Laundry Services Staff
Laundry Services staff make sure that NHS and Social Care settings have access to stocks of clean linen, sheets, towels and kitchen items as well as laundered staff uniforms.
As a part of the laundry services staff team, you’ll be working to ensure that all items are cleaned, safe and ready for our patients and staff.
Working life
Working in the Laundry services means that you will take part in a variety of tasks each day to keep your area operating smoothly. You could:
- Move items of linen and staff clothing from working areas and bring them to the laundry area.
- Deliver clean linen and staff uniform to working areas,
- Sort the linen ready for cleaning and washing.
- Pack clean items ready to be delivered back to the correct area.
- Keep records of linen stock and returned or damaged items.
- Issue clean uniforms to staff.
- Follow infection prevention procedures to limit the risk of cross contamination.
Some linen services staff also add logos to linen items and uniforms and repair uniforms.
Some linen services teams are based on acute hospital sites but some may be based in industrial areas offsite and will transport clean and soiled linen to and from NHS and Social Care locations.
Working in linen services could mean that you work in or across:
- Acute hospital settings
- Community hospital settings
- In Social Care
Requirements
Working in the Linen Services team usually does not need specific qualifications. NHS and Social Care employers will expect good literacy and numeracy skills as these are an important part of working in the linen services area. Depending on the role, some employers may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. When applying for a role in the linen services team there may be other skills or qualifications required but this will depend on the role.
Employers will also require you to have some relevant work experience or knowledge of having worked in a similar role previously. If you are considering a role in the linen services team, it is a good idea if you can demonstrate where you have previously worked or volunteered in a similar role or where you have gained customer service experience in a healthcare environment.
Working in Linen Services will provide further opportunities to develop your career through apprenticeships and internal training and there are sometimes other ways to access employment in linen services such as traineeships or internships depending on the Trust you work for.
Personal Characteristics
To work successfully in linen services, you need to consider your own personal characteristics. You would need to have the following attributes or similar:
- Be accurate and methodical and have good attention to detail.
- Be able to work as part of a team but also able to use your own initiative.
- Be able to work with all people from various backgrounds with different experiences.
- Be physically fit.
Skills Required
To work successfully as a Housekeeper, you also need to consider the skills that you have. You would need to demonstrate the following:
- Be well organised and able to plan your time.
- Be aware of health and safety.
- Be able to communicate with a variety of people using different methods.
- Have positive customer service skills.
- Have good attention to detail.
- Be able to work as part of a team.
- To take responsibility for the work you do.
Training and Development Opportunities
When you begin to work in the linen services team, you will receive training you require to be able to undertake the role successfully. You will receive an induction which will introduce you to the department you will be working in, will support you to access the IT systems if required and will ensure you are aware of the policies and procedures you will be required to following in the undertaking of your role. You will also have to complete any statutory and mandatory training that your employer requires such as fire training, data security training and customer service.
As a linen services team member, you will be encouraged to work towards further qualifications such as an apprenticeship qualification to help you progress in your career.
Career Development Opportunities
Once you have experience of working within the linen services team, there are other roles you could progress into. You could become a supervisor or team leader or supervise the work of other colleagues. You could also become a linen services manager or progress into other areas of patient support such as a healthcare assistant if you choose.
Pay and benefits
Linen Services staff usually work around 37.5 hours per week. Depending on the role and the setting you work in, you may be required to work shifts, nights, evenings or weekends.
Linen Services staff in the NHS are paid using the Agenda for Change (AfC) system and will typically start their career on AfC band 2 but with experience, further training and additional qualifications, can progress further up the pay scale.
Linen Services staff working for Social Care settings will be paid according to the employer they work for and the renumeration for the role will be shown on their job advert.
Other benefits of working within the linen services team include access to a pension scheme, health service discounts such as Blue Light Card and 27 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.