Catering Assistant

Transformationunitgm; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Catering Assistant to ensure the smooth operation of catering services within the NHS framework. The role involves food preparation, service to patients and staff, and maintaining hygiene standards, ideal for someone with a background in catering. Successful candidates will show flexibility and commitment to service excellence in a busy healthcare environment.

Qualifications

• Previous catering experience including basic food handling and preparation.
• Experience of working in a customer-facing role.
• Knowledge of COSHH and Food safety, including allergens.

Responsibilities

• Support the catering team in providing all catering services.
• Serve and replenish food in the restaurant.
• Responsible for cleaning and maintaining food service areas.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Food handling

Customer service

Education

Good standard of education or equivalent experience

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Nutrition and Health

Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning Knowledge and Skills

Job description

Main area Catering Assistant Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Shift patterns to include days, evenings and weekends) Job ref 251-CORP6601-CA

Employer Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site BNHH Town Basingstoke Salary £24,169 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 19/06/2025 23:59

Catering Assistant

Band 2

Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.

Job overview

To assist with the efficient operation and production of catering services provided to patients, staff and visitors to the Catering Services Department.

This role is only open to applicants that currently work within an NHS Trust within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (HIOW ICS).

Main duties of the job

To support the wider catering team in provision of all catering services including covering and supporting other catering roles as required by the needs of the service.

The service of food in the restaurant, sandwich bar and patients plated meal service, including setting up and clearing down of service station.

Preparation of sandwiches, salads, fruit and beverages for the restaurant and hospitality/function services.

To serve and replenish food provided in the restaurant. Cash handling, till operation and to cash up as and when required.

To be responsible for general cleaning and deep cleaning of servery area.

Cleaning and deep cleaning duties as required on the plated meal service including patient’s crockery, cutlery, service utensils and all plated meal service areas.

Cleaning and deep cleaning duties required with the restaurant area including table cleaning, crockery, cutlery, and all areas of the restaurant.
Supporting healthcare staff by providing information on the menus, including allergen and basic nutritional and dietary information, and escalating to the diet chef or dietitian or speech and language team as needed.

To ensure basic food hygiene standards are maintained and breeches are communicated appropriately and in a timely manner, in accordance with the departmental food safety documentation.

To record all provisions and meals supplied to patients and departments appropriately and to secure and rotate stock in accordance with department SOPs.

Working for our organisation

Our vision is to provide outstanding care for every patient. Patient care is at the heart of what we do at our three sites: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides medical and surgical services to a population of approximately 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire.

Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.

We provide specialist services to people across the UK and internationally. We are one of only two centres in the UK treating pseudomyxoma peritonei (a rare form of abdominal cancer) and we are leaders in the field of tertiary liver cancer and colorectal cancer.

The trust employs more than 9,000 staff and has a turnover of over £500 million a year. As a Foundation Trust, we are directly accountable to our members through the governors. The Council of Governors represent the interests of their constituencies and influence the future plans of the Foundation Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached.

This role is only open to applicants that currently work within an NHS Trust within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (HIOW ICS).

Person specification

Training & Qualifications

• Good standard of education or equivalent experience – equivalent to GCSE at grades 4-9, A-C, NVQ level 2 or equivalent experience
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate or willingness to undertake
• Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Nutrition and Health or willingness to undertake
• Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning Knowledge and Skills

Experience & Knowledge

• Previous catering experience including basic food handling and preparation.
• Experience of working in a customer facing role
• Knowledge of COSHH, Health and Safety and Food safety including allergen information or willingness to learn and undertake supplementary training.
• In depth knowledge of food allergens or a willingness to learn.
• Experience of working in an NHS catering environment

Skills & Ability

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Effective organisational skills and ability to manage time and prioritise work.
• A drive to improve and support positive change and continue own personal and professional development.

Other

• Flexibility in working hours may be required.
• Professional manner and organised approach
• Physically fit including ability to stand for long periods and work at a predetermined rate.

Our commitment to you:

We are committed to equality and diversity in both the provision of our services and how we recruit and manage our staff. Applications are encouraged from everyone with the necessary attributes for the job, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.

Happy to Talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible and part time working will be considered.

The paperwork:

• HHFT is committed to putting the safety and care of our patients first – as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues. Therefore, we would recommend that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and that you understand that we are treating COVID-19 positive patients within our services.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted at least 5 working days before the scheduled interview date. Applications will be submitted directly into our preferred third party recruitment system (Trac). All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs via email - please ensure to check your junk/spam folders.
• All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.
• In compliance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed as part of the selection process.
• This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. If you intend to apply you are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

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