Catering Assistant

The ideal candidate will have a “can do attitude”, be flexible, a team player with experience working in a busy kitchen environment. Good customer care skills and experience of working in a kitchen/coffee shop/restaurant are required. Hours are 5/7 working between shifts of 7:00‑8:00 pm, with weekends and bank holidays if required.

Main duties of the job:

• Provide a customer focused service.
• Organise, deliver, develop and improve the catering service throughout the Trust.
• Ensure efficient management of all catering services.
• Ensure compliance with all legislation relating to risk management, security and food safety.
• Prepare food items and serve meals to patients and other functions.
• Assist with cooking and regeneration of food as appropriate.
• Clean structures, equipment and meal service components as instructed.
• Store keeping including checking deliveries, storage and stock rotation.
• Operate without direct guidance of a team leader at times.
• Ensure a secure working environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• Promote and maintain point of sale, e.g., counter and vending machines.
• Undertake all aspects of the cash handling process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Maintain all operational procedures.
• Enforce compliance with Waste Management Policy.
• Comply with Hygiene and Food Safety legislation.
• Ensure compliance with Facilities Management standards and HACCP.
• Deliver services effectively to service users and customers.
• Improve all aspects of the service.
• Participate in staff involvement groups for the Trust Quality Strategy.
• Observe legal requirements and ensure safe use of all equipment.
• Record hygiene monitoring for every process.
• Maintain compliance with national cleanliness standards.

Teaching & Training Responsibilities:

• Attend training courses and participate in annual refresher sessions in accordance with personal development reviews.

Line Management / Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance and a knowledge base for new and existing staff.

Financial Responsibilities:

• Ensure economical use of all Trust resources.
• Maintain and monitor stock levels.
• Distribute and maintain economic use of chemicals and products.
• Monitor and record food wastage.

Person specification:

• Food Safety Level 2.
• Basic numeracy.
• Basic computer skills.
• ECDL or equivalent.
• HACCP training.
• NHS experience.

Skills:

• Customer care skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Provision of a patient/customer-focused service.
• Principles of risk management.
• Communication.
• Ability to instruct other staff or students.
• Cash handling abilities / use of cash registers.

Other:

• Physically demanding role.
• Pushing and pulling trolleys/cages.
• Varied deadlines and ad-hoc pressures.
• Dealing with staff/customer issues.
• Exposure to temperature variations.
• Professional and hygiene awareness/appearance.
• Varied shifts.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form. We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.