Hospital Housekeeping Supervisor

To supervise and coordinate the daily housekeeping operation, ensuring that all clinical and non-clinical areas are maintained to the required standards of cleanliness, hygiene, safety and presentation. The post holder will lead and support the Housekeeping Team, monitor cleaning performance, ensure compliance with healthcare cleaning standards and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures, and promote a safe, patient-focused environment. The Housekeeping Supervisor will act as the first point of contact for day-to-day operational issues, provide guidance and training to team members, and escalate significant concerns to the Hotel Services Manager or Housekeeping Manager. Hours: 37.5 hours weekly, flexible shift patterns covering a 24-hour, 7-day operation, including weekends and bank holidays where required. Key Responsibilities Daily Operations and Staff Supervision - Supervise and coordinate the daily activities of the Housekeeping Team across allocated clinical and non-clinical areas. - Allocate duties, cleaning schedules and workloads according to operational priorities and service requirements. - Ensure adequate housekeeping cover is maintained during each shift, including cross-cover between Housekeeping and Outpatient Department (OPD) areas where required. - Monitor staff attendance, punctuality, uniform and adherence to agreed working practices, create and distribute rota, making sure adequate staff coverage. - Provide clear instructions, guidance and support to housekeeping staff throughout the shift. - Monitor progress against cleaning schedules and ensure outstanding tasks are completed or appropriately escalated. - Reallocate staff in response to sickness, annual leave, increased workload or changing clinical priorities. - Support the induction of new employees and ensure they understand local procedures and expected standards. - Promote teamwork, accountability, professionalism and a positive working environment. - Escalate staffing shortages, performance concerns and operational risks to management. - Maintain stock control and required level of material and equipment Cleaning Standards and Quality Assurance - Ensure cleaning activities are carried out in accordance with approved cleaning schedules, local procedures and healthcare cleaning standards. - Conduct routine cleaning inspections and quality checks across assigned areas. - Complete and maintain cleaning audit records, inspection sheets and other required documentation. - Identify cleaning deficiencies and agree or implement corrective actions within the limits of the role. - Reinspect areas following remedial cleaning to confirm that the required standards have been achieved. - Monitor the completion of daily, periodic and deep-cleaning schedules. - Ensure terminal cleans and isolation-room cleaning are undertaken in accordance with local protocols. - Investigate recurring cleaning issues and report trends or persistent failures to management. - Ensure patient bedrooms, treatment rooms, operating theatres, consultation rooms, toilets, public areas and other designated spaces are maintained to the required standard. - Support the implementation of service improvements to enhance cleanliness, efficiency and patient experience. C. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) - Ensure housekeeping staff comply with local IPC policies, procedures and standard infection control precautions. - Monitor correct cleaning and disinfection practices, including high-touch surfaces and designated clinical areas. - Ensure approved cleaning products and disinfectants are used correctly and in accordance with manufacturer instructions. - Check that appropriate PPE is available and used correctly. - Ensure colour-coding systems and cleaning equipment segregation procedures are followed to minimise cross-contamination. - Monitor compliance with isolation-room, terminal-cleaning and outbreak-related procedures as directed by the IPC Team. - Identify and report potential infection risks, unsafe cleaning practices or environmental hygiene concerns without delay. - Liaise with the Infection Prevention and Control Team when required and escalate concerns that require clinical or specialist assessment. - Support IPC audits, investigations and improvement actions relevant to housekeeping. - Ensure cleaning equipment is appropriately cleaned, disinfected and stored following use. Waste Management and Linen Handling - Supervise compliance with local waste management and linen-handling procedures. - Ensure waste is segregated, labelled, transported and stored in the correct designated areas. - Monitor the correct handling of clinical, domestic, recycling and other specialist waste streams. - Ensure used linen is handled and contained appropriately in accordance with local procedures. - Challenge and report incorrect waste segregation, inappropriate linen handling or unsafe storage practices. - Ensure waste bins, lids, trolleys and designated waste-holding areas are maintained in a clean and safe condition. - Report damaged containers, overflowing bins, collection failures and waste-storage issues. - Support waste and linen audits and implement corrective actions within the scope of the role. - Ensure housekeeping staff do not undertake tasks outside their authorised responsibilities or training. Equipment, Chemicals and COSHH - Ensure cleaning equipment is available, fit for purpose and used safely. - Monitor daily equipment checks and ensure defective equipment is removed from use and reported. - Ensure cleaning trolleys and equipment are