Household Supervisor St Josephs Hospital

Post Title:

Household Supervisor

Post Status:

Permanent

Department

Household department

Location:

St Josephs Hospital Raheny & Affiliated Sites

Reports to:

Operations Lead

Salary:

Appointment will be made on Domestic Supervisor Scale (41617 - 48564) at a point in line with Government pay policy

Hours of work:

Full Time 39 hours (shift pattern)5 over 7

Closing Date:

12 noon on 20/02/2026

Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The physical environment facilities and resources are managed to minimise the risk of infection to service users staff and visitors.

Explanatory statement:

The risk of the spread of infection is significantly reduced when the physical infrastructure and environment meet the standards expected under the national hygiene audit scheme. This post is intended to support the nursing staff at ward level to meet these standards.

The main areas of concern to this post are patient equipment safe handling and disposal of linen safe handling and disposal of waste hand hygiene facilities and the general environment. There is a need to ensure that all relevant standards are adhered to in the preparation service and distribution of meals to patients.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Main functions of the role include:

• Ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness are provided throughout the Hospital
• Maintain compliance with Hospital Policies and Procedures e.g. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Health and Safety Moving and Handling Regulations.
• Follow all cleaning schedules with due regard to specified standard operational procedures and infection control procedure
• Undertake regular training as and when required including infection control refresher manual handling refresher and fire safety training children first new cleaning methods/procedures and any other training required
• Planning directing organising and managing the Household Service throughout the Hospital within cleaning services.
• To be responsible for the supervision deployment rostering and recording attendance of the Household Staff.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Overall responsibility for the planning directing organising and management of the Household Service throughout the Campus and ensuring that these services are available at the hours specified by Hospital Management.

• Implement and uphold the highest standards of Household Services ensuring the best possible standards of cleanliness and hygiene and compliance with Hospital Health and Safety policy procedures in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

• To initiate support and implement quality improvement initiatives in their area which are in keeping with the continuous quality improvement programme of the Hospital.

• Assist with the effective management of Quality Safety and Risk within the Household Department and as appropriate Hospital wide.

• Routinely undertake Risk Assessments of all areas within the Hospital and report the results to Department Heads / Managers in conjunction with the Hospital Health and Safety Officer.

• Support the Operations Lead in the development and implementation of strategic plans

• Strengthen links with Heads of Departments Clinical Nurse Managers and the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team to co-ordinate hygiene issues in their areas.

• Assist with dealing of complaints or incidents from patients / public and staff.

• Implement work schedules and rosters; assign hours and areas of work to ensure an optimum hygiene/household service for all areas of the Hospital.

• Develop policies and schedules for existing and any new additional buildings or departments.

• Plan and schedule deep cleaning in accordance with defined schedules and as requested by Hospital Management.

• Monitor the quality of services delivered identify opportunities for improvement and initiate measures to accomplish same.

• Assist with establishment maintenance and review of procedures systems and records to maximise the efficiency of Household Services Department.

• Inspect all cleaning equipment and appliances on a regular basis. Assist in the selection and utilisation of appropriate materials and mechanical equipment and arrange for its care and maintenance in line with Health and Safety HIQA and legislative requirements.

• Promote a professional image establish and maintain standards and work procedures for cleaning staff in accordance with established National HIQA and Hospital policies.

• Prepare authorise and submit appropriate documentation including invoices to the Finance Department in a timely manner.

• Management and control of requisitioning and custody of stock outside main supplies department on a computer based system.

• Implement and monitor service contracts pertaining to Household Department in accordance with HIQA standards and in association with Operations Lead as necessary.

• Implementation and monitoring of relevant guidelines / directives under relevant Legislation.

• Management and monitoring of the electronic auditing system in place and provision of reports to Department Heads / Managers and Senior Management Team as required.

• Ensure formal and informal auditing is completed to ensure compliance standards are achieved and action plans are put in place.

• Participate in all relevant committees/meetings as required by Hospital Management.

• Be responsible for the requisitioning custody and control of Household Staff uniforms and protective clothing e.g. safety shoes and to keep such related records as may be required by the Hospital. This will involve liaison with suppliers purchasing officer and the relevant department heads.

• Management and auditing of the Legionella monitoring process and retaining appropriate records for all areas of hospital in conjunction with the Hospital Facilities Manager.

• Notify operations lead or other relevant staff of faulty equipment building / equipment repairs maintenance requirements requests for chemicals / personal protective equipment / light equipment.

• To record incidences when required in order to comply with Health & Safety

• Provide cross cover for Laundry Operatives in the Raheny Community Nursing Unit as and when required

Staff Management:

• Management of staff within approved ceiling to ensure that staff levels and skill mix are appropriate and within the resource allocation e.g. rostering.

• Participate in the recruitment selection and training of staff in line with Hospital procedures and ensure all new staff are properly inducted into the Department before taking up duties.

• Implement orientation and training of new household staff in-service training and up-skilling of existing staff. Ensure staff attend relevant mandatory training programmes and staff training attendance records are maintained

• Continuously review staff performance and take appropriate action where necessary. When required utilise the Disciplinary Policy of the Hospital.

• Ensure all Health and Safety Regulations Fire Orders and Hospital Rules and Regulations are accessible to Household Staff and emphasising their responsibility as employees to their compliance with them.

• Promote good industrial relations in employment practices

• Promote a culture of openness where good practice can be both challenged and shared.

• Provide leadership and stimulate initiative amongst staff.

• Control and monitoring of timekeeping based on the time and attendance automated payment system and liaising with Salaries and Wages concerning same.

• Ensure compliance with Hospital policies in respect of dress code annual leave sick leave and all other relevant policies.

• Management of Household staff leave and attendance in liaison with the Human Resources department and Occupational Health Unit where appropriate.

• Preparation of duty and holiday rotas for staff and arranging reliefs where approved.

• Reporting of all occupational accidents sustained by staff and incidents involving Household Staff to the Clinical Risk Manager and complying with Hospital policy in respect of same.

• Provide written reports to the Operations lead as required.

• Monitor First Aid Kits in the approved locations on a routine basis and advise Health and Safety Officer of results.

• To undertake any other duties this may be assigned by Hospital Management from time to time.

The responsibility of this post will evolve and develop and may include other relevant duties not currently documented in this job description which the post holder would be required to undertake following consultation.

Selection Criteria:

Selection criteria outline the qualifications skills knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

1. Professional Qualifications Experience etc.

a) Currently employed within a household or comparable role and be willing to undertake/or undertaking a QQI/FET Level 5 programme.
And
b) Have a minimum of 5 years working in a relevant industry with experience of managing staff in a busy environment
And
c) Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to property discharge the duties of the role

Desirable:
Previous experience of working in Hospital
Display personal initiative
Values others opinions
Communicates clearly and concisely in a timely manner
Identifies quality as a key factor in the provision of services
Constantly reviews means of improvement

Supplementary information:

The Hospital
Management Unit: Enquiries ONLY to: (Please note NO APPLICATIONS will be accepted via the Informal Email)
Name: Siobhan Comerford
Title: Operations Lead
Email address: