Casual Housekeeping

**HOUSEKEEPING JOB DESCRIPTION**

**POSITION**: Housekeeping
**DEPARTMENT**: Environmental Services
**REPORTS TO**: Facility Supports Manager

Performs housekeeping and cleaning activities within well established guidelines and assigned areas.

**Qualifications**
- Grade-school education.
- Must be able to read, write, and speak English preferred as to be understood effectively by another individual.
- Ability to follow oral directions.
- Personal cleanliness.
- Pleasant, tactful, courteous.
- Physically healthy and strong enough to perform duties.
- Ability to cooperate with other employees.
- Willingness to perform routine, repetitive tasks on a continuous basis.
- Perform tasks despite frequent interruptions.
- Economical use of supplies, care and use of equipment. Any satisfactory combination of education, training, experience, or abilities in a related field.
- Must be able to accomplish all responsibilities without supervision or other employee assistance after the training period is completed, and do so without injury to oneself or other individuals.

**Responsibilities**
- Follows cleaning schedule (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.,) as outlined for housekeeping department.
- Cleans assigned areas, furnishings, and fixtures according to established housekeeping procedures.
- Cleans floors: Dry mops, wet mops, disinfects where and when necessary. Performs emergency housekeeping where accidents occur.
- Cleans movable and stationary furnishings and fixtures: Dusts, spot cleans or washes, disinfects when necessary, polishes where required. This includes the cleaning of ledges, shelves, vents, etc. Empties, cleans and relines wastebaskets. Straightens or rearranges furniture as directed.
- Inspects furnishings for wear and defects and reports to a supervisor.
- Cleans bathroom (resident, private): Cleans and disinfects all fixtures, floors, and walls as directed. Washes windows and mirrors. Replenishes bathroom supplies.
- Cleans walls, windows, doors, and ceilings: Spot cleans between washings,
- Washes, disinfects when necessary. Walls and ceilings and ceiling fixtures are cleaned as scheduled.
- Cleans entrances and exits: Cleans as directed above for floors and walls.
- Cleans all horizontal surfaces daily or as required, removing dust, dirt, or greasy film, using disinfectants where necessary such as in resident care areas.
- Performs terminal cleaning duties according to established procedure (see nursing procedure manual) in resident rooms when resident has been discharged or transferred, and prepares room for new occupant.
- Performs cleaning duties in isolation units when resident is transferred, according to established procedure (see nursing procedure manual).
- Removes for cleaning and re-hangs curtains, drapes, and dividers.
- Removes waste and disposes of waste and trash.
- Reports observations concerning structural and equipment wear, defects and malfunctioning to supervisor.
- Reports supply and equipment needs to Supervisor for replenishing.
- Maintains equipment used in performing duties.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Job Demands**
- Strenuous physical activity involved (walking, standing, lifting).
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds; stretch arms above head; bend to clean under furniture.
- On feet most of workday.
- Pushes, pulls, lifts, cleaning equipment and supplies.
- May stand on small stepladder to reach high places.
- Exposed irregularly to infection when entering resident rooms.
- Subject to reactions from heavy dust, housekeeping and disinfecting solutions.
- All work areas have good lighting and ventilation.
- Must be on constant alert for possible injuries to patients.
- Exposed to odors.
- Exposed to physical and emotional disabilities of the aged, which may include combative residents.

**General**:

- Maintain knowledge of current Fire and Emergency plan and procedures
- Maintain knowledge of The Birches policies and procedures
- Interacts with staff, residents, families and the public in a polite, respectful, professional manner.
- May be expected to participate on The Birches committees, or specific meetings as required.
- Other duties may be assigned from time-to-time.

**Risk & Safety**:

- In working together, we will practice and promote a culture of safety; while providing comfort, care and compassion for residents and families of The Birches.
- Ensures to "take every reasonable precaution in the circumstances to protect the employee's own health and safety and that of other persons at or near the workplace" ~ NS OHS Act 17.1(a)
- Maintains and promotes health and safety standards and procedures according to The Birches guidelines and resident care standards to a level consistent with recognized provincial standards including ethical guidelines.
- Ensures compliance of all applicable regulatory laws, by-laws, codes, standards, guidelines and acts.
- Promotes a safe and healthy workplace for staff and volunteers
- Promotes a safe and healthy environment for residents a