Site Services Officer apprentice at Opossum Federation

London Borough of Waltham Forest

London (E10 6PJ)

Closes in 19 days (Monday 20 April 2026)

Posted on 31 March 2026

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Contents

Summary

The Opossum Federation is seeking a proactive and enthusiastic Site Services Officer Apprentice (Level 2) to join their team across four primary school sites. This is a permanent, all-year-round role requiring a flexible 36-hour week to ensure school premises are secure, clean, and well-maintained.

Wage

£23,857.18 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Facilities services operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.

36 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 21 April 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

The successful candidate will perform minor repairs, supervise cleaning staff, and contribute to a safe learning environment for all pupils.

The Site Services Apprentice will serve as a key member of the Opossum Federation team, working across Dawlish Primary, Newport School, Oakhill Primary, and Thorpe Hall Primary. In this role, you will support the maintenance of the school’s internal and external fabric to ensure a safe and inspiring learning environment for all pupils.

While the role is part of a wider site team, you will operate under the guidance of a Nominated Manager and work alongside experienced Site Services Officers to learn the technical and operational requirements of school facilities management.

As you progress, you will gain the skills necessary to help supervise cleaning services and ensure that all cleansing specifications are strictly adhered to.

Based within the Federation’s site services department, this apprenticeship offers the opportunity to work in a diverse and community-focused educational Page 1 of 6
setting.

You will be an integral part of a team that strives to create happy learning environments and promotes high expectations for every student.

The role requires a flexible approach to working hours, with 36 hours per week scheduled between 7am and 6.30pm to meet the seasonal and operational needs of the different school sites. This multi-site environment provides a broad range of experience, from managing day-to-day school activities to assisting with major school events and lettings.

Your primary responsibilities will centre on developing the technical skills needed to maintain a secure and functional school site. You will receive training to perform security tasks such as:

  • Locking and unlocking buildings
  • Operating alarm systems
  • Conducting regular safety checks
  • Carrying out minor repairs involving general maintenance

Additionally, you will be responsible for ensuring the external environment is clean and safe through activities like gardening and gritting, while also managing the school’s heating and cooling systems.

A significant portion of the role involves digital literacy, as you will be required to log maintenance issues through internal IT systems and monitor professional emails daily.

Day-to-day, you will report directly to your Nominated Manager and work closely with the other Site Services Officers. You will also act as a point of contact for the Head of School and HR Officer, particularly regarding the safeguarding of the site.

Your role involves frequent interaction with internal staff and pupils, as well as external stakeholders including parents, contractors, and facilities providers.

You will be expected to present a positive and professional image at all times, ensuring that all visitors have the correct compliance checks before they are granted entry to the school premises.

Where you'll work

Newport School Newport Road
London
E10 6PJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

