About the role

Caretaker/Handyperson

Basildon

Salary £25,081 per annum

Permanent

Full-time

Closing Date 2nd February 2026

Join our brand-new children’s homes to help shape and empower brighter futures for our young people.

Are you looking to work in a brand-new children’s home that makes a positive, lasting difference to children’s lives? Are you compassionate, empathetic and resilient? If so, this opportunity could be perfect for you to start your career within a Social Care setting!

We are looking for a full-time Handy person to work across our two brand-new Basildon sites.

Why work with us?

· 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy more

· Generous Local Government Pension Scheme https://www.essexpensionfund.co.uk/

· Essex Rewards – discounts at hundreds of retailers

· Lifeworks Health & Wellbeing Platform

· Up to 2 paid volunteering days (individual) + 2 team volunteering days annually

· Ongoing learning and development to support your career journey

The Opportunity

The handy person will be responsible for the maintenance of equipment and buildings to ensure the safety and security of properties and undertake minor repairs and decorating as appropriate. In addition, this will incorporate gardening duties.

Utilising skills and experience in property maintenance and a knowledge of equipment, will be important elements in undertaking this role effectively.

Accountabilities:

· Carrying out minor repairs, decorating and general property upkeep

· Maintaining safety equipment, security systems and accurate records

· Completing routine vehicle checks when required

· Managing and maintaining gardens and outdoor areas

· Liaising with external contractors

· Supporting with health & safety and occasional collections/deliveries

The Experience You Will Bring

Practical maintenance skills and experience
Knowledge of health & safety procedures
First Aid training
Gardening/horticultural experience with tools and machinery
Experience completing building repairs

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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