Caretaker - Estate Services

About the Borough

Kingston upon Thames sits in London’s Zone 6 and is well connected by public transport. It is a lively and varied university town with a strong community feel. The area offers a riverside setting, good retail options, a wide choice of restaurants, and a blend of historic and modern town-centre spaces. There are also many parks and cycle routes that link the district’s town centres and make it a pleasant place to live and work.

The Council works closely with residents and vulnerable groups so they can maintain independence while balancing support with independent living.

About the Role

This position reports to the Estate Caretaker Supervisor and focuses on keeping council estates, shared areas, grounds and outside spaces in excellent condition so that residents and visitors experience safe, tidy and welcoming surroundings.

As part of the Estate Services Team, the post supports a broad mix of estate-based work, such as grounds care, inspections, clearing fly-tipping and surplus waste, carrying out minor repairs, responding to emergencies, and helping with cleaning duties when needed.

The successful candidate will drive Council vehicles, including trucks and vans, to remove excess waste and assist with estate improvement work across the borough.

About You

To succeed in this role, you should be able to think critically about working methods and understand the wider corporate and external context. You will need to be flexible and comfortable adapting your approach as priorities change, and be effective in working with stakeholders both inside and outside the Council.

You should show a commitment to ongoing personal and professional growth, bring creative thinking and fresh ideas, and contribute positively to cross-team communication and collaboration. Clear, confident and appropriate communication with colleagues, residents and contractors is essential.

A solid understanding of health and safety in estate services, grounds maintenance and social housing settings is important, along with the ability to travel independently across the borough and work from multiple locations. Experience in grounds maintenance, caretaking, environmental services or estate-related work is also expected.

About Us

The Council is committed to achieving the best outcomes for its communities. To support this, it needs people who can thrive in an agile, connected organisation and contribute to continuous improvement within a constructive working culture.

Service Areas and Duties

• Carrying out grounds maintenance and general environmental upkeep.
• Removing leaves during the autumn season.
• Sweeping roads, pathways, car parks and shared communal spaces.
• Clearing fly-tipping and disposing of excess waste.
• Completing small communal repairs and maintenance tasks.
• Inspecting estates and monitoring health and safety conditions on the grounds.
• Supporting cleaning teams when authorised to do so.
• Taking part in emergency response work and other risk-assessed special duties.
• Escalating defects, repair issues and health and safety concerns to the supervisor.
• Helping maintain high estate standards across all housing sites.

Key Activities

Performance expectations include working with managers and colleagues to define outcomes, set targets and review performance as part of a continual improvement culture. The role also requires supporting operational plans so team resources are used effectively, and delivering caretaking and grounds maintenance services in line with service standards, schedules and performance targets.

In working with customers and partners, the post holder will build productive relationships to help deliver an efficient, outcome-focused service. The role also supports Kingston’s commitment to community cohesion, diversity and social inclusion, while responding professionally to resident, contractor and colleague enquiries and feedback. A positive Council image should be promoted through strong customer service and well-presented estates.

What We Offer

The Council says it values talent and aims to provide a supportive, friendly and collaborative setting where employees can develop their careers and skills. Ideas and suggestions are encouraged, and there is a strong focus on improving ways of working.

Benefits

• Annual leave of 25 to 32 days plus bank holidays, pro-rated for part-time staff where applicable, depending on service and grade.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependants leave.
• Three volunteering days each year in Kingston.
• Hybrid working, where the role allows.
• Flexible and agile working supported by Google Chromebooks.
• Access to a learning and development portal with a wide range of courses.
• Discounts at local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres.
• Interest-free season ticket loans.
• Local Government Pension Scheme membership.
• Bicycle loan options and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Electric vehicle leasing scheme.
• Confidential health and wellbeing support, including counselling.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an online application describing the skills, abilities and experience they would bring to the role. The job profile should be used as a guide when completing the form, and CV details should be checked to ensure they are uploaded correctly in the relevant sections.

The Council says it supports the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace where appropriate, but may reject applications that appear to rely only on AI-generated content without personal input. It is looking for genuine evidence of the applicant’s own skills, motivation and experience, along with a demonstration of its STAR values. Transparency is a core value and will be assessed through the supporting statement and later at interview for candidates who progress.

The closing date should be treated as a guide only, as the vacancy may be closed earlier once enough applications have been received. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

All applications are anonymised as part of the Council’s diversity programme to reduce conscious and unconscious bias. Interview panels are encouraged to be diverse, and the organisation states it is committed to removing barriers and improving workforce diversity.

Additional Information

The Council describes itself as diverse and welcoming, and aims to build a workforce that reflects the community it serves. It welcomes applications from under-represented groups and provides family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums and staff networks.

The Council is also a disability confident employer and guarantees interviews to disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria. As an accredited London Living Wage employer, all employees are paid at least the London Living Wage, regardless of contract length or type.

The UK’s points-based immigration system applies to EU and non-EU workers, including sponsorship rules. Right-to-work guidance is available on the GOV.UK website. Sponsorship may be available in some cases, but it depends on eligibility and budget, and cannot be guaranteed for every role.