Shire & Wold is seeking a capable, practical and warm Housekeeper/Family Assistant to support a private family based approximately 15 minutes outside Solihull.
This is a fixed term position for approximately five months while work is completed on the family’s Cyprus home. The family wishes to be fully transparent about the fixed-term nature of the role from the outset, they are in the middle of renovating a property abroad, although the precise contract length will be confirmed once the remaining schedule of works has been established.
The position is predominantly focused on hands-on housekeeping, household organisation, basic food preparation and care of the family’s two French Bulldogs. The household also includes a three-year-old daughter, so the successful candidate must be warm, patient and comfortable working around a young child.
This is not a traditional nanny position and there are no formal or routine childcare responsibilities. Both parents will generally be present; however, their daughter is sociable and enjoys talking to household staff, showing them her toys and occasionally “helping” with appropriate household activities. The candidate should therefore be happy to engage with her naturally and may occasionally spend time playing with her in the playroom. On rare occasions, short periods of sole-charge supervision may be requested.
An ASAP start is required.
Key responsibilities
- Maintain the family home to a consistently high standard, including cleaning, tidying and general upkeep.
- Manage laundry, ironing, linen and everyday household organisation.
- Keep bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen and shared family spaces clean, organised and well presented.
- Keep household supplies appropriately stocked and advise the family when items need replenishing.
- Assist with grocery shopping, errands and practical household tasks as required.
- Undertake straightforward food preparation using simple recipes supplied by the family.
- Prepare fruit and vegetables for fresh juices.
- Assist with simple family meals, such as placing prepared dishes in the oven or adding ingredients to a slow cooker.
- Keep the kitchen clean, hygienic and organised.
- Feed and provide routine care for the family’s two French Bulldogs.
- Be confident around the dogs, who are friendly but occasionally jumpy.
- Interact warmly and positively with the family’s three-year-old daughter when she wishes to talk, play or become involved in safe household activities.
- Occasionally supervise the child for short periods when agreed with the parents.
- Notice what needs doing, manage priorities independently and communicate clearly with the family.
Candidate profile
- Previous professional housekeeping experience gained within a private household, luxury hotel or another high-standard domestic environment.
- Confident undertaking all aspects of hands-on housekeeping, laundry and household organisation.
- Comfortable with basic cooking and following simple recipes; formal chef experience is not required.
- Warm, patient and naturally comfortable around young children.
- Happy to engage informally with a three-year-old while carrying out household responsibilities.
- Comfortable providing occasional short periods of sole-charge supervision.
- A genuine dog lover who is confident dogs.
- Calm and assured around animals, without being anxious about barking or jumping.
- Proactive, organised and able to work independently without requiring constant direction.
- Flexible and adaptable, with a practical and positive approach.
- Discreet, trustworthy, reliable and respectful of the family’s privacy.
- Already based within a reasonable commuting distance of Solihull and able to travel reliably to the B90 area.
- Legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom.
- Available to begin as soon as possible and commit to a contract of approximately five months.
Working arrangement
- Approximately 30–36 hours per week.
- Hours will be worked during the daytime, between 9:00am and 5:00pm.
- No evening work is required.
- Hours may be worked across five or six days, depending on the successful candidate’s preferred arrangement.
- One working day must fall on either Saturday or Sunday each week.
- The role may suit a parent seeking daytime work around their own school-aged children.
- The final working pattern will be agreed in advance with the family.
Salary: £20 per hour.
REF: S&W#3669991
