Custodians are those who are in charge of the upkeep and care of animals, buildings, or people. While the term can be applied to a wide range of professional duties and positions, it is most commonly used to describe people who clean and maintain public buildings such as schools, apartment buildings, and office buildings. The custodian’s job is essentially that of a janitor with a few extra responsibilities when used in this way.
A successful candidate for custodial care must typically possess a variety of skills. Minor repairs, such as unclogging water pipes, replacing light fixtures, and installing carpeting, are frequently handled by building custodians. A custodian is also likely to supervise or perform general cleaning in the building’s common areas in addition to these types of maintenance jobs. Cleaning restrooms, washing windows, and keeping heating and cooling systems operational are all tasks that the custodian is likely to perform in schools and office buildings.
A high school diploma may not be required for employment as a custodial care employee. Custodian jobs in small apartment buildings, for example, may be less concerned with formal education and more concerned with proficiency in dealing with plumbing issues and maintaining the basic services provided to tenants in good working order. The lack of formal training and education may be overlooked entirely if the candidate can demonstrate the ability to handle minor issues and keep tenants happy.
Other types of custodial careers will necessitate a high school diploma and possibly more. Training from a technical school in disciplines such as wiring, plumbing, and general building maintenance is often very desirable in hospitals, schools, and office buildings. A school custodian must also usually pass a background check to ensure that no criminal activity involving child abuse has occurred.
Custodians may be assigned additional responsibilities in addition to building maintenance. An animal custodial care professional is responsible for ensuring that animals in a zoo or other facility are properly cared for. This may entail supervising tasks such as feeding, maintaining a healthy environment for each animal, and safeguarding the animal from harm.
When other humans are unable to care for themselves, custodians are sometimes appointed to oversee their care and well-being. The custodian will be responsible for arranging and providing ongoing health care, managing the individual’s financial affairs, and managing the individual’s needs in general. Depending on the circumstances, custodians of this type may be appointed by a court or hired by a client for a short or long period of time.