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Facilities management is a multifaceted function that requires a broad range of skills and knowledge
 Facilities managers have a core role to play in education establishments. They free up a school’s time to get on with its core operations by taking control of a mix of essential, non-core services.
Facilities managers increasingly require more skill and knowledge in a broad range of areas. As well as the need to cut costs, comply with health and safety legislations, and keep people and estates secure, facilities managers now must also proactively manage the school’s impact on the environment. Facilties management also needs to meet the short term needs of the teachers and pupils, such as temperature control and lighting, so that pupils have the best possible environment to learn in.
Recognising the vital, multifaceted role that facilities managers now have, the sector is now flourishing and provides identifiable and meaningful career options for facilities management professionals.
Security
Most educational establishments contain high value goods such as computers and IT equipment on-site, which are extremely attractive to thieves. Facilities managers have a major role to play in keeping schools secure from threats such as theft but more crucially, from threats against staff and pupils. Together with security managers and IT managers, facilities management professionals must ensure that security measures are adequately considered and correctly implemented to protect the school from attacks. This means they need a much greater awareness of security issues and legislation, and to be involved in the delivery of all types of security across an organisation. In addition, roles need to be clearly defined when it comes to security. Facilities managers, security managers and even IT managers need to jointly agree the security provision, whichever department it falls under.
But it’s not just physical or virtual attacks that could stop the day-to-day operation of a school. There is also the possibility of an infection spreading which could result in schools closing. As we have seen in the last few months with the swine flu pandemic, schools are excellent breeding grounds for infections due to the sheer amount of people they occupy and the amount of close contact children have with each other.
A rigorous cleaning regimen should be implemented, including the disinfecting of surfaces that are continuously touched throughout the day, such as door handles. Facilities managers could also put up posters reminding adults and children alike the importance of washing hands to prevent the spread of infection. Regular and strategic disinfecting will be essential for protecting the health of staff and ensuring business continuity.
With facilities management incorporating so many areas, it is no surprise that outsourcing certain functions has grown in popularity. Outsourcing can help organisations keep costs down and also addresses other problems such as having a lack of in-house resources or a lack of in-house expertise. The facilities manager, however, would have to manage such contracts, and may even be responsible for the procurement of such contracts.
Skills for facilities management
We’ve seen that facilities management is a multifaceted function that requires a broad range of skills and knowledge. But how can FM professionals develop their skills?
One way could be through Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for facilities management, housing, property, planning, cleaning and parking.
It is a government licensed, UK-wide organisation set up to improve the skills of people working in these industries to boost productivity and competitiveness.
Its work is steered by employers, both large and small, who inform what type of training and vocational qualifications are needed to meet current and future skills requirements.
In facilities management, Asset Skills works to raise the industry’s profile, promote careers and develop new occupational standards and qualifications, particularly at entry level. It also works with higher and further education providers to raise awareness of FM and ensure the range of new training is available on the market.
Other projects in FM include the Public Service Skills Framework (PSSF), a new programme that trains public sector support staff in customer service and other key skills. The scheme is for employees such as local authority cleaners, school caretakers or hospital porters. Asset Skills would like to hear from public sector employers interested in the PSSF.
For more information
Web: www.assetskills.org |
