Catering Assistant

Education Authority; Ballymoney; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Authority in Northern Ireland invites applications for a Catering Assistant role within a school setting. You will support daily food preparation, meal service, and dining room duties to ensure a hygienic, efficient service.

You will set tables, assist with serving, monitor temperatures, and help promote healthy meals to pupils, parents and staff. This role requires teamwork and adherence to school values and safety standards, with flexible shifts and on‑the‑job training provided.

Responsibilities

• Basic preparation of food and beverages, including vegetables and snacks, using appropriate equipment.
• Simple cooking, including reconstitution of prepared food.
• Organising and controlling food service points.
• Transferring and serving meals and snacks including transported meals.
• Assisting with promotion of meals to pupils, parents and staff.
• Maintaining contact with central kitchen regarding service delivery.
• Preparing the dining area: setting tables, chairs, benches and serving points.
• Setting tables and laying out cutlery, water jugs, etc.
• Completing general kitchen and dining room duties including washing up and clearing away equipment.
• Cleaning the kitchen/servery, dining room and equipment including floors and walls.
• Recording temperatures for control purposes.
• Securing premises as required.
• Completing duties as delegated in relation to service provision.
• Carrying out duties to comply with Acts, Regulations and Codes of Practice.
• Carrying out duties in line with the working conditions of the job.
• Completing necessary administration.
• Carrying out duties for jobs up to the same grade within competence.
• Promoting and adhering to the Values/ethos of the School.

Job description

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:
   • (a) Setting out dining room tables, chairs, benches and serving points as required by the meals service.
   • (b) Setting tables, laying out of 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. Carry out all duties to comply with:
    • (a) Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements;
    • (b) Codes of Practice
14. Carry out all duties in the working conditions normally inherent in the particular job.
15. Complete all necessary administration.
16. Carry out duties for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided such duties are within the competence of the employee.
17. Promote and adhere to the Values/ethos of the School.

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