About the role

Until March 2020, the Folk Hall has operated as a vibrant community centre in the heart of New Earswick.

The centre operates a programme of activity, which has four clear strands:

• Commercial business meetings, private celebrations and events
• A wide range of clubs and societies
• Local voluntary groups
• Internal JRHT and JRF meeting space

The Folk Hall is a multi-use venue and a hub for local community activity.

It is open daily and prior to the coronavirus pandemic had in the region of 140,000 attendees per year at a range of meetings and events or to make use of the Post Office, library or café.

From March 2020, due to the global pandemic, community events stopped, the café and the library shut. The building was closed apart from the Post Office which remained open throughout lockdown.

Now we are re-open, every activity or customer needs a specific approach to ensure the safety of our staff, the building and all our customers. The Folk Hall is a vital community hub which is used by local residents as a place to meet, eat and socialise as well as by businesses, charities, the health service, vulnerable users and social groups who all book rooms for meetings.

The postholder will be fully involved in identifying, managing and resolving the challenges that this will bring over the next twelve months. The purpose of the Facilities Support Assistant is to assist with the smooth running of the Folk Hall and all its activities so that the building is safe and welcoming for members of the public and our staff and complies with all the relevant regulations. The Facilities Support Assistant also undertakes a range of planned preventative maintenance, monitoring tasks and general duties at the Folk Hall as well as minor repairs where required.

The role includes regular early morning, evening and weekend hours, with early shifts starting at 7 am and late shifts ending up to 11pm or later on occasion. All shifts are planned and communicated in advance and on a rolling basis.

We want to make sure that everyone, including our residents and staff, are kept safe and have extensive safety and infection control measures in place, throughout our working environments.

Additionally, it is legislation from 11 November 2021, that everyone who works in a residential or nursing care home or needs to enter a residential care setting to carry out their role, must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Consequently, ensuring this requirement is met forms part of our recruitment and selection process, where applicable.

About you

We are looking for an effective and organised individual who can manage multiple different priorities with a range of stakeholders.

You’ll be used to managing buildings and facilities and have a good working knowledge of health and safety legislation and practices in the workplace.

This is a flexible and challenging role, not least in the current circumstances when the Folk Hall is now in the process of a gradual restart of services and activities, and the postholder will be fully involved in identifying, dealing with and resolving the challenges that this will bring over the next 12 months as we seek to ensure restart is in line with current and emerging coronavirus restrictions and guidance. If you think you can make a difference to our community then we would love to hear from you!

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is an independent social change organisation working to solve UK poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) is a registered housing association and care provider in Yorkshire and the North East. JRF and JRHT are two important influencing organisations with an ambitious agenda for inspiring positive change in the UK in line with our vision of a prosperous and poverty free UK.

Closing date for applications is Sunday 21 November 2021

Interviews will take place at The Folk Hall on Thursday 2 December 2021

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At JRF/JRHT we believe in giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or social economic background. We positively encourage applications from people with experience of living in poverty.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. This means that we are committed to the recruitment, progression and retention of disabled individuals. We shall also offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you have a disability, please tell us if you would like to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.