A lovely high-net-worth family are looking to appoint an experienced Housekeeper/Cook and Groundsman/Gardener Couple for their secondary home in rural Dorset. The family are in residence for about two months over the summer and will also visit periodically throughout the year, as well as having friends and family stay at the property, so they are looking to appoint a reliable and professional Domestic Couple to maintain the upkeep of their newly refurbished home year-round.

The Housekeeper/Cook will have excellent housekeeping knowledge and know how to care for surfaces and fabrics with fine finishes, taking responsibility for the daily and deep cleaning of this informal family home, ensuring that is maintained to a high standard and always ready for guest arrival. When the family are in residence, you will be responsible for all general housekeeping to include making beds, cleaning bathrooms, cleaning and tidying living areas, as well as laundry care and ironing. Down-to-earth and sociable, the family enjoy entertaining and hosting friends and family, so they are also looking for someone who is happy to cook and to assist with meal preparation.

The Groundsman/Gardener will ensure that all DIY and maintenance tasks are taken care of, and ensure that exterior walkways, the driveway and outside entertainment spaces are always well maintained. Further duties will include maintaining garden beds/borders, maintaining manicured lawns, topiary and hedges, and maintaining any gardening equipment. The Groundsman/Gardener will also undertake ad-hoc errand running and driving duties, so should be a confident driver with a full, clean UK driving license.

As a Couple, you will also be responsible for grocery shopping, liaising with tradesmen and suppliers, and ad-hoc babysitting for the two young teenagers. The ideal Couple will be well-presented, personable and friendly with positive, can-do attitudes, as well as emotionally intuitive and boundaried, with previous experience working in high-net-worth households.

Generally working from Monday to Friday when the house is not occupied, greater flexibility will be required when the family are in residence to work longer hours and days over the weekend, depending on their plans. Separate, self-contained accommodation will be provided for the Couple close to the property.

DUTIES TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
• High standard of cleaning, knowledge of how to care for fine furniture and high-end finishes
• Laundry and ironing, including delicates care
• Packing and unpacking for the family before/after travelling
• Making beds and changing bed linen; cleaning and sanitising bathrooms; general cleaning, tidying and organisation of all areas of the home
• Shopping for groceries and cleaning supplies
• Assisting with food prep and cooking for the family and their guests when they are in residence
• DIY tasks in and around the house; maintenance of gardening equipment and tools
• Keeping walkways/driveway and exterior spaces clean, neat, and tidy
• Gardening and grounds maintenance, including lawn mowing, pruning, trimming bushes and shrubs, managing irrigation etc.
• Liaising with contractors and suppliers, overseeing any works carried out at the property
• Errand running and driving for the family

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
• Prior similar experience in a HNW private estate or household
• Confident and organised cook
• Gardening experience and know-how
• A good level of spoken English
• Hardworking, reliable, and trustworthy
• Pleasant, personable, and bubbly
• Discreet, boundaried and professional
• Self-motivated, organised and able to work independently
• Confident driver(s)
• Excellent checkable references

If this sounds of interest and you meet the essential criteria, please apply within, or get in touch to find out more.