Facilities Assistant, Leicester: UK NHS Job with Visa Sponsorship

The Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a Facilities Assistant in Leicester, offering a salary of £25,272 per annum. This full-time position is ideal for diligent individuals seeking a role within a busy hospital environment, and importantly, visa sponsorship is advertised as available for foreign and overseas applicants who require a UK work visa. This opportunity provides a clear pathway for international candidates to gain employment in the UK's National Health Service.

Job Description

As a Facilities Assistant, you will be an integral part of the Facilities Services team, primarily responsible for providing high-standard cleaning services across hospital wards and various departments. Your duties will ensure a hygienic and safe environment for patients and staff within Arnold Lodge, a Medium Secure Forensic Mental Health hospital.

Beyond cleaning, the role also offers flexibility to cover general catering duties, assisting with meal provision to patients. This includes ensuring compliance with Food Hygiene, Health & Safety regulations, and maintaining overall high cleanliness standards. The position is full-time, requiring 37.5 hours per week over 5 days on a 2-week roster, which includes working alternate weekends and bank holidays.

Requirements

• An understanding of cleanliness and good hygiene practices.
• Ability to undertake all mandatory training as required by the site.
• Capable of carrying out instructions as detailed in the job description.
• Good communication skills, with basic numeracy and literacy abilities.
• Ability to work effectively and flexibly, both independently and as part of a team.
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK or be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Benefits

• Work within the esteemed Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, a large and supportive employer.
• Access to various employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) groups.
• Significant investment in colleague health and wellbeing, including in-house occupational health and staff counselling services.
• Opportunity to contribute to a Trust committed to reducing carbon emissions and achieving net-zero.
• Structured 2-week roster for predictable working hours.

How to Prepare

For Nigerian and African immigrants targeting a Facilities Assistant role in the UK, thorough preparation is key. Focus on highlighting any experience in cleaning, catering, or healthcare environments, ensuring your CV reflects UK formatting standards. Emphasize your understanding of food hygiene, health & safety, and infection control, as these are critical for NHS roles. Be ready to discuss your flexibility, teamwork, and ability to work independently.

It's crucial to understand that while this specific job description states the salary is below the Skilled Worker visa threshold, the initial advertisement mentioned sponsorship is available. This discrepancy needs careful attention. Prepare to discuss your right-to-work status and any visa requirements clearly and concisely during the interview, demonstrating your commitment to meeting all UK immigration criteria. Ensure you are prepared for a DBS check, which is mandatory for this role.

• Ensure your CV is polished, concise, and tailored to UK job market expectations, highlighting relevant experience in cleaning or support services.
• Familiarize yourself with basic UK Health & Safety regulations, COSHH, and food safety management systems, as these are essential for the role.
• Prepare for a potential DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service), understanding the costs involved and the benefit of the Update Service.
• Practice articulating your communication skills, ability to follow instructions, and commitment to equality and diversity principles.
• Research the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's values to align your interview responses with their organisational culture.

Visa Sponsorship & Foreigner Eligibility

The initial advertisement indicates that visa / Skilled Worker (Tier 2) sponsorship is available, making this role open to foreign and overseas applicants who need a UK work visa. However, the detailed job description states that the salary for this position is below the minimum required for a Skilled Worker visa, implying the Trust would not be able to sponsor one for this specific role. Applicants are strongly advised to clarify the visa sponsorship eligibility directly with the employer before applying, especially if their ability to work in the UK is contingent on visa sponsorship.