Painter and Decorator at YMCA DownsLink Group

We operate across Brighton, Guildford, East Sussex, and West Sussex, centred around our Foyers in Hove, Eastbourne, Hastings, Guildford, Horsham, Worthing, and Crawley which provide 24‑hour supported housing for young people aged 16–25. We also manage several larger shared houses (typically 4–8 residents) through our Transitional Housing teams, supporting young people on their journey to independence. This role will primarily deal with the sites within Brighton and Hove but the post holder must be prepared to travel to any of our sites from Guildford, Worthing, to Hastings.

A key part of the role involves redecorating empty homes to prepare them for new residents. This work must be completed promptly, to an agreed and consistent standard, and with clear communication to site and maintenance teams to ensure properties can be relet within void target times.

You will also carry out planned redecoration within communal areas of our accommodation, as well as offices and workspaces used by our staff and volunteers.

If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t match every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We know that skills and potential come in many forms, and your background may offer valuable transferable strengths.

Experience and Knowledge

We are looking for someone who brings:

- NVQ 2 or equivalent in painting and decorating, or equivalent work experience
- Practical experience in maintenance, cleaning, or decorating within supported housing, residential, or community‑based settings.
- A proven track record of delivering high‑quality work, with at least two years’ experience undertaking duties similar to those required in this role.
- A strong commitment to safety, quality, and resident wellbeing, ensuring all work is completed to a consistent and professional standard.
- Good knowledge of health and safety requirements relevant to painting, decorating, and maintenance work, including safe working practices and compliance procedures.
- An understanding of professional boundaries, alongside awareness of the challenges faced by vulnerable young people and how these may influence behaviour.
- A proactive and organised approach to managing workload, with the ability to prioritise effectively.
- Strong team‑working skills, with the confidence to both support and appropriately challenge colleagues where needed.