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Caretaker

Caretakers keep places, such as schools, apartment blocks and public buildings, clean, safe and in good order. They may also look after the surrounding grounds.

Tasks & duties

Caretakers may do some or all of the following:

clean, maintain and prepare buildings and their grounds for use
look after boilers or furnaces used for central heating
replace light bulbs and fuses
collect rubbish, recycling and lost property
deal with any damage to property caused by vandals such as graffiti
make minor repairs to buildings and furnishings such as fixing window catches
report major problems such as electrical faults
assist the public with directions, lost property or emergencies
lock doors and check security
supervise contractors

Specialisations

In larger buildings, such as colleges or universities, work may be divided between caretakers. Therefore some may be responsible solely for grounds and gardens maintenance, building maintenance or furniture repairs.

Skills & knowledge

Caretakers need to have:

some mechanical aptitude
knowledge of the rules and regulations of the building or grounds they are looking after
a range of practical skills, including basic repair methods
knowledge of the materials used for different repairs
knowledge of fire safety regulations and emergency procedures
understanding of alarms and security systems
skill using and caring for their equipment
basic first aid skills
organisational and problem-solving skills
record keeping and basic report writing skills

Caretakers may also need to know about swimming pool maintenance. Those involved in larger facilities management need to have some administrative and basic computer skills.

Entry requirements

There are no specific requirements to become a caretaker, but trade skills such as workshop technology may be useful.

Training on the job

Skills are gained on the job. Fire-fighting and first aid training are done on the job if not completed before employment, and caretakers can complete a National Certificate in Cleaning and Caretaking through the Building Service Contractors ITO. Training in turf management is also available through the NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation.