Facilities Management Services

Overview

The service provides a caretaking and cleaning service to 40 schools across the borough, employing approximately 205 permanent staff and an additional supply of 30 relief staff.

Caretaking and Cleaning provides a safe, efficient and cost effective service that is tailored to your schools needs.

What the service provides

The Caretaking and Cleaning service offers a fully inclusive package for schools covering 52 weeks per year with next shift cover included for sickness.

Site specific work schedule agreed for cleaning to be carried out on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

All machinery provided and maintained.

All caretaking staff trained in safe working practices and including: stripping and re-sealing a range of floor types; carpet shampooing; manual handling working at height; premise hazard management and safeguarding.

All cleaning staff trained in manual handling, safeguarding and relevant cleaning practices.

All staff are provided with uniform ID badges and safety shoes.

In addition, there are optional packages to support your school needs:

• Option one - As above with caretakers and cleaner sickness covered and caretakers holidays covered by relief personnel.
• Option two - Reduced cover. No sickness cover. No holiday cover or both. Every effort will be made to cover sickness cover but priority will be given to option ones.

Benefits to your school

• Fully inclusive service
• Staff managed by experienced personnel
• Staff fully trained
• Machinery and equipment provided and maintained
• Chemicals COSHH (Control of substances hazardous to health) assessed
• Risk Assessments carried out
• Schools inspected for cleaning standards
• Recruitment completed by experienced personnel
• Absence and sickness monitoring carried out

Costs

Charges are calculated based on school specific requirements

Service promise

Partnership with our school clients and growing uptake are the twin objectives for our service. As a result, we have identified the following key principles which we believe are important to you throughout our Service Level Agreement (SLA). These are summarised below:

1. A responsive service partner that will work with you to innovate
2. A consistently high standard of food and service
3. Menus that take into consideration the requirements of your school and pupils and are exciting
4. A high quality of meals with fresh sustainable ingredients, fresh cooking and craft trained chefs, giving parents and the school peace of mind that pupils can take a healthy meal
5. Compliant lunches which satisfy School Food Standards legislation on the governing body's behalf
6. Meals which represent value for money and offer two courses and two accompaniments (bread and salad) for the price of a school meal
7. Making sure each student gets their first choice, enjoys their meal, and tries new food.
8. We will promote healthier options using the principles of the balanced plate

The quality of our meals and beverages is one of the most important aspects of our food service strategy. Our raw materials are always grade "A". We propose:

• Freshly prepared dishes from fresh unprocessed ingredients
• No fish from the Marine Stewardship Council 'fish to avoid' list is served
• Our vegetables, fruit, salad, and potatoes are predominantly fresh, whole and seasonal
• High levels of local procurement of meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables, and salads
• Red Tractor (UK farm assured) chicken, pork, and beef
• Free range eggs
• Our fish fingers are fortified with Omega 3 and our tuna is dolphin friendly
• Our suppliers are vetted, fully traceable and many are local to minimise food miles including fruit, vegetables, and salads from Livesey's, bread from Morris Bakers, cheese from Dewlays, fish and meat from Youngs in Grimsby, YPO and Brakes
• We comply with the DEFRA Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services
• Our meat is of a high standard, for example, our minced beef is steak mince with only 5% fat
• We will comply with Natasha's Law
• We provide Special Diets when requested in advance and in line with Allergen legislation
• Our food does not contain nuts, added salt or saturated fat, artificial additives, or colourings, or mechanically recovered meat

Our purpose is to provide pupils with high quality, healthy and affordable food choices, helping them to perform well in school. Knowing that your school catering service is delivered consistently and compliant with legislation, allows your senior leadership team and your governing body to focus on the core outcomes for your school.

We have now had approval for Parent Portal to be rolled out in three stages across the Primary Schools.

We have worked in partnership with the Public Health team in Bury and all our schools have achieved 'Excellent' in the 'Greater Manchester Healthier Catering Award' and strive for five stars from the Environmental Health Team.

