Estates and Facilities
Last updated: 22 April 2021
Estates and Facilities
Estates Services staff look after NHS buildings and the grounds around them so they are a safe and pleasant environment for our staff and patients. Like any buildings, NHS sites need repairs and regular maintenance. As the needs of the NHS change, existing buildings need to be extended or renovated and new sites built. The fabric of the building needs to be looked after – walls, floors and windows – as well as the systems inside them – heating, power and ventilation. All this work needs skilled staff, often from the construction sector.
A day in the life
Hospitals, health centres and other NHS buildings need to be safe and welcoming for staff and patients. Any repairs need to be carried out to a high standard by skilled trades people. Although some estates staff are multi-skilled, the main roles are:
- carpenter/joiner
- fire safety officer
- electrician
- painter and decorator
- plumber
- estates technician
- health and safety officer
The outsides of NHS buildings and the grounds around them have to be kept tidy and in good repair. Walls and windows must be maintained and kept clean. Grounds can include gardens, paths and car parks. Working outside, your role could be:
- bricklayer
- window cleaner
- gardeners and grounds staff
Some jobs involve being inside or out, working at different levels. You could be organising the people who do the maintenance and repairs or looking after all aspects of a smaller NHS building. Roles include:
- caretaker
Estates staff must be prepared to travel. Some work across several sites or are called to work wherever repairs are needed. They may use NHS transport or their own van. Some estates staff work for companies that provide services to the NHS.
Your development
Many estates staff join the NHS with qualifications and experience from working and training elsewhere. If you have an interest in practical work and GCSEs in English and maths, there may be opportunities to train in one of the estates services roles. However you join the NHS, you will be encouraged to take further qualifications and progress. You could become a team leader and there may be chances to become a manager.
For more information regarding joining our team, please submit a form through the ‘Contact us’ page or contact the Human Resources team, who are more than happy to help, on 02392 286577 or email hr.inbox@porthosp.nhs.uk.
My story
Robert Burns
Trust Fire Safety Manager
What made you become a Fire Safety Manager? - I spent 35 years as a Firefighter and I was looking for a new challenge.
How did you become a Fire Safety Manager? - I left the Fire Service with additional qualifications in Teaching and Leadership . This gave me some additional tools to do the job.
What do you do on a day to day basis?
- fire risk assessments
- building project oversight
- liaise with project managers
- enforcing authorities and other stake holders
- fire drills
- inspections
- investigations
- audits
- plan Drawing
- reports
What do you enjoy about being a Fire Safety Manager? - Ensuring the Patients & Staff are as safe as possible whilst at the same time maintaining a good level of Fire Compliance.
