Housekeeping/Laundry Operative - UPMC Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny

Overview of role

To deliver an efficient and timely laundry service to all internal and external stakeholders, patients and staff while maintaining a quality service through good communication and excellent customer service skills. Overarching purpose of the role is to provide a high-quality service in line with infection control standards and protocols throughout the organisation.

Core Responsibilities

Housekeeping Duties:

• Personal protective equipment must be worn when performing cleaning/disinfecting duties.
• Clean all patient rooms and bathrooms using hospital approved cleaning detergents. Each room requires a new batch of cloths and when cleaning is completed place all cleaning cloths into a clear bag for laundering. Mopheads must be placed in a separate bag for laundering. Discard used gloves into the domestic waste and perform hand hygiene.
• In the case of cleaning/disinfecting a known/suspected infection case discard gloves into clinical waste and perform hand hygiene. Any cleaning cloths or mop heads that were used in a known or suspected infected room need to be placed in an alginate bag and then these have to be placed in the sluice rooms for collection.
• Clean all furniture and fittings.
• High and low level dusting.
• Clean all bathroom areas to include toilet, cistern, toilet brushes and holders, wash hand basin, mirrors, showers, doors and replenish all dispensers.
• Hoover and wash all floors to include corners and edges.
• Clean all offices, day rooms, sluice rooms, store rooms, nurses' stations, linen rooms, staff changing areas, staff rooms, public and staff bathrooms, lifts, receptions, corridors and stairs.
• Ensure that all cleaning equipment is cleaned and stored away after use.
• To work closely with the Housekeeping Supervisor, Facilities Manager, Ward Managers and other staff members as appropriate to ensure that high standards of cleanliness are maintained throughout the organisation.

Housekeeping/Cleaning:

• To clean equipment and associated areas of work in accordance with cleaning schedules using recommended detergents.
• To ensure that the colour coded system is adhered to for cleaning duties-colour coded cleaning cloths.
• To ensure the correct segregation of mop heads and cleaning cloths is adhered to at all times.
• Isolation rooms-when in use or following patient discharge, staff should seek advice from the ward manager or nursing staff regarding cleaning procedures in accordance with infection control policy.
• Blood or body fluid spillages-contact nursing staff regarding safe handling of spillage and in accordance with infection control policy.
• To ensure that all caution signs are in place when carrying out duties and to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.
• To comply with any reasonable request as directed by the Housekeeping Supervisor.
• Willingness to accept extra duties as required.

Specific Laundry Division Core Responsibilities:

• End to end Laundry Management including collection, washing, drying, and distribution back to relevant wards and units; this includes uniforms, scrubs, bed linen and all associated laundry.
• Ensure relevant stock management of laundry and cleaning materials and supplies is managed and maintained.
• Ensure all orders for laundry are managed in a timely and efficient manner. Track and record all orders on laundry database.
• Ensure all equipment and machinery is cleaned and maintained.
• Liaise with external vendors.

Accreditation

• Familiarise themselves with policies, procedures and guidelines directly related to your area.
• Assist in the review of policies, procedures and guidelines under the direction of the Accreditation lead/department manager.

Personnel

• Follow uniform policy reference.

General

• Throughout the course of the working day or week there may be a requirement to work in other areas of the hospital in line with patient requirements as requested by your line manager/deputy or nurse management.
• Staff must produce satisfactory documentary evidence of all training and experience claimed by them, if required to do so by the organisation.
• To respect the organisational values of the Hospital.

Quality & Safety - SafeCulture

• Quality and Safety are rooted in the daily work of all individuals at UPMC. As an employee you are required to actively participate throughout your working day in pursuit of excellence.
• You are required to work in conjunction with your line manager in the planning, monitoring, analysing and improvement of all quality programmes.
• Participate in the development of performance indicators in conjunction with your department manager and the business objectives.
• Initiates, participates in and evaluates audit according to JCI, Hospital policy and Lean requirements under the guidance and supported by an audit lead.

Health & Safety

• UPMC employees are required to ensure that they take reasonable care to protect their own safety, health and welfare and that of any other person who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
• Employees must co-operate with UPMC to ensure safety, health and welfare at work and report anything potentially dangerous at work of which they become aware. Staff are expected to abide by guidelines/policies and all incidents and near misses.
• All employees are required to attend an education session on Fire Health & Safety on an annual basis.

Information Governance

In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients and/or staff. Such records and information are strictly confidential, unless acting on the instructions of an authorised officer. On no account must information concerning staff or patients be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition, records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.

Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications:

• Minimum of Leaving Certificate Level or equivalent

Experience:

• Clean equipment and associated areas of work in accordance with cleaning schedules using recommended detergents.

Job-Specific Competencies and Knowledge:

• Ability to work on own initiative and in a team setting.
• Excellent customer service skills.

Personal Competencies:

• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills.
• The ability to cope well under pressure.
• Time management skills.

Salary: €30,500-€38,796 per annum based on a 39 hour work week

Closing date: 19th March 2026

This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility. As UPMC and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the business.

Equality and Benefits

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At UPMC we provide a total rewards program that is not only market competitive, but fair and provides growth opportunities for all our colleagues.

Benefits - Fully paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents. Competitive Pension Plan, company funded Death in Service Benefit x 3 times. Critical Illness cover for all employees up to the age of 66.

Performance and Recognition - Rewards for performance that supports the goals and mission of UPMC through our annual ACES programme.

Work-Life Balance - Enhanced annual leave up to a maximum of 27 days. Flexible working opportunities to support you to work around external family commitments.

Development and Career Opportunities - Opportunities for each employee to reach their career goals through continued learning and/or advancement.

About UPMC - UPMC is a renowned multinational academic medical centre committed to delivering people-focused care that's close to home. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC shapes the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research and education. UPMC expands its expertise globally, bringing world-class care across continents through its UPMC International division - an owned and operated network of hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Italy, Ireland and Croatia. UPMC International brings new access to the signature specialty services of UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre, UPMC Sports Medicine and others to more people in more places around the world. In Ireland UPMC has provided high-quality healthcare in the South East since 2006. UPMC's operations in Ireland now include UPMC Whitfield Hospital in Waterford, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin, UPMC Kildare Hospital in Clane, and UPMC Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny. Outpatient care is available at the UPMC Carlow Outreach Centre, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre radiotherapy locations in Waterford and Cork, UPMC The 4th Practice in Mallow, and across UPMC Sports Medicine Clinics in Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, Tipperary, Cork, and Mayo. UPMC has also established a nationwide Concussion Network. UPMC's Global Technology Operation Centre is based in Kilkenny.