Maintenance

Maintenance

1

Prevention

We promote the need
for good eye health to
prevent avoidable
sight loss.

Support

Our support services
help people to live
independent lives.

Independence

We provide access to
information,
equipment, training
and social groups.

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in working with KAB.
Our Maintenance role is based within our
Maidstone Sight Centre, with occasional visits to
our Canterbury and Bromley offices. You’ll be
responsible for routine and ad-hoc maintenance
services, including record keeping and repair work
as necessary.

The recruitment pack contains some useful
information about what we do at KAB, together
with a Job Description and Person Specification.
To apply for this role, you will need to fill out our
Application form and Equality Monitoring form.

Once you’ve completed the forms, please send to
April Smith, HR Officer, by email at
recruitment@kab.org.uk, or by post to Kent
Association for the Blind, 72 College Road,
Maidstone, ME15 6SJ.

Completed forms should reach us by 5pm on
23 March 2026. Interviews will be held at
Maidstone Sight Centre (72 College Road,
Maidstone, ME15 6SJ), on 31 March 2026.

Although we would like to be able to write to each
applicant individually to let them know the
outcome of their application, sadly the cost of
doing this is prohibitive. Therefore, if you have not
heard from us within two weeks of the closing
date please assume that on this occasion your
application has been unsuccessful.

Thank you very much for your interest and we
look forward to receiving your completed
application.

Yours sincerely

Vanessa Stanley
Director of Human Resources

Our vision
To improve the lives of people with sight loss in Kent and surrounding areas.

Our mission
To achieve our vision, our key aims focus on prevention, support and
independence.

Our values
Our values will help us to make a difference in our roles; driving the things we do
and say.

Our values will shape:
  The way we behave with people we support, families, our peers, volunteers and

organisations.

  How we plan, make decisions and come up with solutions.
  How we recruit, induct and develop staff.

Caring – We are kind and care about people and our work.

Collaborative – We work better together and are always inclusive.

Creative – We are continuously looking for new and effective
solutions.

Personal – We treat you as individuals, encouraging each and
everyone to reach their potential.

Professional – We are trusted to be the best we can be, working
with honesty and integrity.

Skilled – We are highly experienced, with excellent local knowledge.

Who we are

Our support

KAB is a charity and service provider that has been
working throughout Kent and the surrounding areas
since 1920. Our aim is to improve the quality of life
for sight impaired people of all ages and enable
them to maximise their independence.

We have around 110 staff working from four local
bases, and around 500 volunteers across the
region. The charity has a turnover of c. £2.5 million
p.a., and is overseen by a Board of Trustees.

Our locations
Our Rehabilitation teams are split into four main
contract areas: West Kent, East Kent, Medway and
Bromley. Most of our work with clients is within the
clients’ homes, and some clients visit our Sight
Centres.

There are three Sight Centres, with the addition of
our Iris vehicle, which is a mobile Sight Centre.
Maidstone Sight Centre is also our head office, with
departments such as Finance, HR, Fundraising and
our Guide Communicator service. This centre
services the West Kent and Medway areas. Our
other Sight Centres are in Bromley and Canterbury
(East Kent). Each Centre has a resource room full of
equipment and technology that a client can try.

Additional services we provide
  Transcription services – transcribing documents
into different formats including Braille, large
print and audio.

  Training courses in Visual Impairment

Awareness, Hearing Impairment Awareness,
Deafblind Awareness and Assistive Technology.

  CPD accredited training for professionals in

supporting patients with low vision.

  DBS checking service for companies.

To find out more,
visit www.kab.org.uk
or scan the QR code

Rehabilitation:
assessment of
needs, registering
as sight impaired or
severely sight
impaired, and
providing advice,
training and
guidance

Eye Clinic Liaison
Officers in hospitals

Mobility training

Assistive
technology
guidance and
advice

Social groups.

1-2 Guide
Communicator
support

Children and young
people services

Family activities

Counselling

Befriending

Advice and
guidance at Iris,
our mobile Sight
Centre

Employment Details

Job title:

Maintenance

Responsible to:

Director of HR

Hours of work:

10-14 hours per week (flexible).

Based at:

Maidstone Sight Centre, 72 College Road, Maidstone,
Kent, ME15 6SJ.

You may be requested to travel to our other KAB
Sight Centres from time to time.

