Catering Assistant

Education Authority (Northern Ireland); Templepatrick; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Authority (Northern Ireland) invites applications for a Catering Assistant role within the school catering unit. You will participate in the daily operation under the supervision of the Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor, helping to deliver a hygienic, efficient service and promoting meals to pupils and staff.

The post requires good communication, organisational skills and a commitment to providing high-quality customer service in a school environment.

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake job related training.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong teamworking and customer service approach.
• Good organisational skills and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Assist with basic food preparation and dining room duties.
• Organise and control serving points and meal distribution to pupils, parents and staff.
• Maintain hygiene standards and safety in the kitchen and dining areas.
• Record temperatures and monitor food service quality as required.
• Support central kitchen communications where applicable.

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION REPORTS TO: Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor

RESPONSIBLE TO: Catering Manager through appropriate Area Catering Manager

JOB PURPOSE To actively participate in the daily operation of the Catering Unit under the direction of the Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor. Team participation is essential to provide an efficient hygienic service, to achieve customer satisfaction and to promote sales within the unit.

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor

Essential Criteria

Method of Assessment

Other

• Willingness to undertake job related training
• Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA's Game Changing People Model.

Factor

Skills/Abilities

• Effective communication skills to support team working, taking of instruction and engagement with customers.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills
• Effective organisational and planning skills and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Motivation towards providing excellent food and customer service for our children and young people

Interview

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA's ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.

Interview

SECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Factor

Desirable Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

• Experience of working in a customer service or catering role
• Shortlisting by Application Form

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as 'regulated activity'.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves 'regulated activity', the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Basic preparation of food and beverages, including the preparation of vegetables and snacks using appropriate equipment.
• Simple cooking, including the reconstitution of prepared food.
• Organising and controlling food service points.
• Transferring and serving meals and snacks including transported meals.
• Assisting with the promotion of meals to pupils, parents and principal.
• Maintaining regular contact with the central kitchen, if applicable, with regard to all aspects of service delivery.
• Preparing the dining area:
• Setting out dining room tables, chairs, benches and serving points as required by the meals service.
• Setting tables, laying out of cutlery, water jugs, etc.
• Completing general kitchen and dining room duties including washing up, clearing away equipment including tables, chairs and benches*.
• Cleaning the kitchen/servery, dining room and equipment including floors and walls*.
• Recording temperatures for control purposes as required.
• Securing premises as required.
• Completing duties as delegated in connection with service provision.
• Carry out all duties to comply with:
• Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements;
• Codes of Practice
• Carry out all duties in the working conditions normally inherent in the particular job.
• Complete all necessary administration.
• Carry out duties for jobs up to and including those in the same grade, provided such duties are within the competence of the employee.
• Promote and adhere to the Values/ethos of the School.
• Note:

Where part of the school premises are used for the dual purpose of consumption of food and educational purposes, non catering staff are responsible for the cleaning of the room.

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.