Catering Assistant

Transformation Unit; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uniform provided

Job summary

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a Catering Assistant (NHS AfC Band 2) for a permanent, full-time role at North Manchester General Hospital. The post is 37.5 hours per week across 5 days over 7, with shifts between 07:00 and 19:00, including some weekends. Salary is £25,272 per annum pro rata.

You will support food preparation, portioning, and service to patients, staff and visitors while ensuring safe, hygienic kitchen operations and high customer care standards.

Qualifications

• Basic Food Hygiene Level 2 (desirable).
• Experience in a catering environment (desirable).
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Good level of customer care.
• Understanding of health and safety and manual handling practices.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring food deliveries are picked and packed correctly in accordance with agreed practices.
• Ensure stock control and rotation procedures are maintained, check expiry dates and dispose of food past use by date.
• Work in temperature-controlled environments (fridges/freezers down to -18°C).
• Maintain kitchen and working area cleanliness and hygiene.
• Ensure prompt removal of packaging and food waste to designated areas.
• Follow all cleaning schedules as required.
• Wear Sodexo uniform and maintain a neat appearance while on duty.
• Cover other catering areas as needed for holiday or sickness cover.
• Carry out reasonable additional duties as directed by supervisor or line manager.

Skills

Teamwork

Customer service

Health & Safety awareness

Manual handling experience

Food service experience

Education

Basic Food Hygiene Level 2 (desirable)

Job description

Main area Catering Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent: 5 Days over 7 between the hours 07:00-19:00 Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (5 over 7 days between hours 07:00-19:00 including some weekends) Job ref 349-EST-8190793-RL4

Employer Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site North Manchester Geberal Hospital Town Manchester Salary £25,272 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 09/11/2026 23:59

Catering Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 2

Job overview

Role Summary:

You will act as a key member of the back of house catering team to assist the organisation in providing patients, staff and visitors with high quality person centred and safe catering service.

You will assist with the preparation of food and contributing to the operation and cleanliness of kitchens and associated equipment whilst supporting the production, portioning, distribution and services of
meals and snacks.

You will provide a high standard of service in accordance with the contract
specification as directed the line manager and ensure that all foods are produced and served in a safe and hygienic manner at all times.

Decanting and preparation of food in accordance with portion control guidelines. The post holder may be required to use the kitchen equipment and machinery as required, including freezers, knives, floor scrubbing machines, food service trolley, and ovens.

Provide and maintain a high standard of customer care at all times whilst on duty.

Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene in accordance with company policy and the

Workload will be determined by daily requirements, and post-holder may be required to use initiative in order to prioritise tasks and responsibilities.

Arrive in time for duty, adhering to Sodexo uniform requirements and clocking in prior to commencing your shift.

Post holders are required to wear their identity badge with a current
photograph on at all times.

Main duties of the job

Main Assignments of Role :

• Ensuring food deliveries are picked and packed correctly in accordance with agreed practices.
• Ensure stock control and rotation procedures are maintained. Checking expiry dates on food and disposing of any food exceeding use by date. Store goods correctly and use stock
  on a rotational basis.
• Working in temperature-controlled environments (i.e. fridges, freezers up to -18 degrees Celsius.
• Maintain kitchen and working area cleanliness and hygiene.
• Ensure a prompt removal of packaging and food waste to designated areas.
• Follow all cleaning schedules as required.
• Refer to COSHH data sheets where appropriate. Additional General Responsibilities
• While on duty staff are to wear only Sodexo uniform and tidy state at all times, you must always have a clean, spare tabard/ apron at work with
  you in case of spillages.
• At times you may be required to go and work in other catering areas to assist with the cover of annual leave and sickness.
• At times post holders may be required to carry out reasonable additional duties connected to their employment, as directed by their supervisor or line manager.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Good level of customer care.
• Basic Food Hygiene Level 2 (desirable).
• Experience of working in a catering environment (desirable).
• Good understanding of health and safety and manual handling practices.

Working for our organisation

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe – a great place to shape your career.
With a workforce of over 30,000 colleagues, we work together to deliver exceptional care to more than 1 million people every year.
Behind every patient cared for are people like you - keeping services running smoothly, supporting clinical teams, and helping create safe, welcoming environments for patients and our people alike.
At MFT, we believe in the power of teamwork, respect, and inclusion. Our People Plan reflects our commitment to making MFT a place where everyone feels they belong, where your ideas are heard, and your contribution is truly valued. Join us and work smarter with our digital technology and thrive in a collaborative culture that empowers you to deliver your best to ensure that your work behind the scenes creates seamless, high-quality care and exceptional patient outcomes.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, we offer clear pathways for development and a culture that supports your wellbeing, ambition, and success. Everything you do makes a real difference to the lives of others.
At MFT, your role matters, your impact is real, and you’re part of something bigger from day one.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others.You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS : Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS : Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment.If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Completed secondary education
• Ability and willingness to achieve Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Experience

• Knowledge of basic Health & Safety requirements
• Understanding of patient confidentiality
• Understanding of a small number of routine work procedures which could be gained through a short induction period or on the job training
• Experience in a cleaning role
• Experience in a catering role

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.