Salary:

£14.65 per hour

Pension scheme:

Membership of the pension scheme is available. KAB
will match contributions up to a maximum of 7% of
salary.

Wellbeing programme:

Access to a 24 hour confidential support service.

Holiday details:

21 days per annum, rising to 26 days maximum
based on length of service in addition to bank
holidays. Plus 4 extra days at Christmas. This is to
be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Use of private car:

£0.45 per mile for business mileage.

Expenses:

All approved out of pocket expenses incurred in
undertaking official business will be met.

Maintenance

Job Purpose

To provide an all-round maintenance service to our Sight Centres, predominantly
within Maidstone, including routine and ad-hoc duties.

Job Description

Main Tasks:

  Maintaining records of any work and inspections carried out on the premises e.g.

fire alarm testing.

  Ensuring heating and electrical systems are maintained to a high standard. This
includes gaining quotes from and commissioning suitably qualified contractors,
setting up repair appointments with the trade specific contractor as required.
  Carry out maintenance checks on each of our Sight Centres, scheduling repairs

and maintenance as necessary.

  Respond to maintenance emergencies.
  Be a key holder for KAB Maidstone Sight Centre, following alarm protocols when

locking and unlocking the buildings as required.

  Carry out minor repairs and decoration to Maidstone and Canterbury Sight
Centres, as required including changing light fittings, paintings, repairs to
internal and external fixings, basic plumbing and some basic (permissible)
electrical work. Ensuring adherence to health and safety regulations at all times.
Tasks may involve low level and low risk ladder work.

  Maintain the upkeep of the car parks, surrounding pathways and exterior fabric

of the building, pruning and clearance to ensure unrestricted access; this
includes clearing leaves, snow, ice, and moss, as appropriate including the
treatment of surfaces with salt ensuring the materials are available when
conditions demand.

  Monitor functionality of safety systems (including the weekly fire alarm test)
ensuring all are operating properly, including smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors – keeping associated records up to date.

  Ensure that all electrical equipment is PAT tested and logged, as required.
  Carry out minor repairs to KAB equipment.
  Occasionally drive our Mobile Sight Centre, if required.

  Periodic cleaning of “out of reach” places such as light fittings and signs.
  Transport large items e.g. projector, KAB flags, within health and safety

guidance, between KAB locations, as necessary.

  Make suggestions for improvements to the buildings and sites to the benefit of

KAB and its Service Users.

  Liaise with Finance and the Director of HR for any parts and services required

(including lift servicing).

  Undertake and maintain relevant Risk Assessments at our Maidstone and

Canterbury Sight Centres.

  Keep the Maintenance room in good order, clear of clutter and keep tools and

supplies clean and organised.

  Perform other duties that the Chief Executive of KAB or their authorised deputy

may consider appropriate.

This job description is not exhaustive, but is provided to assist the post-holder to
know what their main duties are. It may be amended from time to time without
change to the levels of responsibility appropriate to the grade of the post and in
discussion with the post-holder.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Be able to demonstrate:
  Experience of basic building repairs and general maintenance and decorating.
  Ability to perform basic plumbing and minor (permissible) electrical works.
  Experience of and proven ability to use infoor and outdoor power tools and

equipment.

  Ability to read technical manuals and drawings.
  Ability to prioritise tasks and effectively organise own workload.
  Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  Ability to regularly manoeuvre bulky items within safety limits.
  Ability to use large and small step ladders in line with health and safety

regulations.

  Understanding of the potential risks to health, safety and welfare encountered in

maintenance work.

  Ability to adapt to change by adopting a flexible and cooperative attitude.
  Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
  Willingness to undertake training as required.
  Ability to use initiative fixing items they observe need repair before they

become a major concern.

  Ability to use basic computer packages i.e. Outlook, Google etc.

Desirable criteria

  Qualified in Portable Appliance Testing.
  Basic electrical knowledge.
  Basic knowledge of central heating systems.

This job description is not exhaustive, but is provided to assist the post holder to
know what the main duties are. It may be amended from time to time without
change to the levels of responsibility appropriate to the grade of the post and in
discussion with the post holder.

The post holder will be expected to adhere to all organisational policies, including
health and safety.

If you have any queries about this role, please get in touch:

 Email:
 Call:

recruitment@kab.org.uk
01622 691357 (option 5)