Trusted, honest, responsive

Our constantly evolving professional catering team is focused on you as a client. We have a new Senior Operations Manager with both contractor and local authority experience, two new Area Managers, three new Mobile Support Officers who are Chefs first and foremost which sets us up to succeed as we come of out the pandemic crisis.

Our infrastructure, as a specialist education catering provider, means we have the capacity to deliver what we promise. That promise is great value services to primary and secondary schools, nurseries, special schools, and childcare centres. Due to our growing reputation, the few schools who left, are now asking to return.

Our team will welcome the opportunity to meet with each school to make sure its service continues to be re-aligned to its requirements as we experience the next wave of changes that impact education.

We will also conduct a consultation exercise with students, parents, and the wider community to ensure our service is pertinent.

The detailed specification of service set out in this document is the minimum standard, but with the agreement of your school/academy we will continue to develop and improve service provision in line with our core principles of the best value; providing a flexible and evolving service led by your needs, as our client. We will lead, supervise and monitor the kitchens to ensure we deliver to our promises.

The best for Bury

We pride ourselves in sourcing ingredients of the highest quality, buying British, and local food wherever possible, to support Bury's local community, businesses, and economy. We already incorporate organic produce and will widen our range to promote our journey towards "Food for Life" accreditation.

As your local catering provider we have the ability to provide relief cover that surpasses the capacity of our competitors who often have their Head Office's around the M25. As a not-for-profit provider we ensure that every pound of cost is just that, genuine cost and not profit that flows out of the borough and often, out of the country.

We also pride ourselves that we have social value as part of our service, ensuring that all the staff are paid a Real Living Wage with Union approved staff benefits, as we know they are the parents and grandparents of the students attending your school.

Bury Council has declared a climate emergency, so as part of our service we are working to ensure increased recycling, the phasing out of single use plastics, as well as ensuring that our menus have increased plant-based choices to reduce our carbon footprint. We will endeavour to work with your school to make your kitchen a "green" one.

Always fresh, healthy and good value

Our food service team understand that fresh, attractive and tasty food is fundamental to young people's health and academic achievement. We are committed to ensuring there is plenty of delicious, popular, innovative dishes that are freshly prepared from fresh ingredients daily.

We look forward to continuing our partnership to support the health and well-being of Bury's students and ensure every mealtime is an enjoyable and social occasion.

Food for Life Served Here: We've been awarded!

Would you like to sign your child up for our award-winning school lunches prepared by Bury Catering? Get in touch with your school for more information.

We're excited to let you know that our school lunches are award winning! Bury Catering have been awarded the Bronze Food for Life Served Here Award by the Soil Association. This award, from the UK's leading food and farming charity recognises our dedication to providing students with lunches that reach, and go beyond, the national School Food Standards. In short, sugary snacks and fizzy drinks are out and fresh fruit and vegetables are in.

This prestigious certification from the UK's leading food and farming charity recognises our dedication to providing school meals that are not only delicious, but are good for your children's health, nature and the climate. It cements our commitment to serving food that adheres to the national School Food Standards (nutritional guidelines), making healthy eating easy for your children.

• Meat and eggs are all sourced from the UK, from good animal welfare systems, fish is not endangered, and all our meat and eggs can be traced back to the farm. We only source from farmers who champion animal welfare.
• The ingredients we use are completely free from nasty additives, trans fats and GMOs. As well as all this, our menus are inclusive of cultural and dietary needs
• We understand that every child has unique requirements and it's important to us that everyone is catered for.
• By opting to use seasonal ingredients and cooking food from scratch we are lowering carbon emissions and reducing the negative impact of our food on the environment, meaning that our menus are sustainable.

We know that food is a vital part of education, and understand that fresh, healthy food is what young minds need to grow and develop. That's why our varied menus include a range of options to make healthy eating easier for everyone.

If you're as proud as we are that pupils are fuelled by fresh, healthy and sustainable food, we'd love it if you could help us spread the word. Connect with Food for Life Served Here on Twitter @SAFoodforLife or Facebook Facebook - Food for life and tag us on Facebook Schools Catering Service - Bury Council.

