Catering Assistant

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

Job summary

An educational organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Catering Assistant to support daily operations in the Catering Unit. Responsibilities include food preparation, service organization, and maintaining hygiene standards. This role is ideal for those with a passion for providing excellent food service to children and young people. Candidates should demonstrate effective communication and teamwork skills.

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake job-related training.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Participate in daily Catering Unit operations.
• Prepare food and beverages as required.
• Organise and control food service points.
• Maintain cleanliness in kitchen and dining areas.

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, regarding 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 and Regulations, and other legal requirements; and 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 employee's competence.
17. Promoting and adhering to the Values/ethos of the School.

Note: Where part of the school premises are used for dual purposes of food consumption and educational activities, non-catering staff are responsible for cleaning the room. This job description is subject to review and provides guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned.

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 terms and conditions for this post, click here.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

• You must demonstrate on your application how, and to what extent, you meet the required criteria. Failure to do so may result in not being shortlisted.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date.
• The stage at which criteria are measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting is based on the essential criteria in Section 1, using application information.
• The panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants who most meet the criteria.
• In case of many applications, the panel may apply desirable criteria in order, as outlined in Section 3, which should be demonstrated on your application.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are essential criteria measured at shortlisting and possibly during interview:

• Willingness to undertake job-related training.

SECTION 2 - ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Measured during interview, in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model:

• Effective communication skills supporting team working, instruction-taking, and customer engagement.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
• Effective organisational and planning skills; ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Motivation to provide excellent food and customer service for children and young people.

Evidence of how your experience and approach reflect EA’s ethos and values, available here.

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

May be used to shortlist candidates, in order listed:

• Experience of working in a customer service or catering role.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

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

If recommended for appointment involving ‘regulated activity’, an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background will be undertaken. The applicant will bear the cost. Further info at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

To view the guidance notes, click here. To learn about benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer