Catering Assistant

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

Job summary

A leading health trust in Salford is hiring a Catering Assistant to provide exceptional service within patients' kitchens and staff restaurants. The role requires assisting in food preparation, handling cleaning duties, and ensuring high standards in food quality and safety. Ideal candidates will possess a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate and some experience in large catering departments. Benefits include flexible working hours and a comprehensive perks package for employees.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Flexible working opportunities

Annual leave allowance

Protected hours for health and wellbeing

Qualifications

• Must have a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Experience in large catering departments is required.
• Understanding allergens is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the cleaning of premises and equipment.
• Load prepared food into trolleys.
• Plate and serve meals to staff and visitors.
• Check items for quality, quantity, and appearance.
• Maintain accurate records for food safety.

Skills

Food preparation

Food service

Quality control

Cash handling

Cleaning

Education

Basic food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Go back Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Catering Assistant

The closing date is 20 January 2026

This role will involve working within the Patients Kitchen or a busy staff restaurant providing the best possible service and experience for patients, Staff and visitors.

This post is 25 hours between 7.00am - 8.00pm with some weekend working.

Main duties of the job

Typical duties will include simple preparation of food items food service, loading prepared food into the correct food trolleys, cleaning, quality control, waste and cash handling. Catering duties may also include working within Retail Catering services when required.

You will be responsible for the following within this position:

• To assist in the general cleaning of the premises and the equipment to the correct standards of cleanliness and frequencies as laid down in the cleaning schedules and departmental hygiene policies.
• Loading the prepared food into the correct food trolleys.
• Plating and service of meals to staff and visitors.
• Checking of all items prepared for quality, quantity and appearance and reporting any discrepancies.
• Preparation of simple food items in accordance with Department standards.
• Keeping accurate records for the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Food Safety System
• Cleaning and filling of fridges & freezers.
• Replenishing fridges and selves with stock, whilst making sure stock is rotated.
• Where it is necessary to handle cash, this is to be done in accordance to the Trusts policies and procedure's.
• Informing supervisor when stocks are low.
• Deliver food orders to the Wards when required.
• Covering absences within the Catering Dept including Patients Kitchen and retail catering outlets , when necessary.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work‑life balance.

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Basic food Hygiene Certificate

Experience

• Experience in large Catering Departments

Knowledge

• Knowledge of allergens
• Demonstrate an understanding of the catering assistant role within a healthcare setting

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.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust