Caretaker

We're recruiting Caretakers to join our Estate Services team within Housing Neighbourhood Services. You'll help us provide a reliable service for residents by keeping shared areas within our communal housing blocks and sheltered housing schemes clean, safe and well cared for. Our Estate Services team looks after more than 500 communal blocks and 27 sheltered housing schemes across Milton Keynes, so the work you do will make a visible difference to the places our residents call home. Depending on the vacancy, you'll work within either our communal blocks or sheltered housing schemes, maintaining agreed cleaning standards and taking pride in creating a welcoming environment for residents. The role goes beyond cleaning. You'll keep an eye on the overall condition of your designated area, identify and report repairs or health and safety concerns, and work with colleagues, contractors and other partners to make sure issues are addressed. Our cleaning standards are monitored through regular audits, helping us maintain consistent standards and demonstrate the quality and condition of the areas we look after. You'll be joining a council that aims to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities and make Milton Keynes a better place to live. Site-Based role This is a Site-Based role, and you'll be expected to work from the designated workplace. Interviews for this role will be held on 15th December 2026,

• Complete cleaning and caretaking schedules to a high standard, including using cleaning products, power tools and electrical equipment.
• Identify and report health and safety concerns and help make sure communal areas, equipment and materials remain safe and well maintained.
• Take responsibility for the upkeep of your designated area, reporting work that needs attention and following up with colleagues, contractors and other partners.
• Carry out fire safety system testing, complete associated checks and maintain accurate records using the council's IT systems and equipment.
• Undertake regular manual handling, including moving bulky items such as furniture and white goods.
• Communicate clearly with residents and housing colleagues, and drive and look after council fleet vehicles in line with council requirements.
  
  A full UK manual driving licence is essential for this role.
• Comfortable with a physically active working day, you'll be able to carry out regular manual handling and work safely when cleaning both high and low-level areas.
• Bringing experience of cleaning communal areas, you'll understand how to maintain good standards and work effectively on your own.
• Confident communicating with different people, you'll be able to build respectful relationships with residents, colleagues and contractors and handle challenging conversations appropriately.
• Good practical judgement will help you identify hazards, carry out dynamic risk assessments and take appropriate action to keep residents and others safe.
• With a practical approach to technology, you'll be comfortable recording information and using equipment such as tablets and smartphones, while showing an awareness of health and safety and the safe use of cleaning products.
Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle To be successful in this role, you'll need a full manual UK driving licence. If we offer you the role, we'll ask you to provide evidence of your driving licence. We're unable to confirm an appointment until these documents are received. As part of the pre-employment checks, should you be offered the role, we'll carry out Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live. We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Milton Keynes City Council is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We actively encourage applications from candidates who bring a range of perspectives, particularly those from underrepresented groups. We are proud to have signed up to the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES), a continuous improvement programme designed to help social care organisations achieve anti-racist workplaces. Our commitment means we are actively working to identify and address inequalities, improve representation in leadership, and ensure fair treatment and opportunity for all colleagues in Adult Services. [skillsforcare.org.uk] We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it's time for a new role. Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have an independent and unrestricted right to work in the UK, without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.


• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes Our roles are either designated 'site based' or 'home based'. 'Site based' roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst 'home based' roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.