“Most people think housekeeping is just cleaning. It is not just cleaning, I like to describe it as an ART’ – Silvia Kirkland Zese www.myheartinhospitality.com

There can be no doubt that the Housekeeping Department and its team have been greatly affected and challenged by the reality of the Covid virus.

The Housekeeping Staff have continued to go about their duties and take on extra responsibilities to help in ensuring the well-being of all on site. Thank you to you all.

In confronting this pandemic, we have seen other colleagues on site having to become more involved with the work of the Housekeeping teams. Simple but essential acts have helped such as decluttering workspaces, cleaning contact points and taking responsibility for cleaning their own keyboards. In some situations, Hospital staff have offered to take on additional hours and work within the Housekeeping team. All these step changes have helped remove any thoughts at underestimating and undervaluing this essential service. There is an increased understanding at how tough and precious this work truly is. It does need to be given the value it really deserves

The impeccable appearance of a Hospital is only achieved by a team effort – the whole team including all those that work in the Hospital i.e. from the Clinical staff to the Administration team and from Estates / Maintenance through to the Support Service personnel.

Why is Housekeeping an art?

Housekeeping is about arrangement, it is about presentation, it is about walking in a room and finding it immaculate and clean from every perspective. Every aspect is considered beyond just the cleanliness. The perfection goes from the hangers being lined up in the wardrobe to the window blinds being aligned to each other and from the towels being placed at the right angle to each piece of equipment being in working order.

The more people enjoy and understand the art of housekeeping, the better product and image the Housekeeping can portray, the greater the benefit will be for the recipient – the patient, the Hospital staff, Consultants and other Hospital visitors.

Housekeeping is honourable and sophisticated work. It is time for us to endorse the work of the Head of Housekeeping and their team in the same way as so many other roles are. Join the CAP Award Programme for Housekeeping to support and acknowledge the work being done by your Housekeeping team HQ@capaward.co.uk