CAPITAL CITY COLLEGE GROUP

Training course

Facilities services operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Comply with relevant health, safety and environmental legislation (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974) e.g. logging incidents, posting/distributing health and safety notices, checking fire extinguishers, fire alarms, confirming that checks have been carried out, use of PPE
  • Comply with other relevant legislation e.g. food safety, employment rights and responsibilities, data protection, equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) e.g. permits to work, contractor risk assessments, safe systems of work, site inductions
  • Carry out health and safety checks in accordance with SOPs
  • Report the findings of health and safety checks in accordance with SOPs
  • Identify risks, hazards and threats to people, property and premises in accordance with SOPs
  • Act on the findings of health and safety checks in accordance with SOPs
  • Implement site emergency and evacuation procedures in accordance with SOPs e.g. acting as emergency evacuation marshal, submitting evacuation plans and reports/audits
  • Report on the actions taken in accordance with SOPs
  • Collaborate with other colleagues (e.g. security officers, cleaning operatives, receptionists, engineers and catering staff) in accordance with SOPs
  • Respond to customers’ queries and incidents in accordance with SOPs
  • Take action that is appropriate to the nature of the FM query (e.g. clarifying straightforward contractual/SLA queries, referrals/escalation)
  • Deal with complaints in accordance with SOPs
  • Keep customers informed of developments, issues and delays in accordance with SOPs
  • Apply policies in sustainability and corporate social responsibility in accordance with SOPs
  • Identify areas for improvement in sustainable and corporate social responsibility performance in accordance with SOPs
  • Make practicable suggestions for improvements to corporate social responsibility performance in accordance with SOPs
  • Operate the stock management system in accordance with SOPs e.g. stock checking, replenishment, stock ordering
  • Confirm the correct functioning of equipment used to deliver FM services in accordance with SOPs (e.g. franking machines, reprographics equipment, cleaning equipment, vending machines, catering trolleys, radios, walkie-talkies etc.)
  • Report the findings of premises and equipment inspections in accordance with SOPs
  • Carry out quality assurance checks in accordance with SOP's to ensure that FM services are delivered to the required standard.
  • Deal with feedback or escalate issues beyond their level of authority in accordance with SOP's
  • Collect FM-related information from a variety of sources (e.g. from BMS, helpdesk or in-house systems) in accordance with the task specification
  • Collate FM and health and safety information as specified (e.g. preparing preliminary reports such as energy usage and sustainability, heating systems, lighting systems, security and access systems) in accordance with the task specification
  • Identify and report on opportunities for improvement from information collected in accordance with the task specification using appropriate software applications and communication platforms
  • Provide support to the access management system in accordance with SOPs (e.g. ID checks, key authorization, security marking, security access data, building security alarm systems (access, CCTV etc)
  • Ensure communal areas meet required standards of cleanliness and presentation in accordance with SOPs (e.g. cleanliness checks, keeping the area tidy and free from hazards, maintaining the currency of publicity displays, dealing with post, deliveries and laundry, acting as a traffic marshal, removing rubbish etc)
  • Greet and treat visitors in accordance with SOPs
  • Ensure service areas are maintained in accordance with SOPs for cleanliness and hygiene (e.g food preparation areas, control rooms, compactors and refuse areas)
  • Support others through the provision of reception services, events organisation, hospitality and catering, room set-up and restoration in accordance with SOPs and the task specification
  • Report issues and problems in accordance with SOPs
  • Log jobs and arrange for repairs and engineering maintenance in accordance with SOPs
  • Carry out inspections of premises and facilities to ensure the correct functioning of buildings and plant equipment in accordance with SOPs e.g. access systems, temperature checks, repairs carried out
  • Carry out minor repairs and maintenance or ensure that they have been carried out in accordance with SOPs e.g. changing toner, changing batteries, replenishing stationary, PPM audits
  • Report the correct operation of FM buildings and equipment in accordance with SOPs
  • Keep asset registers up-to-date (checks, reconciliation, record keeping) in accordance with SOPs
  • Complete and keep up-to-date personal development plans
  • Keep FM-related skills up-to-date
  • Keep FM-related knowledge up-to-date
  • Manage customer expectations in accordance with SOPs and organizational expectations
  • Communicate with customers confidently and clearly using communication methods that are appropriate to the situation in accordance with organizational expectations
  • Support the project team constructively and in a way that engenders positive relationships in accordance with organizational expectations
  • Report on the extent that objectives have been met and escalate any issues in accordance with organizational expectations
  • Comply with relevant health, safety and environmental legislation (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974) e.g. logging incidents, posting/distributing health and safety notices, checking fire extinguishers, fire alarms, confirming that checks have been carried out, use of PPE
  • Comply with other relevant legislation e.g. food safety, employment rights and responsibilities, data protection, equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) e.g. permits to work, contractor risk assessments, safe systems of work, site inductions
  • Carry out health and safety checks in accordance with SOPs
