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Porter/Driver

  • Job title: Porter/Driver
  • Job Type: Full time, 40 hours per week, Permanent
  • Salary: Circa £25,000 dependent on qualifications and experience
  • Department: Estates
  • Reporting to: Estates Manager
  • Location: Highgate, North London
  • Start: ASAP
  • Closing Date: 17 July 2023 at 5:00 pm
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The Department

This department provides a service to the school in terms of: the security of school premises and the safety of pupils and staff; providing the highest quality environment for staff, pupils and visitors.  Maintaining the public face of the school; external and internal mail services; storage and delivery of stationery supplies; safety and cleanliness of areas in the immediate vicinity of the schools; the moving of equipment and furniture; preparing rooms for assemblies, concerts, exams, functions and events; transportation of pupils and staff to extra-curricular activities and carrying out minor maintenance tasks.

 

Job Description

THE ROLE

To provide the best possible support service to the school, and to maintain the environment to the highest possible standard in respect of cleanliness and safety for staff, pupils and visitors.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The main duties of the porters/driver are set out below and are carried out under the direction of the Estates Manager.

The postholder will be expected to carry out his/her duties in any part of the School as required.

  • Carry out external and internal mail deliveries two to three times per day between Senior School  and Bishopswood Road sites or as required.
  • Carry out deliveries of furniture, equipment and stationery across the School as required.
  • When necessary, assist the Catering Department’s porter/driver with deliveries from the Dining Hall to Senior School.
  • Carry out any other driving tasks as directed.
  • Carry out the safe and secure conveyance of important documents including examination papers in accordance with the School’s protocols.
  • Assist with storage and distribution of stationery supplies, being proactive when large deliveries arrive.
  • Cary out daily maintenance checks of the vehicle and minibus fleet and submit reports and defects to the Transport Manager
  • Effect the movement of furniture and equipment, e.g. lifting/carrying as and when required in accordance with Health and Safety guidelines.
  • Carry out minor maintenance tasks such as assembling new furniture.  Work collaboratively with the Maintenance Department in respect of minor repair works.
  • Receive and check deliveries from suppliers, placing goods in store as necessary and pass the paperwork on to the recipient.
  • Prepare rooms for assemblies, concerts, exams, functions and events, making sure the areas are well presented in all respects.
  • Maintain cleanliness and safety of pathways, entrances, playgrounds and other areas in the immediate vicinity of the Schools.  Sweep pathways, quads, the tunnel, Dyne House, the Parade ground and outside the School on a rotating programme and keeping the areas free of leaves and litter.  Empty all litter bins on a regular basis and as necessary.
  • Collect up school bags and any unattended items along pathways or grounds at the end of each day and place at the designated lost property point.
  • Attend team meetings as necessary.
  • Complete and submit overtime sheets for any overtime completed.
  • Report any health and safety concerns immediately to the Maintenance Department and inform the Estates Manager.
  • From time to time the postholder may be required to undertake reception duties in the absence of the receptionist or other portering staff which may involve:
    • Welcoming and booking in visitors
    • Issuing security passes
    • Security responsibilities
  • From time to time the postholder may be required to undertake unlocking or lock-up duties in the absence of other portering staff which may involve:
    • On opening the School and at all other times, ensure that the site is safe for staff, pupils and visitors.
    • In the interests of security, lock gates and premises as necessary during the day and at the end of the day, ensuring that all areas are secure and doing everything possible to prevent unlawful access to school premises

As a member of the Portering/Security team, the postholder will also be expected to undertake other related duties from time to time, especially during the holiday periods, which fall within their capability and to be flexible, co-operative and generally assist other members of the team as necessary.

The postholder may be required to maintain a daily worksheet which is to be returned to the Estate Manager each week.

These duties and responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive: the Porter will be expected to undertake any reasonable task or responsibility as required by the Estates Manager

Person Specification
  • Criteria
  • How will these be tested or verified?
  • Qualifications/Experience
  • Essential
    • Driving License – Highgate will request to view the individual’s driving license during the recruitment process. The license will be checked for entitlement to drive the required category of vehicle.
    • Experience working in a similar role
    • Experience of working as part of a team
    • Basic understanding of Health and Safety and risk assessments

    Desirable:

    • Manual handling
    • Experience working within an educational environment.
    • Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding policies
    • Basic First Aid experience
  • Ability/Skills
  • Essential
    • Capable of working on his/her own initiative
    • Quick-thinking and the ability to deal with situations as they arise
    • Physically fit
    • Basic level of IT, written and communication skills
    • Strong interpersonal and observational skills
    • Ability to work calmly under pressure and multi-task
    • Ability to work well as a member of a team
    • Ability to communicate effectively with visitors to the school, pupils, teaching and support staff
  • Personal Attributes
  • Essential
    • Reliable, confident and committed
    • High degree of personal drive and motivation
    • A team player with a flexible ‘can do’ approach
    • A responsible and conscientious approach
    • A polite and friendly manner
    • Ability to understand and adapt to the culture of an independent day school

Benefits

Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.

Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.

Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.

Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).

Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.

Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.

Help with sustainable travel  | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.

Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.


Working at Highgate

A culture of community, kindness and belonging

Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.

Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.

In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”

Staff wellbeing

Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.

The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.

We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.

More details about working at Highgate can be found here:

Work with us    Aims + Ethos


Charitable work and sustainability

As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.

Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.

As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.

Application procedure

  • Closing Date: 17th July 2023
  • Timing of interviews: w/c 17th July or sooner

Contact: Recruitment Team are happy to answer any questions about this post.

Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.

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