maintained, cleaned and stored appropriately. - Check that approved chemicals are available, correctly labelled and stored securely. - Ensure staff follow relevant COSHH assessments, Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and chemical-handling instructions. - Verify that cleaning solutions are prepared and used at the correct concentrations in accordance with approved procedures. - Ensure appropriate PPE is available for the tasks being undertaken. - Report chemical spillages, equipment defects and unsafe working practices promptly. - Support staff training and competency checks relating to equipment, chemicals and safe working methods. Health, Safety and Risk Management - Promote a safe working environment for staff, patients, visitors and contractors. - Ensure housekeeping staff follow health and safety procedures, including safe manual handling and the correct use of PPE. - Identify hazards during routine inspections and take appropriate immediate action within the limits of the role. - Complete or contribute to dynamic risk assessments where required and within the post holder's training and authority. - Ensure accidents, incidents, near misses and hazardous conditions are reported through the appropriate systems. - Monitor the safe use of wet-floor signs, cleaning equipment and chemical products. - Ensure safe working practices are followed in clinical areas and that cleaning activities do not unnecessarily disrupt patient care. - Escalate risks requiring specialist, clinical or management intervention. - Support incident investigations and implementation of agreed preventative actions. Patient Experience and Customer Service - Ensure the Housekeeping Team maintains a professional, respectful and patient-focused approach. - Promote dignity, privacy and confidentiality when working in patient areas. - Respond professionally to cleaning requests, complaints and concerns. - Coordinate urgent cleaning requests in line with clinical priorities and local escalation procedures. - Communicate courteously with clinical teams, reception staff, facilities colleagues and other departments. - Investigate housekeeping complaints within the scope of the role and report significant issues to management. - Ensure concerns affecting patient safety, comfort or the cleanliness of clinical environments are escalated promptly. - Promote a positive image of the hospital through high standards of service and presentation. Staff Training, Development and Performance - Deliver or support local induction and on-the-job training for housekeeping staff. - Ensure team members understand cleaning procedures, colour coding, waste segregation, COSHH, PPE and IPC requirements. - Monitor completion of mandatory and role-specific training. - Identify individual training needs and report competency concerns to management. - Provide constructive feedback and recognise good performance. - Address minor performance issues promptly and professionally, escalating persistent or serious concerns in accordance with organisational procedures. - Support staff appraisals, performance reviews and return-to-work processes where delegated. - Maintain accurate records of training, competency checks and relevant staff supervision activities. Documentation and Reporting - Ensure cleaning schedules, audit forms and inspection records are completed accurately and on time. - Maintain records of cleaning deficiencies, corrective actions and reinspection outcomes. - Record and escalate equipment faults, maintenance issues, incidents and operational concerns. - Monitor completion of deep-cleaning programmes and other scheduled housekeeping tasks. - Prepare shift handover information and communicate outstanding tasks or risks to the appropriate person. - Provide management with updates on cleaning performance, staffing levels, complaints and service delivery. - Maintain confidentiality and ensure records are handled in accordance with organisational requirements. Communication and Service Coordination - Act as the first point of contact for routine housekeeping and portering issues during the assigned shift. - Maintain effective communication with the Hotel Services Manager, clinical departments, IPC Team and other relevant stakeholders. - Attend departmental meetings, briefings and training sessions when required. - Coordinate housekeeping and portering activities around patient appointments, procedures, admissions, discharges and other operational demands. - Ensure urgent requests and changes in priorities are communicated clearly to the team. - Support service changes, audits and improvement initiatives as directed by management. Authority and Accountability The Housekeeping Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the housekeeping operation and for ensuring that staff follow approved procedures. The post holder is expected to: - Allocate and reprioritise work within the agreed staffing establishment. - Conduct routine cleaning inspections and require remedial cleaning where necessary. - Provide operational guidance and on-the-job support to staff. - Support the Team operationally when required - Take immediate, proportionate action to address housekeeping hazards within their authority. - Escalate significant IPC concerns, staffing shortages, serious incidents and unresolved performance issues. - Recommend improvements to cleaning processes, staffing arrangements and service delivery. The post holder must not independently approve clinical IPC risk assessments, alter approved clinical procedures or undertake specialist tasks outside their competence or delegated authority.