Catering Assistant

NHS Scotland; Kirkwall; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Scotland is seeking a Catering Assistant to join their team at The Balfour. This full-time, permanent role involves food preparation and customer service, contributing to a high-quality meal service for patients and the public. The position offers a competitive salary, training opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Distant Islands Allowance

Attractive pension scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounts to local and national retailers

Qualifications

• Ability to work in a team to provide kitchen support.
• Willingness to undertake food hygiene training if not already certified.

Responsibilities

• Assist in food preparation and restaurant operations.
• Serve meals to patients and the public.
• Support chefs during meal service.

Skills

Food preparation

Customer service

Teamwork

Education

Elementary food hygiene certificate (or willingness to obtain)

Job description

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About The Organisation

As Scotland’s smallest health board, NHS Orkney is driven by a bold vision: looking after our community and providing excellent care. Whether you’re starting your NHS journey or bringing expertise from another NHS employer, your skills will make a real difference to the health and lives of Orkney’s 22,000 residents.

Our state-of-the-art healthcare facility, The Balfour, opened in 2019 and is home to modern inpatient wards, an emergency department, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices, and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Collaboration thrives here, ensuring exceptional care for every patient. Beyond our main facility, we’re investing in our outer isles, enhancing services, and transforming patient care across our islands.

About Orkney

Orkney itself is nothing short of magical. With over 70 islands (20 inhabited), this breathtaking destination offers stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and vibrant cultural and sporting activities. Recognised as one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney promises a lifestyle like no other.

The Post

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a General Catering Assistant to work within the Catering Team at the Balfour to provide assistance in all aspects of food preparation, restaurant operation, and customer service.

The Catering Service provides a high-quality patient meal service to the Balfour, providing 3 meals per day for up to 43 patients. A public restaurant service is also provided for staff and members of the public, serving upwards of 200 meals per day. This role will also entail providing assistance to the chefs, the service of food at the restaurant, and delivering meals to wards.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will work as part of a small team, providing a high standard of kitchen support under the direction of the Supervisor Chef/Retail & Restaurant Supervisor and Catering Team Lead.

If applicants do not have an elementary food hygiene certificate, they will be able to undertake training towards this qualification, which will be provided by NHS Orkney, through other partners.

Location, Working Pattern, and Contract Duration

This post will be based at The Balfour.

The successful candidate will work: Full Time 37 hours per week.

This post is on a Permanent Basis.

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.

Benefits And Salary

Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?

The salary for this post is on a Band 2 £24,647 - £26,763, and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,587 pro-rata per year, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.

NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, a wide range of work-life balance policies, an employee assistance programme, and various discounts to both local and national retailers.

Further Information

If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!

To find out more about this opportunity, please contact Danny McCaig, Interim Catering Lead, at [e-mail].

Interview Date: Monday 16th of June 2025