Caretaker
Check and repair buildings like schools, community centres and flats so they are safe and clean for people who use them.
Also known as: janitor
About the job
What it's like
You would look after buildings such as schools, community centres and flats. You’d check the buildings and arrange repairs and cleaning so they are safe and well-maintained for the people who use them.
You would:
Supervise cleaning staff
Do day-to-day maintenance and minor repairs
Book contractors to do major repairs
Check that heating, lighting and alarm systems work
Order fuel, cleaning materials, new equipment and furniture
You’d open the building in the morning and lock it at the end of the day or evening.
You’d arrange the chairs and tables for meetings and clear them away afterwards. If rooms are available for hire then you’d take the bookings for them.
When the building is shut you’d check that the doors and windows are locked. You’d try to prevent vandalism or break-ins.
If you work at a school you might also drive the school minibus to take pupils out on educational trips. The pupils may call you the ‘jannie’.
You could also work as a mobile caretaker and be responsible for buildings at several different locations.
You’d need to understand health and safety regulations, and security and hygiene issues.
Hours
You might work up to 37 hours a week, which could include early mornings, evenings and weekends. In many jobs you could work fewer hours but have split shifts, covering early mornings and evenings with time off during the day.
Environment
Some of your work could be physically demanding and involve lifting. You may also need to work at heights, using ladders.
Travel
As a mobile caretaker, you would work from a specially equipped van.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- furniture cleaning
- alarm devices
- fire alarm systems
- facility management
- emergency lighting
- help desk support
- shift work
- network quality of service (qos)
- disinfecting
- lighting systems
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- problem solving
- building relationships
- cooperating
- attention to detail
- developing a plan
- managing resources
- taking initiative
- time management
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Practical Craft Skills
No formal qualifications are required.
Most employers value a good general education.
A driving licence is sometimes an advantage.
It helps if you have skills such as joinery, plumbing or electrical work.
You may need to pass a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Disclosure check for some jobs.
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