Housekeepers help make sure that hospital wards and other settings are clean, safe and attractive places for patients and staff.
Working life
As a housekeeper, you will lead ward services such as catering, cleaning, equipment and supplies. The work can include:
talking to and reassuring patients
ordering non-clinical supplies
keeping the ward clean and tidy
serving and clearing away meals
preparing snacks and drinks
reporting faults
clerical and admin tasks
ordering patient transport
receiving visitors
With additional training, you may work with patients, taking on some of the duties of a healthcare assistant such as feeding patients, taking and recording blood pressure, temperature.
Where will I work?
You may work in any part of a hospital or trust including:
accident and emergency
paediatrics or maternity
medical or surgical wards
specialised units such as those for people with learning disabilities or mental health needs
There are no set entry requirements. Employers expect a good standard of numeracy and literacy. They may ask for GCSEs in English and maths. Employers may also ask for relevant qualifications such as an NVQ in hotel services or health care.
Employers may ask for some experience of hotel work or healthcare which could be from paid or voluntary work.
Skills needed
Housekeepers need to be:
physically fit for moving, lifting and cleaning
able to work as part of a team
friendly and caring
understanding of patients’ needs
able to take responsibility for their own work
health and safety aware
flexible and adaptable
able to follow instructions and procedures
You'll also need
good organisational skills
good communication skills with staff and patients
Training and development
When you start work as a housekeeper you will get the training you need to do the job. This includes an introduction to the department and the ward and its systems and procedures. You will also have training in health and safety and manual handling.
You may be encouraged to take a qualification in housekeeping which could be via an apprenticeship.
Pay and conditions
Housekeepers working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You would typically start on AfC band 2. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions such as domestic services team manager or senior housekeeper at band 3.
Housekeepers usually work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. They may work shifts, which, in some departments, could involve nights, early starts, evenings and weekends.
Terms and conditions will usually be different for housekeepers working outside of the NHS.
Where the role can lead
With experience, housekeepers can become team leaders, supervising the work of other domestic services staff. They can progress to become managers, responsible for a department or area. Housekeepers may be able to move into other areas such as facilities management.
You could move into a clinical support role, such as healthcare assistant or maternity support worker. Or you could apply to train as a nurse or other healthcare professional.
Job market and vacancies
If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values.
Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs. Some of the current vacancies are below.