Like to find out more about Food for Life Served Here? Please visit Food for Life.

Overview

The Catering Service prides itself on offering a fully comprehensive school catering package for Schools, Academies and Nurseries within Bury. We look after all aspects of the on-site catering including employing the catering team and maintaining equipment, allowing you to focus on your core activities.

What the service provides

Our foods are carefully sourced through AGMA wide Procurement ensuring costs are low, and only the freshest ingredients are purchased through local suppliers. We offer:

• Menus that meet the tastes and dietary requirements of our customers, including allergies plus cultural/religious requirements for both pupils and adults
• Menus that comply with current School Food Standards (nutrition)
• Experienced Area Team who will supervise, support, guide, monitor and manage kitchens
• Support for emergency situations
• Hospitality/buffet menus for school staff and visitors
• Promotion of service at new intake events, theme days, taster sessions, parent-child meals
• Repair, maintenance and replacement of kitchen equipment and dining room furniture
• Cashless catering systems for High Schools and a parent portal including E-payments for Primary Schools

Benefits to your school

• Fully managed service including HR, Payroll, insurance, absence cover, cleaning, light equipment, uniforms, training, DBS, kitchen management systems, etc.
• DBS checked and suitably trained staff in Food Safety practices and Safeguarding

Costs

Catering SLA charges are indicated on the individual SLA's sent to schools. Charges are based on a cost per meal and an SLA charge. We have endeavoured to keep these as value for money as possible for schools.

Service features

The Waste Management Service will provide waste and recycling collections using a variety of methods and frequency of collection.

Service features include:

• Quality and reliable waste collection service tailored to suit individual needs
• Responsive customer focused approach
• Lockable metal bins
• Friendly, knowledgeable service

Benefits to your school

• Qualified experienced staff
• Compliance with the Council's Health & Safety policy
• Flexible solutions with a range of bin sizes and types available
• Modern and reliable vehicles
• Advice on waste reduction, re-use and recycling

Service standards

The service is a licensed waste carrier, operating a modern, well equipped and maintained fleet of vehicles, manned by trained personnel. Vehicles are equipped with rear view cameras for safety.

Costs

The charges for the service would depend upon the type and number of containers and the frequency of collection.

Additional services

• Bulky waste collections
• Practical advice and support to help schools improve recycling, reduce their carbon footprint and be more sustainable

Customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction (external customer feedback) 98 percent.

We offer a very competitively priced pest control service for a wide range of pests including rodents, insects and birds.

Our service includes advice, monitoring and treatments to help protect your school from health, safety and hygiene risks.

About pest infestation

Recent problems experienced in schools with pest infestations, particularly rat infestations have proved to be very difficult and very costly to control

The three main reasons why pests need to be controlled are that pests:

• pose a range of health hazards
• cause damage to structures and contaminate products
• make urban areas undesirable and inhibit inward investment

Service features

• A minimum of eight visits a year to check boiler houses, internal ducting systems, drainage systems, school kitchens and dining rooms
• Free call-outs and advice
• Additional visits to control any infestations are provided within the contract price (excluding birds)
• Where evidence of rodent activity is found on a routine visit or call out we will visit every two weeks until the problem is under control

Additional services

• Bird and pest proofing
• Provision and maintenance of electronic fly killers in food areas

Benefits to your school

• Compliance with school's obligation to protect health and safety of pupils, staff, visitors and contractors
• Reliable, safe and effective control of pest infestation
• Reduced risk of damage to structures, cables, equipment and water pipes
• Improvements to school environment
• Proves that you are acting with due diligence and proves your Duty of Care

Costs

Subject to the size of school and any additional bespoke requirements.

Service standards

Our officers work to modern treatment standards and undertake written risk assessments for all work carried out on your premises. They are fully trained, insured and hold the Royal Society of Health Certificate in Pest Control.

The quality of work carried out by our officers is regularly monitored.

Service features

The Street Cleansing service can offer advice and support on all matters relating to footway, highway, car park and playground cleansing.

