Handyperson

- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Shotley Children's Home, Suffolk - On-site
- Salary: £26,016 per annum pro rata
- Hours: 14 hours per week, flexible working options available
- Contract: Permanent

We are passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Handyperson, helping to create and maintain a safe, welcoming and homely environment in our newly opened one-bed children’s home in Shotley. It’s an opportunity to make a real and meaningful difference every day. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

Suffolk County Council are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic individual for the role of Handyperson to assist in providing a safe, warm and comfortable environment for our children.

You will join a small, dedicated team providing high-quality care and support to our one-bed children's home in Shotley. The home offers a nurturing, safe, and stable environment for one child or young person aged 11-17, with staffing arrangements typically comprising two staff members on duty to ensure consistent support and positive relationship building.

You will be:

- responsible for the weekly maintenance, decorating, carpentry, statutory Health and Safety checks with the Home
- self-driven, flexible, and emotionally resilient
- able to offer practical solutions to the needs of the home
- familiar and comply with COSHH regulations
- experienced in the provision of decorating, carpentry, basic cleaning, PAT inspections within a social care setting
- experienced in carrying out fire alarm and statutory checks including emergency lighting and water temperature within a social care setting
- able to communicate and interact well with young people
- flexible and responsive, including supporting emergency placements at short notice and quickly creating a safe, nurturing environment for children in times of crisis or uncertainty
- able to empathise and understand the needs of ‘Children in Care’.

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to have a driving licence and access to personal transport. If you feel you can meet these travel requirements through other suitable means, please contact the Hiring Manager before applying to discuss.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile.   If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

This is your chance to join a brand-new team and help shape a children’s home from the very beginning.

Our newly renovated home in Shotley is ready for it's next chapter, and we’re looking for fantastic people to be part of it. From a team of Youth Support Practitioners and Senior Youth Support Practitioners through to the Deputy Manager, Home Manager and Handyperson every member of the team will play an important part in creating a home where children and young people can feel safe, supported and valued.

Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker (pdf) , shaped by the voices of young people.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

For more information

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Beth Fletcher , Residential Service Manager, by calling 07732603793 .

You will be required to attend a Warner Interview for this position as part of the recruitment process.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the   Supporting Statement template (Word) .

- Tell me about a situation where you identified a health and safety risk in a workplace. How did you assess the risk, what action did you take, and how did you ensure compliance with COSHH regulations?
- Tell me about a situation where you had to work closely with care staff or other professionals whilst carrying out maintenance work. How did you ensure your work didn't disrupt their activities and what did you do to support the team?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page .

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at:   [email protected]   or   03456 014412 . You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages .

Closing date:   11.30 pm, 12 November 2026

Interview and Warner Interview date: 18 or 20 November 2026

Please note: If you are successful in securing a position, you will be required to provide a full 10-year employment and activity history as part of our pre-employment checks. This includes details of all employment, periods of education, and any gaps, along with referee contact details for each role where applicable. To help avoid delays in the recruitment and onboarding process, we recommend gathering this information in advance.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.   #LI-Onsite