Job info	Job info details
Job title	Custodian
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Culture and Events
Business unit	Torre Abbey
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Senior Operations Coordinator
Accountable to (line manager)	Senior Operations Coordinator
Salary grade	E
JE ref	JOT56

1. Key purpose of job

• To support the Senior Operations Coordinator with the day-to-day operation of the House in relation to security, visitor services and health and safety.
• To support the Senior Exhibition & Visitor Experience Coordinator by working with Customer Welcome Assistants in relation to cleaning all areas of the building.
• To assist the Senior Operations Coordinator in supervising and delivering Torre Abbeys conservation and collections care policy.
• To assist with the preparation and set up of the facility for meetings, conferences, events and weddings. 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Visitors and staff will enjoy a safe and secure environment whilst visiting Torre Abbey and will ensure fire, and security systems are in working order.
• Torre Abbey buildings and collections will be maintained in a clean, safe and secure condition appropriate for visitors of all ages and needs; in accordance with Museum Accreditation Standards, specialist advice, and in conjunction with the Strategic Plan for Torre Abbey and the Council’s Forward Plan for routine building maintenance.
• Colleagues and visiting exhibitors will receive appropriate support and assistance during the preparation of displays and exhibitions, and care for the collections.
• Events are supported effectively to ensure their smooth running.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• Deliver excellent customer service every time by modelling our Core Values and Spirit of Place.
• To implement and oversee appropriate safety and security measures.  This will include ensuring that the fire and security alarm systems are working correctly, completing risk assessments and ensuring these are acted upon. 
• To monitor the condition of Torre Abbey House, outbuildings and signage, ensuring that all routine maintenance and minor repairs are promptly rectified including undertaking routine maintenance tasks such as replacing light bulbs, painting etc. all with an understanding of the requirements of working within a historic house and scheduled setting. This will require working at height on a regular basis.
• To report all maintenance problems to the Senior Operations Coordinator and liaise with facilities management, architects, surveyors and contractors where necessary in line with agreed service levels and performance standards.
• To lead and participate in preventative conservation and housekeeping cleaning, with responsibility for planning and managing the routine and deep cleaning programmes; to include environmental control, monitoring and mitigating deterioration.
• Collect and record information during housekeeping cleaning routines to inform our understanding of the house and the collection and preventative conservation and improve how we conserve, interpret and present the property.
• To provide assistance to mount and dismount displays and exhibitions, helping to store and otherwise care for the collections, and helping with education groups, tours and special events.
• To ensure that room set ups and furniture changes are in place in advance of any event, meeting or wedding.
• Work with the Senior Exhibition & Visitor Experience Coordinator to bring the collection to life in new ways, with particular emphasis on celebrating our conservation work in the house.
• Ensure all work is completed within Maintain the Museums Association’s Code of Ethics and best practice in relation to Museum Accreditation Standard.
• You will ensure that you comply with procedures to minimise risk to visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors.
• To strive to be efficient and ensure cost effectiveness in all the work you do. You will ensure housekeeping equipment, tools and materials are properly maintained and stored. You will regularly monitor and communicate housekeeping needs to ensure effective use of resources.
• To ensure that Visitor Welcome Assistants, in liaison with the Senior Operations Coordinator, receive appropriate training relating to correct collections care and handling procedures.
• Be a key holder for Torre Abbey and able to undertake opening up and locking up procedures. Be available on an emergency basis as part of the salvage team.
• Undertake first aid and fire rota duties as required. 
• Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults at all times in liaison with the Safeguarding lead, the Learning and Community Engagement Coordinator.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• The post holder will have no budgetary responsibility. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• This post holder has no supervision or line management responsibilities however they will oversee other members of the team, including where appropriate, assigned volunteers, in conservation tasks.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Working at Torre Abbey and within its grounds.  This may involve some working in an outdoors environment, working at height and within a historic house location. 
• There may be some off-site working. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• There is a requirement to lift and transport valuable paintings and other collection objects.
• Movement of chairs/tables around the building for events, weddings and educational/community focused activities.
• Clearing of waste pipes whilst using the fall arrest system on the main roof.
• Erection and use of tower scaffolding and ladders for installation of pictures/artwork.
• Evacuation of persons in a wheelchair during emergency procedures.
• Movement of large waste containers for collection by contractors.
• Regular heavy physical effort.

8. Specific resources used by the post

• IT Equipment.
• Environmental control readers.
• Full set of Master Keys. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• General public visitors.
• Event Organisers.
• Emergency Services, Contractors in relation to servicing plant or equipment.
• Partner and other museums and organisations.
• South West Museums Development Partnership.
• Commercial organisations.
• Local arts, culture and events organisations.

Internal

• Culture and Events Manager.
• All of Torre Abbey Team.
• Staff of the People Directorate.
• Other Council Departments.
• Council Health and Safety Officer.
• Communications team.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council. 
• This post is office based at Torre Abbey but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Custodian
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Culture and Events
Business unit	Torre Abbey

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Attention to detail and able to work on own initiative with the ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to have proven skills in being able to plan, risk assess and action movement of museum collections.
• Be skilled in working at height with confidence and ability to follow necessary health and safety procedures.
• Hold skills in collection care and preventative conservation in line with best practice.
• Ability to undertake basic maintenance tasks within an historic house setting.
• Ability to undertake and plan housekeeping tasks and within an historic house setting.
• Demonstrate the skill of approaching role and duties in a calm and friendly manner along with displaying a positive attitude.
• Proven people skills, enabling the fostering of good relationships particularly with customers, contracted service providers, and external agencies. With the ability to demonstrate the expected strong customer service ethos.
• Have the ability to work flexible and unsociable hours which are variable to secure a successful completion to the current event.
• Proven skills in numeracy, written and verbal communication skills.
• Possess competent IT skills including – Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Practical skills in mounting exhibitions and displays.
• An ability to give interesting, guided tours and talks.
• Ability to curate collections.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Hold a thorough understanding of historic house management, including the day-to-day care of historic buildings and collections to museum accreditation standards. 
• Possess practical knowledge of fire and security systems and procedures.
• An extensive understanding of health and safety at work (including fire safety and COSHH), both legislative and operational.
• Practical knowledge of conservation and preventative conservation best practice and museum accreditation standards.
• Practical knowledge of housekeeping standards.
• An extensive understanding on how to successfully set up and break down events. With the knowledge of how to follow an Event Management Plan and supervise an ongoing event.
• Demonstrable knowledge of undertaking risk assessments along with continued dynamic risk assessments throughout an event.
• Knowledge and understanding of the volunteering role and how to support them at their best.

Desirable knowledge

• Working knowledge of Torre Abbey.
• Understanding the needs of a cultural attraction.
• Understanding of how to curate a collection. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Relevant experience of working in an historic house or cultural attraction.
• Experience of erecting and using tower scaffolding and ladders, along with the experience of working at height following all health and safety procedures.
• Experience of setting up exhibitions and displays.
• Practical experience in collections care and preventative conservation.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of giving guided tours.
• Experience of emergency and salvage procedures.
• Experience using a collections management system including following correct documentation processes.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to at least GCSE level grade 4 (C) or equivalent in Maths and English.
• Current First Aid Certificate.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• NVQ or higher in Cultural Heritage Management or associated subject.
• Associateship of the Museums Association (AMA).
• ASMA certification in Tower Scaffolding.
• Personal Licence Holder.
• Relevant Health and Safety and Risk Assessment qualifications.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
• Ability to accommodate shift patterns.
• Ability to accommodate on-call working.
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.