Catering Assistant

Croydon is a busy, exciting and diverse place to work. The borough has one of the youngest populations in London and continues to grow.

Croydon Health Services cares for local people at Croydon University Hospital, Purley Memorial Hospital and in clinics and people’s homes all across the borough.

We are a very close-knit and friendly organisation where everyone of our 3600 members of staff is valued. We strongly believe that our employees are our greatest asset and so through Listening into Action – our way of engaging staff - we empower everyone at any level to initiate and bring about real improvements in our care.

Join us and be a part of the team that is making Croydon proud. #choosecroydon

Job overview

Duties will include, but are not limited to; Cooking & serving patient's meals & serving patient's beverage at ward level, ensuring that all equipment, crockery and cutlery are cleaned to high standards, and food hygiene standards are adhered to at all times. You will also ensure that all temperatures are recorded and maintained.

Main duties of the job

Catering Assistant

The post will close once we receive a sufficient number of applications.

We are looking for candidates that have excellent customer service skills, can work effectively as part of a team and are confident using their own initiative. Within this role you will be serving meals to our patients on the wards, so it is crucial that you have good communication skills accompanied by a friendly and outgoing personality.

Your duties will include, but are not limited to Cooking & serving patient's meals & serving patient's beverage at ward level, ensuring that all equipment, crockery and cutlery are cleaned to high standards, and food hygiene standards are adhered to at all times. You will also ensure that all temperatures are recorded and maintained.

Working various shift patterns including morning and evening rotas 7 days per week
Full training will be given but we require people with good customer service and a caring & professional attitude.

Working for our organisation

We runtwo hospitals, to care for Croydon residents north and south of the borough. Our dedicated community services also cover every corner of the borough, including specialist home treatment for children with cancer and adults with long-term conditions.

Our main campus, Croydon University Hospital, is home to the borough’s only Emergency Department and often receives more ambulances than many major trauma centres. The hospital provides more than 100 specialist services, including 24/7 maternity care.

Our sibling hospital, Purley War Memorial Hospital (PWMH) in south Croydon provides outpatient care and diagnostic services and will soon house one of 50 new surgical hubs across the country.

We also provide health services to some of the most vulnerable in our community, including asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness.

The Trust has one of the most diverse workforce profiles in the capital, with more than half of its staff from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic groups – almost twice the national average – reflecting the diverse communities it cares for. At the same time, we areincreasing ourrole as an anchor intuition at the heart of thelocal community. As the borough’s largest employer, this includes supporting local business through kick-starters and apprenticeships to increase employment, and working with local universities to train the next generation of health and care workers in Croydon.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A detailed job description is attached. This provides the necessary information about the job and its main responsibilities.

Person specification

Experience

• Previous Catering Experience
• Experience of NHS

Qualification

• Knowledge of Food Safety
• Food Safety Training

Your recruitment team
The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:
E: [emailprotected]

Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence
We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style.

References
Please provide a minimum of 3 years’ employment and/or education history , including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.

Closing date
To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

Shortlisting
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.

Safeguarding and DBS Checks
We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may have an application cap, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. Ensure your supporting statement clearly shows how you meet the job specifications.