Catering Assistant

Sanctuary Group; Southmoor; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days’ annual leave pro rata (incl.

Occupational sick pay

Contributory pension

Health and wellbeing support

Company-paid life insurance

Parental leave and annual leave scheme

Company-funded training

Flexible working options

Exclusive retail discounts

Free meals

Cycle to Work

Salary sacrifice arrangements

Job summary

Sanctuary Care is seeking a Catering Assistant for Watlington and District Nursing Home in Oxfordshire, offering £12.96 per hour and 30 hours per week with no late nights or split shifts. You will support the catering team with basic food preparation, serve meals to residents, and uphold food hygiene standards while contributing to a warm, welcoming dining environment across our not-for-profit care homes.

We provide extensive rewards including generous leave, sick pay, pension, and career

Qualifications

• A caring, enthusiastic approach to older people.
• Good teamwork and willingness to support colleagues.
• Understanding of safe food handling and cleaning practices.
• Previous catering experience and a food hygiene certificate, or willingness to work towards one.
• Clear communication skills and a flexible approach.

Responsibilities

• Support the catering team with basic food preparation and meal service
• Present and serve meals to a high standard for residents
• Follow food hygiene and safety standards at all times
• Keep kitchen and dining areas clean, safe and welcoming
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to support residents’ daily experience

Skills

Caring approach

Teamwork

Food handling

Catering experience

Communication

Job description

Proud to be not-for-profit, at Sanctuary Care we provide high quality care homes where people are looked after with the utmost dignity and respect. At the very heart of everything we do is our mission to go beyond the standard expectation of providing great care, by doing everything we can to enrich the lives of the residents we are privileged to care for, their loved ones and as importantly, our dedicated and valued staff.

Catering Assistant

Watlington and District Nursing Home, Oxfordshire

£12.96 per hour

30 hours per week – no late nights, no split shifts

Cook up your career in care with a better work-life balance

We believe providing culinary excellence is more than a job – it’s a calling, and we’d love you to be part of it. We’re excited to welcome a Catering Assistant to our friendly team at Watlington and District Nursing Home in Oxfordshire . With 94% of our colleagues saying they would recommend Sanctuary Care as a great place to work, you’ll be joining a culture where you’re supported to thrive and grow, and recognised for the difference you make.

We're proudly Investors in People Gold accredited and not-for-profit, which means every penny we make goes straight back into our people and our homes. Whether you’ve already found your calling or you’re still discovering it, we’ll support you every step of the way. From your first day to your dream role, we’ll help you get there.

When you join Sanctuary Care, you’re joining an award-winning team where colleagues and residents truly matter. We’re proud winners of the 2025 Nursing Times Award for Care of Older People and the 2025 Care Home Awards Best for Training and Development, and Outstanding Larger Care Home Group.

Your role

• Support the catering team with basic food preparation and meal service
• Present and serve meals to a high standard for residents
• Follow food hygiene and safety standards at all times
• Keep kitchen and dining areas clean, safe and welcoming
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to support residents’ daily experience

Your skills

• A caring, enthusiastic approach with a genuine interest in older people
• Good teamwork skills and a willingness to support colleagues
• An understanding of safe food handling and cleaning practices
• Previous catering experience and a food hygiene certificate, or willingness to work towards one
• Clear communication skills and a flexible approach

Your rewards

You deserve more than the basics. That’s why, alongside 28 days’ annual leave pro rata (including bank holidays), occupational sick pay linked to length of service, and a contributory pension, we’ve created a package to help you thrive:

• CQC/CI inspection bonus
• Health and wellbeing support – including Aviva Digicare+ with virtual GP appointments, plus an Employee Assistance Programme offering medical, financial, and legal advice, as well as short-term counselling
• Company-paid life insurance
• Parental leave arrangements and annual leave purchase scheme
• Company-funded training and ongoing career development opportunities, including our Team Leader Development Programme
• Flexible working options and an inclusive culture where everyone belongs, supported by our staff networks including PRISM, Disability, Race Equality and Parent networks
• Free meals dependant on shift duration
• Exclusive retail discounts, Cycle to Work, and salary sacrifice arrangements

Some rewards are subject to a qualifying period or other criteria – visit our website for more information.

Before you apply

• We can only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK.
• All roles require safeguarding and pre-employment checks, including criminal records and overseas police checks if needed; for more information, please get in touch.
• Internal candidates should apply via their internal careers account.
• We may close this advert early, so please apply as soon as possible.

Inclusion is one of our core values

We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process in line with our Disability Confident employer status.

Building Equality and Diversity

• Sanctuary Group encourages and welcomes applications from people from diverse backgrounds to support our commitment to offering an inclusive environment for our employees and customers.
• We work closely with the Home Office in order to prevent illegal working.
• An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be necessary in the event of a successful application which we will pay for.
• Sanctuary Care Limited is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity.