What does a Caretaker do?
A Caretaker makes sure a building and its grounds are secure and in good condition at all times. They care for key buildings in their communities, including schools, flats, community centres, gyms and shopping centres. Some Caretakers work on a single building while others, called Mobile Caretakers, travel and care for a selection of buildings. Caretakers make sure relevant members of the community can use the buildings safely and comfortably. They also keep buildings safe to reduce the costs associated with theft, vandalism and major repairs.
Caretaker skills and qualifications
Caretakers rely on their technical skills and soft skills to maintain buildings. A successful Caretaker candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Basic DIY skills and in-depth understanding of maintenance procedures
- Problem-solving skills for addressing safety and maintenance concerns
- Strong verbal and written communication skills for giving instructions to contractors and support crews
- Organisation, multi-tasking and scheduling skills
- Customer service skills for positive dealings with building owners and administrators
- Research and networking skills for sourcing the best external contractors
- Negotiation skills for securing contractors at the best price
- First aid for helping contractors or members of the community requiring basic medical care on site
Caretaker experience requirements
Caretakers often don’t need any experience, as most employers provide comprehensive training. This training teaches Caretakers about the particular building and its requirements. However, caretaking experience is always preferred. Experience working in a similar caretaking environment is beneficial. Related experience, including experience in building maintenance, gardening, electrics, cleaning or plumbing is also useful.
Caretaker education and training requirements
Caretakers don’t usually need any special education or training. Some employers may ask for candidates with GCSEs in mathematics and English. These qualifications can also help aspiring Caretakers gain relevant apprenticeships. Someone with property maintenance or facilities services operative intermediate apprenticeship would make an excellent candidate. Candidates holding relevant Level 2 certificates are favoured. Certificates in property, caretaking and facilities services, cleaning and support service skills and support work in schools are all useful for Caretakers.
Caretaker salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Caretaker in the UK is £10.04 per hour . Salaries vary according to experience, certification and the employer and their location.
Job description samples for similar positions
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