The service can supply:

• Sweeping machines capable of cleaning paths, roads, car parks and playgrounds
• Litter picking teams or individuals to undertake various litter clearance works, fly tipping etc. within school grounds
• Pressure washing service and external deep clean

Benefits to your school

Your school drive and car park are often the first things that visitors are likely to see.

Keeping your drive and car park looking their best can be beneficial to your school's image by removing:

• Grit
• Mud
• Litter and debris
• Fallen leaves
• Weeds
• Algae

Other services include:

• Qualified, experienced staff
• Operating in accordance with the Council's Health & Safety policy
• Public liability insurance

Costs

The charges for work associated with cleansing would normally be based upon an hourly rate pre-determined before commencement of the works.

Service features

Our grounds maintenance team can supply a range of grounds related services that include:

• Grass cutting
• Shrubbery and rose bed maintenance
• Hedge maintenance
• Sports pitch marking
• Chemical weed control

Benefits to your school

• Single point of contact to assist in speedy resolution of any issues concerning the level of service provision and standards
• All staff have up to date DBS certificates and are provided with Council uniforms and identity badges
• Flexible services, with the ability to respond to individual service specifications and ad hoc requests
• Large, well-resourced organisation with the ability to cover most eventualities
• Complete Health & Safety compliance

Service standards

• An effective and responsive complaints procedure
• Fully trained and certified staff
• A range of well maintained vehicles, plant and equipment
• Dedicated grounds maintenance management software
• Calendar of operations to enable monitoring of work carried out

Additional services

Additional or ad hoc work can be arranged to suit your needs and your budget. Services offered include:

Trees 

• Tree surveys and advice
• Tree planting, pruning and maintenance
• Emergency call outs for dangerous or damaged trees

Street furniture

Installation of seats, litter bins and signage.

Rubbish/fly tipping removal

Removal of rubbish.

Costs

The charges for the services will be based on a schedule of rates and the method of payment laid down in the Service Level Agreement.

Service features

The service completes around 11,200 drainage, highway and street lighting jobs a year, and can undertake most aspects of civil engineering.

In addition, we have the skills to carry out construction works and can offer a consultation service on most aspects of civil engineering.

Benefits to your school

• Rapid response
• Safe, fast and effective delivery
• High quality workmanship
• Statute licensed for local authority works
• Friendly, knowledgeable service

Service standards

As the Council's in-house supplier of civil engineering works, we are suitably qualified, experienced and hold statutory regulation regarding highway and street lighting works.

Performance

We maintain:

• 660km of adopted highway and associated assets
• 40,000 gullies
• 22,000 lighting columns and illuminated signs & bollards
• Ancillary drainage systems
• Carry out construction works using in house teams

Additional services

• Pot hole and flagging repairs
• Resurfacing of roads, car parks and playgrounds
• Drainage surveys and repair
• Street lighting replacement and repair
• Electrical maintenance and repair
• Snow clearance and gritting
• Construction consultations

Overview

The Children's Services Asset Management Team provide advice and guidance to schools in respect of land and property, including security, risk management, health and safety and accessibility.

The team will work with other technical and professional services across the Council to ensure seamless support.

What the service provides

• Interpretation of guidelines and procedures specific to school buildings
• Advice and guidance on school security and building related health and safety matters
• Advice and guidance on the interpretation and implementation of the new CDM (Construction Design and Management) regulations for all repair and building works
• Advice on risk assessments, and measures to reduce risk to occupants
• Advice on land and tenancy matters including disposal of land, site occupancy and land use
• Support to schools for the continuing development of the school disability audit and advice on appropriate measures
• Liaison between schools and other Council professional and technical services in relation to premises related matters

Benefits to your school

The Children's Services Asset Management Team provides a single point of contact for school buildings and land related issues.

Where appropriate, the team will directly support the school. In instances where the involvement of other Council professional and technical functions is required, the Team will co-ordinate the response on behalf of the school.

Costs

The cost of the full asset management package is charged per primary or per high school and is included on the price list sent to schools.

