants to be part of a team supporting young people with unique needs-we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the general upkeep and maintenance of the school's buildings, grounds, and facilities
• Support the implementation of health and safety policies and procedures
• Carry out regular inspections and minor repairs as required
• Help ensure the site remains safe, clean, and secure at all times
• Work closely with the Facilities Manager and wider school staff to respond to maintenance needs
• Contribute positively to school life and support wider school events and activities

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is:

• Proactive and able to work independently to solve problems
• Calm, resilient, and dependable with a hands-on approach
• Committed to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, safety, and presentation
• Flexible and ready to support the school's wider aims
• Passionate about creating a welcoming and safe environment for our students
• In possession of a full UK driving licence (essential)

Experience in a similar role is helpful, but more important is a positive attitude, practical mindset, and commitment to helping young people thrive.

About Us

Dibden Park School is a brand-new school based in Southampton. Dibden Park School will place 60 students and will cater to students with social and emotional mental health and other complex needs. This is an exciting opportunity to grow and develop with a new staff team in a newly established independent special school.

Acorn Education is the UK's leading independent provider of specialist education. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that's not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.