Catering Assistant

Education Authority; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

The Education Authority seeks a Catering Assistant to support daily operations in a catering unit. Responsibilities include food preparation, serving meals, and maintaining a hygienic environment. Ideal candidates will demonstrate effective communication and a commitment to excellent customer service, contributing to the satisfaction of pupils and staff.

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake job-related training.
• Experience in customer service or catering role is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Participate in daily operation of the Catering Unit.
• Prepare food and beverages, including snacks.
• Organise and control food service points.
• Maintain cleanliness of kitchen and dining area.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Customer service motivation

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Catering Assistant

REPORTS TO: Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor

RESPONSIBLE TO: Catering Manager through appropriate Area Catering Manager

JOB PURPOSE

To actively participate in the daily operation of the Catering Unit under the direction of the Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor. Team participation is essential to provide an efficient hygienic service, to achieve customer satisfaction, and to promote sales within the unit.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Basic preparation of food and beverages, including the preparation of vegetables and snacks using appropriate equipment.
2. Simple cooking, including the reconstitution of prepared food.
3. Organising and controlling food service points.
4. Transferring and serving meals and snacks including transported meals.
5. Assisting with the promotion of meals to pupils, parents, and principal.
6. Maintaining regular contact with the central kitchen, if applicable, with regard to all aspects of service delivery.
7. Preparing the dining area:
   • Setting out dining room tables, chairs, benches, and serving points as required by the meals service.
   • Setting tables, laying out cutlery, water jugs, etc.
8. Completing general kitchen and dining room duties including washing up, clearing away equipment including tables, chairs, and benches.
9. Cleaning the kitchen/servery, dining room, and equipment including floors and walls.
10. Recording temperatures for control purposes as required.
11. Securing premises as required.
12. Completing duties as delegated in connection with service provision.
13. Carrying out all duties to comply with Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments, Regulations, and other legal requirements; Codes of Practice.
14. Carrying out all duties in the working conditions normally inherent in the particular job.
15. Completing all necessary administration.
16. Carrying out duties for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided such duties are within the competence of the employee.
17. Promoting and adhering to the Values/ethos of the School.

Note: Where part of the school premises are used for the dual purpose of food consumption and educational purposes, non-catering staff are responsible for cleaning the room.

This job description is subject to review and is intended as a guideline within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity, and to pay due regard for equality legislation at all times. To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question how, and to what extent, you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are essential criteria which will be initially measured at the shortlisting stage and may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent, you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Essential Criteria

Method of Assessment

Other

Willingness to undertake job-related training

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

Factor

Skills/Abilities

We look for evidence of:

• Effective communication skills to support team working, taking of instruction, and engagement with customers.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
• Effective organisational and planning skills and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Motivation towards providing excellent food and customer service for our children and young people.

Interview

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.

Interview

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent, you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Desirable Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Experience of working in a customer service or catering role.

Shortlisting by Application Form

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointment to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer