Cleaning Operative

Location: County Durham,DH8 6QY

Contract type: Permanent, Full time

Working Hours: 40 hours per week across 7 days, 7.30am – 4.30pm (rolling 4 week shift pattern)

Salary: £25,466.64 per annum + Excellent Benefits 

The purpose of the Cleaning Operative role at Derwentside IRC is to ensure the centre is maintained to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. You will play a vital part in creating a safe, clean, and well-presented environment across office areas, residential spaces, and outdoor facilities—supporting the daily operations of the centre and contributing to the wellbeing of staff and residents.

As a valued member of our Facilities Team, you will:

• Deliver high-quality cleaning across all areas of the centre
• Use a range of cleaning equipment, tools, and materials safely and effectively
• Adhere to Health & Safety and COSHH regulations
• Report maintenance or equipment issues promptly
• Manage your time efficiently to meet deadlines
• Work independently or as part of a supportive team
• Ensure cleaning reports are completed accurately
• Represent Serco values through your daily work

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, and waxing floors
• Dusting all surfaces and cleaning windows/interior walls
• Emptying bins, disposing of waste, and replacing waste bags
• Replenishing stock and toilet sundries
• Using correct lifting techniques for supplies/equipment
• Cleaning and re-hanging window furnishings
• Ensuring cleaning equipment is kept clean, safe, and functional

What We’re Looking For:

• Self-motivated individuals with good time-management skills
• Great communication skills—both written and verbal
• Experience in cleaning households or large accommodation (preferred but not essential)
• Willingness to work overtime based on business needs
• Ability to lift items up to 9kg
• Commitment to maintaining high cleaning and safety standards

Requirements

• Completion of secondary school education
• Ability to follow instructions and work to tight timescales
• Security clearance at Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) level and Criminal Records Bureau checks (all employment offers depend on passing these)

What we offer

• Salary Band 8
• Pension – 6%
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• A Serco benefits portal offering a wide range of discounts for major high street brands in Retail, Leisure & Hospitality
• A safe and supportive culture
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion

Choose Serco for the opportunity to work with a company that prioritizes the betterment of people's lives and the provision of quality accommodation for those in need.

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone. By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.  At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact j&icareersUK@serco.com. 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on j&icareersUK@serco.com to discuss.