  • Report the findings of health and safety checks in accordance with SOPs
  • Identify risks, hazards and threats to people, property and premises in accordance with SOPs
  • Act on the findings of health and safety checks in accordance with SOPs
  • Implement site emergency and evacuation procedures in accordance with SOPs e.g. acting as emergency evacuation marshal, submitting evacuation plans and reports/audits
  • Report on the actions taken in accordance with SOPs
  • Collaborate with other colleagues (e.g. security officers, cleaning operatives, receptionists, engineers and catering staff) in accordance with SOPs
  • Respond to customers’ queries and incidents in accordance with SOPs
  • Take action that is appropriate to the nature of the FM query (e.g. clarifying straightforward contractual/SLA queries, referrals/escalation)
  • Deal with complaints in accordance with SOPs
  • Keep customers informed of developments, issues and delays in accordance with SOPs
  • Apply policies in sustainability and corporate social responsibility in accordance with SOPs
  • Identify areas for improvement in sustainable and corporate social responsibility performance in accordance with SOPs
  • Make practicable suggestions for improvements to corporate social responsibility performance in accordance with SOPs
  • Operate the stock management system in accordance with SOPs e.g. stock checking, replenishment, stock ordering
  • Confirm the correct functioning of equipment used to deliver FM services in accordance with SOPs (e.g. franking machines, reprographics equipment, cleaning equipment, vending machines, catering trolleys, radios, walkie-talkies etc.)
  • Report the findings of premises and equipment inspections in accordance with SOPs
  • Carry out quality assurance checks in accordance with SOP's to ensure that FM services are delivered to the required standard.
  • Deal with feedback or escalate issues beyond their level of authority in accordance with SOP's
  • Collect FM-related information from a variety of sources (e.g. from BMS, helpdesk or in-house systems) in accordance with the task specification
  • Collate FM and health and safety information as specified (e.g. preparing preliminary reports such as energy usage and sustainability, heating systems, lighting systems, security and access systems) in accordance with the task specification
  • Identify and report on opportunities for improvement from information collected in accordance with the task specification using appropriate software applications and communication platforms
  • Provide support to the access management system in accordance with SOPs (e.g. ID checks, key authorization, security marking, security access data, building security alarm systems (access, CCTV etc)
  • Ensure communal areas meet required standards of cleanliness and presentation in accordance with SOPs (e.g. cleanliness checks, keeping the area tidy and free from hazards, maintaining the currency of publicity displays, dealing with post, deliveries and laundry, acting as a traffic marshal, removing rubbish etc)
  • Greet and treat visitors in accordance with SOPs
  • Ensure service areas are maintained in accordance with SOPs for cleanliness and hygiene (e.g food preparation areas, control rooms, compactors and refuse areas)
  • Support others through the provision of reception services, events organisation, hospitality and catering, room set-up and restoration in accordance with SOPs and the task specification
  • Report issues and problems in accordance with SOPs
  • Log jobs and arrange for repairs and engineering maintenance in accordance with SOPs
  • Carry out inspections of premises and facilities to ensure the correct functioning of buildings and plant equipment in accordance with SOPs e.g. access systems, temperature checks, repairs carried out
  • Carry out minor repairs and maintenance or ensure that they have been carried out in accordance with SOPs e.g. changing toner, changing batteries, replenishing stationary, PPM audits
  • Report the correct operation of FM buildings and equipment in accordance with SOPs
  • Keep asset registers up-to-date (checks, reconciliation, record keeping) in accordance with SOPs
  • Complete and keep up-to-date personal development plans
  • Keep FM-related skills up-to-date
  • Keep FM-related knowledge up-to-date
  • Manage customer expectations in accordance with SOPs and organizational expectations
  • Communicate with customers confidently and clearly using communication methods that are appropriate to the situation in accordance with organizational expectations
  • Support the project team constructively and in a way that engenders positive relationships in accordance with organizational expectations
  • Report on the extent that objectives have been met and escalate any issues in accordance with organizational expectations

Training schedule

Facilities Services Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • English (grade 4-9)
  • Maths (grade 4-9)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Problem solving skills

Other requirements

  • Working as a Site Services Apprentice is a physically demanding role that requires you to be active throughout the day
  • You will not be based in an office; instead, you will be on your feet, moving across the school grounds, and performing manual tasks
  • You will require an Enhanced DBS

About this employer

Waltham Forest Council is ambitious and bursting with energy and opportunity. Over the coming year we will build on our incredible year as the Mayor’s first London borough of Culture 2019. Working with our communities to set out what we want Waltham Forest to be by 2030; this relates to the ever-changing world/ climate emergency, and what that means for the services and infrastructure that we provide. We need to make sure that everything we do today supports that vision,

After this apprenticeship

  • Possible permanent role available upon completion

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CAPITAL CITY COLLEGE GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022172.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Monday 20 April 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.