Catering Assistant

NHS; England; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Catering Assistant to ensure high presentation standards for meal services to patients and staff. This role involves delivering food, dishwashing, and cleaning duties in line with food safety regulations. The ideal candidate should have 2 years of experience in large-scale catering and demonstrate effective teamwork and communication skills. The position is full-time and supports flexible working.

Qualifications

• 2 years of recent experience in a large-scale catering environment.
• Ability to work unaccompanied and attend wards to collect meal trolleys.
• Clear understanding of food allergies.

Responsibilities

• Deliver meal services to patients and staff.
• Carry out dishwashing duties and clean kitchen areas.
• Communicate daily with colleagues and nursing staff.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Food Safety Knowledge

Job description

Catering Assistant

The closing date is 25 January 2026

To deliver a meal service to patients and staff, either by plated or bulk delivery system, ensuring that presentation standards are high and food safety standards are adhered to. To carry out dishwashing duties, cleaning of equipment and cleaning of the kitchen and associated areas.

Main duties of the job

1. To communicate on a daily basis with colleagues and nursing staff, this could be face to face within the hospital or by receiving telephone requests into the department for extra meals or special diets.
2. To deal with deliveries on an occasional basis, receiving deliveries within the department.
3. To liaise with Managers & supervisors daily and act upon specific tasks required.
4. To allow new starters to shadow various duties in the department such as cleaning, dishwashing and food service.
5. To visit wards as and when required to gain patient meal choices.
6. To ensure tasks such as trolley transportation, tug driving, use of equipment, lifting hot liquids and other tasks which may carry a hazard to oneself or others are carried out in a safe manner.
7. Carry out general cleaning duties within the department for example floor cleaning, cleaning of the equipment and emptying rubbish bins, ensuring cleaning schedules are completed and COSHH regulations are observed.

About us

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a caring and compassionate organisation that is both ambitious and innovative. We are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our patients and providing a positive experience of our staff. We aspire to be outstanding for our patients, our communities and our staff and are committed to being a great place to receive healthcare, work and learn.

Straddling the neighbouring boroughs of Warrington and Halton we are part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care system. Our hospitals are ideally situated to meet the growing healthcare needs of the 330,000 population of these boroughs.

Warrington Hospital is home to our emergency, critical care and maternity services, Halton Hospital is focused on elective procedures and the Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre, although many services are offered at both sites and in community hubs.

A CQC-rated 'good' organisation with 'outstanding' features, we are working towards university hospital status, having achieved teaching hospital status in 2019.

We employ nearly 5,000 people from over 80 nationalities, striving to be a diverse, inclusive employer and recognised leader in equality. We support flexible working, welcoming flexible applications. Proud of our many accreditations, we are embedding an anti-racist approach in all we do.

Job responsibilities

To deliver a meal service to patients and staff, either by plated or bulk delivery system, ensuring that presentation standards are high and food safety standards are adhered to. To carry out dishwashing duties, cleaning of equipment and cleaning of the kitchen and associated areas.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED

Person Specification

• 2 Years Recent Experience
• Working in a large scale catering enviroment
• Work well within a large team

Physically Fit

• Able to work un supervised
• Attending wards to collect meal trollies
• Can show a clear understanding of food allergies

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT