LIVE IN HOUSEKEEPER
 
Reporting to: PRINCIPALS/SENIOR HOUSEKEEPER/HEAD BUTLER
 
Location: BASED HENLEY ON THAMES with travel to Scotland, Switzerland, France, Australia
 
The Assistant Housekeeper is employed to work alongside the Senior Housekeeper to ensure that the house is constantly well maintained.  The property should be kept in a “prepared” state at all times.  It is essential that the cleaning and general maintenance of the house is kept well under control.  Occasionally preparing a family meal for the Principals/guests may be required.
 
Hours of Work: Hours of work are based upon a 5½ day week (rostered in advance).
 
Two different shift patterns:07.30 until 12:00 and 13.00 until 16.30 or 09.00 until 12:00 and 13.00 until 18.00
Salary: Circa £35k-£40k
Sep cottage with an allowance for bills
Driver essential
 
DUTIES – ALL IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SENIOR HOUSEKEEPER
 
Daily Duties:
 
Daily opening up procedure:

• Unlock front door.
• Switch on (or off) lights as necessary.
• Open and arrange curtains.
• Tidy up anything from the ground floor Reception Rooms and Gun Room.
• Whilst “opening up” check light bulbs and replace if able to.  If not, ask the Caretaker to do so, preferably when the family is not present.
• Preparation of breakfast as required.
• Ensure that all service areas (to include the Kitchen, Laundry Room, Butler’s Pantry and back staircase) are clean and well organised.
• Laundering (to include washing, ironing and repair or alteration) as follows:
• All family laundry when in residence.
• Ladies under garments are to be washed by hand.
• Bed and table linen.
• To take clothes/linen to the dry cleaners when required.
• Items for dry cleaning to be noted in the “Laundry Book”.
• If in use, the humidifiers should be operating when the central heating is turned on. They are to be topped up with water every morning.  The humidifiers should be de-scaled on a regular basis.  When the heating is turned off at the end of the winter, the humidifiers should be cleaned thoroughly and stored.
• The vacuum cleaner should not be used in the house until everyone is awake.

Vacuuming of the carpets daily if required, otherwise twice weekly or as necessary.

• Rugs should be swept and not vacuumed.
• Cleaning of grates, vacuuming and laying the fires in the Reception rooms and bedrooms as required.  Only seasoned wood to be used. Logs can be obtained from the Caretaker.
• Bed linen should be changed every 4-5 days when in residence.

 
 
Daily Duties continued
 

• In conjunction with the Senior Housekeeper/Caretaker, the cleaning of the inside of the interior windows throughout, including their thresholds.  Due to UVA film, only water should be used on certain internal windows – information will be provided.
• Cleaning of all furniture, including but not limited to soft furnishings, antique and other furniture, rugs and carpets (arranging specialist cleaning as advised by Senior Housekeeper/Head Butler etc).
• Closing down procedure:
• Lock doors as necessary.
• Close curtains.
• Leave on certain lights.  Switch off all lights in service areas if you are the last member of staff to leave.
• Switch off unnecessary appliances.

 
General Responsibilities:
 

• Close communication with the Senior Housekeeper/Head Butler regarding any maintenance and repairs required. 
• Any household breakages and damages to items from the Butler’s Pantry should be reported to the Head Butler and recorded in the Damages and Repairs Book.
• Monitor contractors in the house and ensure their work is carried out in a tidy fashion.  Contractors must take their shoes off or wear overshoes.
• Water jugs must be filled each day with bottled water (some may need to be filled twice daily).
• When the Principals are in residence, it is expected that the dog feeding area is left clean.
• Dog walking when required.
• Kitchen/Toilets in Swimming Pool area to be cleaned.  Fridges to be replenished.
• Shower/Steam Room in Spa area to be kept clean and tidy.
• When the family is away, it is necessary to maintain a programme of thorough “Spring cleaning”.
• Keep an eye on the flower arrangements and houseplants.  Ensure that there are no spillages.  Water, deadhead, replace any arrangements, as required.  Houseplants are provided and regularly monitored by the Garden Department.  Members of the Garden Department should only be in the house when the family/guests are not present.
• The Assistant Housekeeper may be asked to help out in the evening when there is a dinner party.
• Security: Report any incident details to Security Operatives on duty.
• If the family is not in residence and the house is left empty for whatever reason it is essential that the house is locked.
• Any other cleaning/maintaining of family/guest areas on the Estate as directed by the Senior Housekeeper.