Overview

We offer quality advice in all aspects of premises hire including insurance and charging mechanisms focusing on essential safeguarding requirements.

The Lettings Service assist you in maximising and promoting the use of your premises to generate income.

We actively seek to establish sustainable links with the community, supporting children, young people and diverse user groups in Bury.

What the service provides

• Liaison with customers to facilitate hire of premises via a thorough application process
• Issue and or retention of contractual agreements
• Monitoring of lettings via central electronic systems
• Provision of a tailored lettings charge for your school based on actual running costs
• Guidance on current legislation in all aspects of premises hire
• Income projections/reconciliations contributing to realistic budget forecasts for your school
• Prompt raising/monitoring of invoices and reimbursement of income to schools
• Adjustment of invoices and issue of refunds, credits, reminder letters, in line with the Authority outstanding debt procedure
• Upon request, premises details can be made available via the Bury Council website to market and promote your facilities

Benefits to your school

You will benefit from:

• A service that cares about the welfare of children and young people, in line with national safeguarding standards.
• Highly experienced officers offering comprehensive advice, support and guidance on premises hire in adherence with the Governors Handbook 2015
• A tailored approach, recognising each premises strengths and opportunities for diversification to encourage a broad spectrum of community use
• In addition to Schools we have experience of trading with Academies, Libraries, Children's Centres and Youth buildings
• Maximisation and sustainability of income from use of premises (as included within the Schools Financial Value Standard)

Costs

Annual service costs are provided separately directly to schools.

An introductory rate may be negotiable for those new to the service, dependent upon the activity concerned, where you will benefit from the full facilitation of the Lettings Service. Please enquire.

Overview

The Architectural Services Team provide advice, guidance and services relating to property assets.

We provide a variety of services to property related projects and premise management.

We are available for a free initial review relating to any of our services and how they may assist in delivering proposed projects or premises management requirements.

What the service provides

Advice and or guidance and services related to projects:

• Project and or feasibility management
• Asset plans implementation
• Procurement and contracts
• Contractor selection and engagement
• Design and contract administration
• Cost control
• Health and safety compliance, construction, design and management (CDM)
• Contract procedure rules compliance

Advice and or guidance and services related to premise management:

• Legislative and or statutory compliance
• Asbestos and or water hygiene management
• Carbon and or energy monitoring and reporting
• Building energy management systems
• Carbon reduction measures
• Energy conservation fund
• Energy certificates - display energy certificates (DECS) and or energy performance certificate (EPC)
• Electrical and gas testing and or lightening conductors
• Lift maintenance and or automatic door servicing
• Fire alarms and emergency lighting
• Accessibility (Equalities Act)
• Water management

Benefits to your school

• In depth knowledge and familiarity with the needs of the School.
• Flexible services, with the ability to respond to individual customer requirements.
• Experienced/professional staff.
• All services and works delivered in accordance with relevant legislation and contract procedure rules.

Costs

Due to the diversity of services available, costs will be discussed and agreed prior to the commencement of any works and or services.

Initial review will be free of any charge.

Performance

Over 55 Projects valued at £7.7 million and 80 Minor Works schemes to a value of £200,000 commissioned to date 2021/22.

Customer Satisfaction continues to be high.

Customer feedback

• 'Very Clear Brief'
• 'Completed within budget & timescale'
• 'Excellent Service'
• 'Comprehensive Monitoring and Feedback'
• 'Recommended to other schools'

Overview

The Service is an established Total Security Provider over 24 hours and 365 days, with many years experience in protecting public sector buildings, land and personnel, particularly within the education sector.

The Service operates a new 24 hour and 7 days a week multifunctional Emergency Control Room and a mobile security and or community response and patrol service dedicated to protecting the assets of the Council, and clients, in particular schools.

