Catering Assistant

Education Authority (Northern Ireland); Ballywalter; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Authority (Northern Ireland) is seeking a Catering Assistant to support the daily operation of the school catering unit under supervision. You will help prepare and serve meals, promote healthy dining options and maintain hygienic service standards for pupils and staff.

The role emphasizes effective communication, teamwork and strong organisational skills to meet service deadlines and deliver quality food service in a school environment.

Qualifications

• Effective communication skills to support team working and engagement with customers.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
• Organisational skills and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Motivation towards providing excellent food and customer service for children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the daily operation of the Catering Unit under supervision.
• Assist in preparation and serving of meals and snacks to pupils.
• Promote meals to pupils, parents and staff and maintain service standards.
• Ensure hygienic practices and safe food handling in line with school policies.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Team working

Organisational skills

Customer service

Willingness to train

Job description

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer

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.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which 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.

• Willingness to undertake job related training
• Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will 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.

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values.

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.

• 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 appointed 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

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

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.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines 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 pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.