Caretaker

Job Introduction The starting salary for this position is £24,330 per annum based on a 36-hours working week. Surrey Adult Learning is looking for an organised and experienced Caretaker to help ensure a safe and welcoming environment for its team, learners and visitors. The working hours for this role are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, with occasional need for evening and Saturday support and cover. This opportunity is based at our Guildford Adult Learning Centre, with the expectation of travelling to and supporting at our other centres when required. Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service (prorated for part time staff) Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents. Discount on Adult Learning courses About the Role Surrey Adult Learning is a leading provider of diverse daytime, evening and Saturday courses and learning opportunities for adults which is part of our lifelong learning offer. We offer a wide range of qualification courses, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), maths and digital skills. Our courses also cater to individuals with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and parents/carers seeking to upskill to support their children. Additionally, we provide courses for personal development in various subjects such as arts and crafts, languages and exercise. Our outreach provision is designed to assist those currently facing life challenges. Providing a caretaking service for one of our centres, you’ll help to ensure a safe and welcoming environment, whilst being responsible for the presentation and cleanliness of the site, and ensuring classrooms and equipment are set up as required. You’ll also be the knowledgeable point of contact for contractors and carry out general maintenance and first-line repairs in and around the centre. Your day-to-day tasks will also include actioning routine system tests, reporting and escalating health and safety concerns and being a keyholder, to ensure safe access to all site users. The role also involves reception cover when centres are single staffed to allow office staff to take rest breaks, and helping to deliver excellent customer care for the users of the centre. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours: A practical approach to tasks with good problem-solving skills Ability to work well as part of a team Able to listen and communicate effectively, exchanging basic information both verbally and in writing Basic DIY abilities Previous caretaking, or similar experience Demonstrate a practical and confident approach, as some lone working is involved in this role Demonstration of reliability and ability to follow instructions To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions: Please describe a time when you identified a practical problem in a building or workplace. What steps did you take to resolve it, and what was the outcome? Please outline any previous caretaking or similar experience you have. Include any details of basic DIY or maintenance tasks you are confident carrying out. This role sometimes involves lone working and following procedures independently. Can you provide an example that demonstrates your reliability and ability to follow instructions while working without supervision? This role involves working closely with colleagues, learners and visitors to our centres. Can you give an example of when you worked effectively as part of a team and communicated clearly to support a positive outcome? Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Phil Evans via email at phil.evans@surreycc.gov.uk . The job advert closes at 23:59 on Monday 27 April 2026 with interviews planned to follow. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our learners and expect all staff to share this commitment. A DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check is required for this role and will be discussed further at interview. Online searches may be carried out on applicants who are shortlisted for interview. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.