Catering Assistant

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

Job summary

A healthcare catering services provider is seeking enthusiastic individuals for food production roles at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Successful applicants will have knowledge of catering practices, food hygiene regulations, and a commitment to high-quality customer care. Responsibilities include assisting in meal preparation, ensuring food safety, and adhering to quality control processes. A Level 2 Certificate in Food Hygiene is required, alongside experience in a kitchen environment. Flexible shifts may include weekends.

Benefits

Access to a pension scheme

Night Shift Working Allowances

Bank Holiday Working Allowances

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a kitchen environment.
• Ability to work shifts and weekends.
• Committed to quality customer care.

Responsibilities

• Support and assist the Food Production Supervisor.
• Ensure high food quality standards.
• Comply with HACCP procedures.

Skills

Knowledge of food safety and allergen regulations

Effective interpersonal skills

Ability to follow clear instructions

Good timekeeping

Good manual dexterity

Education

Level 2 Certificate in Food Hygiene

Basic literacy and numeracy

Job description

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic,self-motivated and committed individual to influence and contribute as part ofthe award winning Catering Services team at Darlington Memorial Hospital . Theshift pattern is predominantly Monday to Friday between 7am and 3pm butrequired to work occasional weekends

We are looking for enthusiastic, reliable and self-motivatedpeople to become a part of our team for the safe production of over 20,000meals per week within a Central Production Unit(CPU) .

Successful applicantswill be expected to display their ability to operate in a very busy environmentwhilst displaying Impeccable hygiene standards, knowledge and practices.

The successful applicant will have :

A goodknowledge of catering practices and procedures will be required which may havebeen gained in a similar hospital environment or in the catering privatesector.

Soundknowledge of food hygiene regulations.

Good knowledge of ingredient recipes and associatedallergens will also be essential.

Level 2 Certificate in Food Hygiene

Main duties of the job

To work under the direction of the Food ProductionSupervisors to assist with thepreparation and cooking of nutritiousand appetizing meals according to planned menus, using specified recipes,methods and systems for cook chill

Ensurehigh standards of food quality from point of purchase to meal preparation,cooking and service, ensuring quality control process throughout.

Toensure temperature monitoring andrecording of all produced meals/foodstuffs and food storage equipment inaccordance with standards as laid down in the Catering Departments Policies andProcedures and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points(HACCP)

To assistand comply in the general cleaning of premises/equipment in accordance withagreed cleaning schedules as specified

Todisplay a high standard of personal hygiene

About us

SCL is a wholly owned subsidiary of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) set up to deliver a range of non-clinical services The company is a separate legal body to CDDFT.

SCL offers its own Terms and Conditions of employment which differ to the national NHS Terms and Conditions. As an employee in the company you will benefit from:

• Access to a pension scheme - National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) CDD Services will pay a 3% contribution (this is over and above the minimum contribution rate at the present time)
• Night Shift Working Allowances (where appropriate)
• Bank Holiday Working Allowances (where appropriate)

Bank work is offered on an 'as and when' basis with no guaranteed hours and will be paid on a pro-rata hourly rate for hours worked only

Job responsibilities

To support and assist the Food Production Supervisor andFood Production Manager in the production of a high quality meals at DarlingtonMemorial Hospital and to ensure that high quality standards are met at alltimes

Comply with HACCP procedures set within the CateringDepartment

To follow the policies and procedures laid down by thecatering services in the day to day operational management of food productionand to ensure a high quality and cost effective service

To ensure that food safety and allergen regulations areadhered to at all times.

Co-operating with other members of the CPU Catering Team tomaintain and improve the present high standard of catering service, for staffand visitors and external contracts

To deal effectively and courteously with colleagues,patients and staff throughout the organisation and members of the public and todeal with customer complaints and concerns with a high level of customerservice and passing these onto your supervisor to deal with or for information

Initially deal with any complaints / comments regarding theservice in a courteous manner from Trust staff or patients.

Work in a safe manner so that no other personsare put at risk whilst completing the required duties.

Person Specification

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Natural & enthusiastic staff member(E)
• Ability to follow clear instructions and feedback to senior staff (E) Committed to quality customer care/delivering excellent customer service.(E)
• Effective interpersonal skills (E)
• Able to work with minimal supervision following set procedures. (E) Flexible approach to work and adaptable to change(E) Good manual dexterity, physical fitness(E) Good timekeeping(E)
• Basic numeracy(E)
• Knowledge of food safety and allergen regulations (E)
• Basic keyboard skills (D)

Special Requirements

• Ability to work shifts and weekends and have flexibility to needs of the service(E)
• Health and safety(D)

Experience

• Experience of working within a kitchen environment(E)
• Cook Chill Experience(D)

Qualifications

• Level 2 Certificate in Food Hygiene (E) Basic English and Maths (E) A good standard of literacy and numeracy (E)
• COSSH(D)
• Health and safety(D)

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.