Job summary
As Assistant Catering Manager, you will be part of a team providing a vital service for the NHS. Good food is an important part of patient care, supporting people's nutrition, wellbeing and recovery.
You will help lead the safe, reliable and effective delivery of catering services for patients, staff and visitors, making sure meals are prepared, transported and served safely, to the required quality and at the right time.
Working closely with ward teams, dietitians, clinical colleagues and other Facilities services, you will help make sure every patient receives meals that meet their individual dietary and nutritional requirements. By maintaining high standards of food safety, cleanliness and customer service, you will help provide a positive mealtime experience for people.
You will also supervise and develop staff, plan rotas, monitor performance and help manage budgets, stock and equipment. Using feedback, audits and service information, you will help improve the service so catering teams can continue to support safe, dignified and compassionate patient care. It is a practical and rewarding role where you will make a difference to patients every day.
Main duties of the job
The Assistant Catering Manager is responsible for leading the delivery of safe, high-quality catering services for patients, staff and visitors, ensuring meals meet nutritional, dietary and quality standards while supporting positive patient outcomes. The postholder will manage and develop catering teams, oversee staffing, budgets and resources, maintain compliance with food safety and operational requirements, and work closely with clinical, dietetic and Facilities colleagues to drive service improvement, customer satisfaction and efficient service delivery, while upholding safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety, equality and company values.
About us
NTW Solutions Limited is proud to provide services to the NHS. We keep hospitals clean and patients fed and we keep buildings running and grounds tidy. Our digital teams support the vital systems the NHS relies on, our pharmacy team ensures patients get the medicine they need, and our workforce team recruits people onto the frontline. We transcribe thousands of important medical letters, provide a lease car service to keep people on the move, and ensure suppliers are paid on time.
We are dedicated to being a great inclusive place to work. We provide a wide range of benefits including a good rate of pay and pension and an extensive range of discounts. We care about health and wellbeing and offer a range of support for the people who work here.
We believe everyone has potential and welcome applications from people from a culturally diverse background, those who are LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, anyone who is unemployed or has been out of work for a period of time, or those who have served in our armed forces.
We were set up by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust to provide support services. As a limited company we have built a commercial ethos onto our NHS values and now provide our services to other NHS organisations and beyond.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of safe, high-quality catering services for patients, staff and visitors
- Manage, develop and performance manage catering teams, ensuring excellent customer service, compliance and operational performance
- Ensure compliance with food safety, HACCP, allergen management, health and safety, infection prevention and company policies
- Plan and deploy staffing, resources and budgets to maintain efficient and cost-effective services
- Monitor service quality, customer satisfaction, audits, incidents and complaints, taking action to address issues and drive continuous improvement
- Support menu development, service innovation and the delivery of nutritional, dietary and customer requirements
- Maintain accurate records and work collaboratively with clinical, dietetic and Facilities teams to support patient care, customer experience and organisational objectives
- You may come into contact with patients and need to be conscious of your safety as well as mindful of their needs. In addition, you may be present during difficult situations
- You will have access to information and you will carry out training to understand what steps to take to make sure it is protected and remains confidential
- You will have safeguarding training and work in a way which protects children and adults you come into contact with at work
- You will have regard to health and safety and infection prevention and control and follow the correct procedures for carrying out your tasks at all times
- You will be respectful of other people and work in a way that supports equity, diversity and inclusion
- You will demonstrate our company values of being caring and compassionate, respectful, and honest and transparent in all that you do
- Our job descriptions include the main duties and responsibilities of the role. They are not intended to list every possible task you may carry out.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience working within a catering, food service or hospitality environment
- Experience supervising or leading staff
- Experience maintaining food safety and quality standards
- Experience organising workloads, staffing or operational resources
Desirable
- Experience within healthcare or NHS catering services
- Experience of audits, inspections and quality assurance processes
- Experience of stock control, procurement or budget monitoring
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of food hygiene, HACCP and safe food production practices
- Knowledge of relevant health and safety, COSHH and infection prevention requirements
- Strong communication, leadership and people management skills
- Ability to plan, prioritise and manage competing operational demands
Desirable
- Knowledge of National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink
- Experience leading service improvement initiatives
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant catering qualification and Food Hygiene qualification (or willingness to obtain within six months)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
NTW Solutions Limited
Address
St Nicholas Hospital
Jubilee Road,
Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.ntwsolutions.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Assistant Catering Manager in Gosforth employer: NTW Solutions Limited
NTW Solutions is an exceptional employer dedicated to supporting NHS services while fostering a friendly and inclusive work environment. With flexible working options across multiple locations in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, employees benefit from a strong focus on health and wellbeing, competitive pay, and a commitment to professional growth. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare sector while enjoying a range of employee benefits and a culture that values diversity and potential.
