Head Housekeeper

Overview

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Under the direct supervision of the Supervisor or designee, the Head Housekeeper selects and supervises employees engaged in housekeeping tasks, plans room furnishings, and makes building inspections.

Responsibilities

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Clean all hospital and medical school areas such as Patient Rooms, Operating Rooms, Emergency Department, Isolation Rooms, Labs, and Offices, etc.
• Supervise employees engaged in general housekeeping tasks in and medical/research institution: select and instruct new housekeeping employees and evaluate their performance
• Plan, inventory and assign furnishings to rooms.
• Issue cleaning supplies and linen to housekeepers: inspect interiors of all institution buildings for cleanliness and state of repair and makes reports on conditions found
• Inventory cleaning supplies and housekeeping equipment
• Attend staff conferences and meetings when they pertain to building maintenance and housekeeping;
• Interview outside salesmen on the purchase of new cleaning equipment and supplies and places orders when necessary
• Assign rooms to new institution employees, maintains occupancy records, approve charges for supplies and checks laundry lists. 
• Exhibit appropriate human relations skills when interacting with patients, visitors, Medical Center employees, coworkers, and supervisors. 
• Has concern for work area, takes initiative to solve problems, is flexible in adapting to various situations, including those of an emergency nature such as floods, fires, major spills, etc. 
• Consistently completes assignments with minimal supervision; is courteous to patients, etc.
• Train, coach, and assist new and established employees on refining proper procedure and area assignments.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma, or equivalent experience
• Extensive knowledge of material, equipment, and methods commonly employed in medical housekeeping and cleaning operations in a hospital. 
• Ability to operate, care for, and make general repairs of electric sweepers, mops, wringers, brushes and other cleaning equipment. 
• Possess appropriate human relations skills when interacting with patients, visitors, and co-workers. 
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions in English. 
• Working knowledge of the type, properties, quality, and uses of cleaning supplies and equipment, and their effect on various types of construction and finishes. 

 SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Under the direct supervision of the Supervisor or designee

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Exercises functional supervision over employees engaged in general housekeeping tasks.

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Considerable walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, lifting up to 50 pounds, physical ability to reach, climb stepladders, possess sufficient vision, hearing, and speech to safely and efficiently perform the required tasks. Possess manual dexterity.