Occ. Code 3004500
SUPERVISING HOUSEKEEPER, GRADE 11
New York State Department of Civil Service
Classification Standard
NATURE OF WORK
Supervising Housekeepers supervise a staff in the cleaning, care and upkeep of patient care cottages, employee or staff living quarters, patient rooms and wards, and administrative office areas and issue linen and household supplies at a State facility.
Most positions in these classes are found in the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, with some positions existing in the State University of New York and the Department of Health.
CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Supervising Housekeepers are characterized by supervising lower level housekeeping and cleaning positions, usually Housekeepers and Cleaners, performing activities and tasks associated with the cleaning, care, and upkeep of patient and resident staff living quarters, and being responsible for the requisition and distribution of linen and household supplies.
These positions supervise a group of 10 to 30 housekeeping and cleaning employees and are responsible for housekeeping services in a portion of a facility.
Positions of Chief Housekeeper 1 and 2 and Head Housekeeper have overall responsibility for the operation and administration of an institution housekeeping department and are responsible for preparing the annual budget, coordinating personnel, setting institution housekeeping policies, and providing cleanliness standards so that the institution meets the cleanliness and environmental standards set by internal and external control agencies.
Positions responsible for the supervision of custodial and cleaning activities at State office buildings and State University complexes (without live-in patients) are classified as Janitors. These positions differ in their emphasis on custodial tasks, including maintenance and repair work requiring handyman abilities.
TYPICAL ACTIVITIES, TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Supervises a program of systematic cleaning and housekeeping, in accordance with established guidelines, at a State facility.
- Plans and schedules staff assignments and housekeeping services. Based on workload and available manpower, reassigns staff to assure that work is accomplished according to schedule and that staff is fully utilized. Arranges for reassignment of personnel to handle emergency cleaning projects.
- Informs staff at meetings and in memoranda of agency policies, directives and guidelines affecting housekeeping operation and personnel.
- Recommends changes in cleaning and housekeeping methods, equipment, supplies, and standards to ensure a more effective and efficient housekeeping program.
- Oversees the ordering and distribution of cleaning, linen, and household supplies.
- Provides instructions to staff about special procedures to be performed.
- Inspects buildings and assigned areas for compliance with cleaning program. Investigates complaints regarding unsatisfactory cleaning performance and/or missing property and takes corrective action.
- Prepares periodic reports, such as work activity, supply and manpower utilization reports, to advise administrative staff of the status of the housekeeping operation.
- May prepare annual equipment, supply, and personnel budgets for housekeeping operations.
Supervises housekeeping staff in the performance of their duties.
- Trains new employees in cleaning and housekeeping procedures and standards of the facility.
- Evaluates work performance against institution standards by review of production and activity reports and personal observations and takes appropriate remedial action to improve work performance.
- Assures the efficient and effective use of time by the staff by such means as enforcing the attendance rules, resolving disciplinary problems, and meeting established work standards and schedules.
- Recommends retention or termination of probationary employees.
- May interview prospective employees and recommend selection of qualified candidate.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
Incumbents have frequent and continuing working relationships with subordinate staff, including conducting formal and informal meetings, making work assignments, giving advice and instructions, and providing and interpreting guidelines. They prepare periodically routine numerical and short narrative reports about custodial operations in their assigned areas.
Incumbents may prepare written material to request equipment, supplies and staff, and to provide recommendations for new cleaning methods or procedures for review by their supervisor. Incumbents have periodic face-to-face, telephone or written communication with building inhabitants about special housekeeping or related problems as they arise.
NATURE OF SUPERVISION
Incumbents assign staff, provide written and oral instructions for regular and special assignments, and control staff activities by periodic observations, staff meetings, and review of work activity reports. Incumbents are typically supervised by a Chief Housekeeper who sets specific cleanliness standards and institution policies related to housekeeping operations, reviews work activity reports, observes work, and periodically checks the cleanliness of work areas.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
§ Good knowledge of the agencys and institutions housekeeping practices and procedures.
§ Good knowledge of cleaning equipment and effective housekeeping work performance standards.
§ Good knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision.
§ Working knowledge of the properties of various cleaning substances.
§ Working knowledge of household and cleaning supply requisitioning, inventory, and distribution practices and techniques.
§ Basic knowledge of personnel practices related to hiring, evaluating employee performance, and interpreting employee rights and benefits as outlined in labor-management agreements.
§ Ability to supervise a large group of employees.
§ Ability to recognize below standard work performance and take appropriate remedial action.
§ Ability to understand, interpret, and carry out oral and written instructions and directives pertaining to housekeeping operations.
§ Ability to prepare numerical production reports and factual written reports of the units activities.
§ Ability to communicate orally with others to exchange information and to provide guidance about housekeeping operations.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Two years' experience in a housekeeping capacity in a multi unit live-in facility.
Reviewed: 1/04
NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.