Relief Catering Assistant | Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Rochdale

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to work in our busy Catering Department at Rochdale Infirmary and associated sites. The role will primarily involve working between retail and patient catering, including the regeneration of frozen meals and preparation of simple foods such as breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads.

This position involves working directly with patients, some of whom may be compromised, on a one-to-one basis, and being fully conversant with the nutritional state of all patients. You will advise patients on the various nutritional/dietary options available depending on their needs. It is essential to ensure that patients receive their food and drinks in an environment that has been adequately prepared for mealtimes.

Please note that this role will include working on Bank Holidays, evenings, or weekends.

• Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness in line with Catering Food Standards Policy and legislation.
• Clean premises and equipment per departmental hygiene policy and HACCP regulations, ensuring a safe and tidy workplace under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Operate and clean automatic dishwashers.
• Prepare, plate, and distribute patient meals, accurately probe and record food temperatures per HACCP procedures.
• Collect patients’ daily food requirements and deliver food to wards, ensuring correct storage, rotation, and stock levels.
• Handle cash transactions following Trust policies.
• Complete all relevant documentation accurately.
• Work independently and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues to meet service standards.
• Provide cover during absences and work scheduled shifts.
• Maintain good working relationships across departments and wards.
• Be flexible to work in any section or location as required and act up to higher grades when necessary.
• Adapt to new regulations and uphold all hygiene and safety standards consistently.

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust, we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we’re always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate, and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us, you can also access a competitive benefits package, including a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities, and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Salary: £25,272 pro rata, per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Part-time

Location: Rochdale, OL12 0NB

Posting date: 5 Aug 2026

Closing date: 4 Sept 2026

This advert closes on Wednesday 19 Aug 2026.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.

About Disability Confident: Disability Confident is a government scheme that encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.