What the service provides

The following provides an indication of the inclusive services:

• Security - Patrols of schools and rapid response to incidents and alarms (including Signage)
• Respond to criminal activity
• Deal with incidents of nuisance or unacceptable behaviour
• Inform clients of relevant Patrol and Response incidents
• Statements and attending court proceedings
• Emergency Control - Deal with telephone/radio communications
• Maintain up-to-date premises and key holder information
• Intruder and fire alarm monitoring (call taking)
• Management Support - Assist with major incidents e.g. fire, crime scenes and substantial damage
• Advice on Intruder & Fire alarm, and security systems to ensure efficient and effective operation and pricing
• Carry out surveys of premises and produce reports & assist with security works and associated contractors
• Include schools in communications relating to crime in the area and advice given on crime prevention.

Benefits to your school

• Permanently staffed 24 hour 365 days a year control centre
• All staff have up to date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificates and SIA (Security Industry Authority) Licences
• Timely and flexible security support and responses for your school
• Reassurance, confidence and quality in service delivery
• Free and impartial guidance and advice
• Value for money. Indeed we should be able to help you save money on existing systems

Service Standards

Our standard and bespoke services allow us to deploy our personnel effectively in relation to needs, crime patterns and individual client/local circumstances. The service maintains a wide range of performance indicators and monitoring systems. Our aim is to provide the best possible service to our clients first time every time.

Performance (2021 to 2022)

• 87 per cent of calls answered within twenty seconds (no answering machines)
• On site response to incidents 75 per cent within 20 minutes, 40 per cent within 10 minutes

Additional Services

The following additional services can be supplied on a fixed price quotation, which will be given on request and based up on your specific requirements:

• Provision of short or long term key holding services. This has become very popular with schools.
• Assistance in managing fixed intruder/fire alarms.
• Installation of temporary intruder alarms and CCTV (closed-circuit television) systems
• Monitoring of alarms and CCTV
• Access Control & Emergency Lighting
• Review and report on recordings from CCTV surveillance
• Dedicated security static guarding e.g. open nights and events
• Other security and crime prevention signage and or equipment
• Wide range of In-house cost saving services to support your Facilities Management

Customer Feedback

"We find this is a most excellent and very reliable service. The officers are extremely supportive, respond quickly and are consistent in their approach. The professional help and support we get from CSS Management e.g. on alarms is invaluable and very reassuring." - Cheryl New, School Business Manager, St Michael's RC Primary School.

"We have been very pleased with the service we receive from the CSS and we know that they are always willing to help and provide assistance with any problems we have re security/alarm issues, even at very short notice. The Officers are quick to attend and are always supportive to all our staff." - Kirstin Middleton, School Business Manager, Bury CE High School.

Costs

The Emergency Response and Resilience Team (formerly Community Safety Service) operates and charges against an annual schedule of standard charges. Individual and indicative charges are provided to clients based on services provided. We aim to please, save you money, be cost effective and don't charge or add any commissions.

Overview

The aim of our highly experienced team is to provide support for schools in the development of emergency management and business continuity planning arrangements.

What the service provides

We provide ongoing support, advice and guidance on a range of emergency planning areas, to include:

• Emergency hazard assessments and emergency planning advice individually tailored to each school's location and particular risks
• Procedures and guidance enabling schools to effectively prepare for and respond to emergencies
• Assistance in populating emergency and resilience plans
• Business continuity plans and guidance to minimise and manage the disruption caused by challenging events such as power cuts, heavy snow, etc
• Provision of an emergency alert system that is operational at all times throughout the year e.g. Severe weather
• Advice on training, exercising and testing of emergency & BC (Bury Council) plans and procedures
• A self complete resilience audit template with bespoke feedback and advice on its return
• A regular update containing news of local, national and international emergency planning issues 

Benefits to your school

The service will assist you to plan for foreseeable events that are outside of your immediate control. The associated benefits include:

• Minimising or avoiding the disruption to services and the financial losses that can arise as a result of emergencies
• Protection of the staff and pupil wellbeing
• Enhancement of reputation and stakeholder confidence

Costs

The cost of this service is based on a fixed rate per primary or high school.

Additional services not covered by this SLA (Service Level Agreement) can be purchased separately. For additional details contact us.

Additional information

The advice we offer is tailored to support schools with the safeguarding elements of Ofsted inspections.