Band 2 Catering Assistant / Catering Facilities Assistant

Royal Berkshire Nhs Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Reading is seeking a part-time Catering Assistant to support the provision of quality food services. Responsibilities include meal preparation, service, and maintaining cleanliness and safety standards. Ideal candidates will have experience in catering and a leadership spirit to contribute to team success. The position offers flexible working hours, NHS benefits, and a supportive working environment.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Annual leave: 27 days + bank holidays

NHS pension scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrate adequate level of literacy and numeracy skills.
• Experience of working in a food production environment.
• NHS and Facilities experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide high standard of services ensuring efficient operation.
• Maintain good relationships with service users and staff.
• Assist in producing approximately 1600 patient meals daily.

Skills

Team working

Customer service

Food safety knowledge

Education

Adequate level of education

Job description

Overview

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is "Working together to provide outstanding care for our community." Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated 'Good' with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust's overall rating has also improved to 'good'. We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions. We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate. We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live. We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice. We value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, highlight your achievements and strengths and show how they align with the job requirements. AI-generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish your chances of success. Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people, so why not join us? We offer a range of learning and development for all employees, whether clinical or non-clinical.

Responsibilities

• Provide and assist with the provision of the services described to a high standard, ensuring effective operation of the hospital organisation.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with service users, patients, visitors, staff and managers as well as external agencies providing services to the Trust.
• Communicate and act in a positive manner, promoting the organisation by maintaining professional, compassionate and caring standards at all times.
• Maintain a high standard of personal dress/uniform, conduct and deportment in keeping with the nature of your duties, reflecting credit on the department and Trust.
• Attend training courses and development sessions when required, participate in communication and briefing meetings, and contribute to the teams’ and Departments’ objectives.
• Work as part of the catering team producing approximately 1600 patient meals and serving 700 customers in the restaurant per day.
• Provide catering assistant/store porter duties to ensure the smooth, efficient and safe running of the catering function, stores and all its services, including receiving, checking and appropriate storage of all food and catering supplies, and interdepartmental deliveries.
• Adhere to all food safety policies and procedures, maintain accurate records and follow health, safety and quality control measures.
• Assist in maintaining a clean, tidy and safe department while providing customer-focused service, carrying out duties in line with department procedures.
• Be flexible and willing to work across the Facilities Directorate and the Trust as required and appropriate to the grade; ensure the highest level of quality and compliance with SLAs, Trust Procedures, Policies, Guidelines and Health & Safety requirements.
• Undertake the full range of tasks for the role to required standards, frequencies and schedules, and on an ad hoc basis in line with department policies and procedures.
• Communicate information relating to food service requirements to staff, patients and the public verbally and by telephone.
• Notify the supervisor of any discrepancies in receipt and distribution of catering supplies.
• Deliver food to wards as required.
• Undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work (e.g., crockery/cutlery).
• Operate cash till/cashless systems when required, including peak periods, and follow guidelines for cash handling and security.
• In the absence of the manager, organise own day-to-day work tasks effectively.
• Be responsible for dismantling and reassembling kitchen equipment used by chefs.
• Manually and/or mechanically wash up catering utensils, crockery and cutlery.
• Carry out environmental cleaning of floors, work surfaces, fixed equipment, etc., following departmental procedures.
• Serve and portion food with good presentation and maintain concentration during plating (e.g., up to 90 minutes).
• Prepare food including salads, sandwiches, breakfasts, deep fried items, vegetables, and other one or two step cooking processes as directed.
• Ensure safety regulations and safe working practices are followed; report any safety issues to senior colleagues.
• Lifting and storing heavy equipment and deliveries as required.
• Ensure equipment is cleaned and fit for use at the start of each shift.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness within the department, including personal hygiene.
• Maintain daily records including temperature checks, cleaning and wastage sheets.
• Train and support colleagues as appropriate to the post holder’s level of responsibility.
• Demonstrate duties and procedures to new and inexperienced colleagues.
• Report maintenance issues and ensure correct operation of fridges/freezers and pest control measures.
• Provide cover for other roles and tasks within the catering department as needed and in line with service requirements.
• Receive, check, order and store goods; deliver to wards/departments as per schedule; communicate with ward staff and HCAs.
• Stock taking and stock control.
• Moving and handling activities for transporting and storing food and equipment; follow the Trust Safe System of Work (training provided).
• Maintain records; deliver milk and bread/provisions to departments and wards; pick goods for following day’s production.
• Evidence of adequate level of education; demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills; team working; NHS and Facilities experience.

Qualifications

• Evidence of adequate level of education
• Demonstrate adequate level of literacy and numeracy skills
• Team working
• Experience of working in a food (production) environment
• Dealing with complex customer requests
• Has NHS experience
• Has Facilities experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a catering function

Location and eligibility

Reading sits on the River Thames and is well connected by road and rail to London, Oxford and Southampton, with excellent leisure and shopping facilities and a thriving cultural scene. Reading is a wonderful place to live and work, with good schools and family amenities.

Additional information

The CQC recently rated the care provided by The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good. Our values are Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, and Excellent. By applying for this post you agree to transfer of your information within our applicant management system and, if appointed, into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Appointment is conditional on satisfactory NHS Employment Checks. All new appointments are subject to a 6-month probationary period. The Trust may close vacancies earlier due to high response levels. The Trust is smoke-free; smoking is not permitted on any site.

This is a part-time post for 20 hours per week (Monday to Friday 11:00–15:00). Additional shifts/overtime may be available.

Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on work-life balance
• Annual leave: 27 days + bank holidays, rising with service (pro rata for part-time staff)
• NHS pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Money Advice Service
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff
• On-site nursery (at RBH)
• Full educational library services
• Cycle to work scheme, lockable cycle storage
• Bus to work scheme; excellent rail and bus links
• Health Service Discounts