Catering Assistant - Harefield Hospital

Main area Catering Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Part time – 22 hours per week (and one 33, one 24, one 21.5 and two 17.5 Hours Per Week) Job ref 196-ESS1572-Y

Employer Guy\’s and St Thomas\’ NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Harefield Hospital Town Uxbridge Salary £28,720 p.a. inc of Outer London HCA (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 15/07/2025 23:59

Guy’s and St Thomas’ is among the UK’s busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.

Guy’s is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas’ has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions.

Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.

In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.

We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King’s Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with King’s College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities including an MHRA accredited Phase I clinical trials unit.

Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of ‘good’. Our adult community services achieved a rating of ‘outstanding’.

The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.

We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS.

Job overview

We are looking to recruit friendly individuals who will demonstrate a caring and compassionate approach to work, primarily in our private patients’ ward. You will be involved in all aspects of the food and beverage service to patients, undertaking the preparation for the service of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Other areas of work may include the delivery of function food to all areas of the hospital and assisting in retail areas when required. You will have varied responsibilities, and therefore, a positive and cheerful attitude is a must, along with a drive to improve the patient experience.

These are all challenging but rewarding jobs and would be ideally suited to motivated team players. Previous experience within a busy catering environment would be beneficial (but not essential). A Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering is essential.

** This post is based at Harefield Hospital, Hill End Road, UB9 6JH **

Main duties of the job

To deliver a high-quality, efficient catering service on hospital wards, consistently upholding the highest standards of food safety and customer service

To provide meals, beverages, and general catering support to all patients, ensuring service is delivered according to the set menu and scheduled times

To prepare and serve a variety of foods as outlined in the ward menus, following guidelines for portion control, presentation, and accurate service documentation

To support the availability and readiness of all food, beverages, utensils, and necessary items required for mealtime service

To maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards by thoroughly cleaning catering equipment and utensils in line with the cleaning schedule, ensuring a safe and sanitary environment

To present a friendly, professional demeanour to all patients and service users, offering accurate information and guidance on menu options when needed

Working for our organisation

The atmosphere at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is warm, inclusive, and patient-focused. Our staff members work collaboratively across various departments to deliver the highest standard of care, ensuring patients feel valued and supported throughout their journey. The hospital’s environment is one where innovation thrives and where your contributions are appreciated and celebrated. Whether you’re working directly with patients or in a behind-the-scenes role, you’ll find a culture of mutual respect, teamwork, and compassion.

The work ethic at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is driven by a passion for excellence in healthcare. We are committed to maintaining high standards of care, professionalism, and accountability in all aspects of our work.

Working at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust means being part of a prestigious healthcare institution that truly values its staff. With a culture centred on care, respect, and collaboration, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference while enjoying a fulfilling career.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Assist in the preparation of food and beverages for patients, staff, and visitors in accordance with the hospital’s menu and dietary requirements

Serve meals and drinks to patients, ensuring portion control and presentation meet the hospital’s standards

Ensure food is served at the appropriate temperature and on time

Follow the prescribed menu and ensure that meals are provided according to patient preferences and medical instructions

Ensure any substitutions or special requests are accommodated efficiently, communicating any changes or issues to the senior catering staff

Maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene within the kitchen and dining areas by following food safety protocols and the cleaning schedule

Ensure all kitchen and catering utensils, equipment, and surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after use

Follow guidelines for food storage, keeping the kitchen and pantry areas organized and in compliance with health and safety regulations

Provide friendly and efficient service to patients, staff, and visitors, responding to questions about the menu and food offerings

Communicate effectively with patients to ensure their dietary needs and preferences are met

Address any concerns or complaints in a professional and courteous manner, referring issues to senior staff when necessary

Adhere to all health and safety regulations to prevent accidents and injuries within the catering environment

Be familiar with and implement food safety practices in line with legislation and hospital policies

Ensure safe handling and storage of food, preventing contamination and maintaining food quality

Accurately complete required records such as food temperature logs, stock inventories, and cleaning schedules

Report any food safety or hygiene concerns promptly to management

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• GCSE grades A-C in English and Maths
• NVQ – Customer Services Certificate
• NVQ in basic Catering skills

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of working restaurant/cafeteria/ward environment
• Knowledge of Health and Safety, Food Safety rules and regulations
• Previous experience NHS catering services

Skills and Abilities

• Able to maintain set standards for a high level of food services
• Ability to prioritise work and manage the day-to-day service
• Excellent people skills and be a team player

Guy’s and St Thomas’celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.

We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking in to account the individual’s personalcircumstances as well the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Your e-mail address is important to us -We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

Please apply for this post by clicking \”Apply Online Now.\”

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Our dedicated and talented staff make it their mission to provide outstanding care for our patients.

Fake job offers for medical professionals living abroad

The Trust has been made aware of a scam targeting medical professionals living abroad who are being sent fake letters offering a job. These letters contain the Trust’s contact details and are often signed by the Chief People Officer.

These letters are fake.

If you receive an offer of employment, please do not reply to the letter, provide any personal details, or send any money to anyone asking for a fee for the placement/job. If you have lost money or sent personal details you should immediately report it to your local law enforcement and contact your bank.

Please note that the Trust will only advertise job opportunities on our website, NHS jobs, LinkedIn, Indeed or Find a job.

#J-18808-Ljbffr