Catering Assistant

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension plan

27 days annual leave + bank holidays

Employee health and wellbeing services

Cycle to work scheme

Childcare salary sacrifice

Car lease salary sacrifice

Flexible working options

Job summary

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust’s catering team is seeking a dedicated Catering Assistant to help prepare and serve meals to patients, staff and visitors across our Wakefield hospitals. The role requires basic food hygiene certification, strong communication, and the ability to work well under pressure as part of a supportive team.

Shifts are 5 days over 7, 37.5 hours weekly, with variable start times between 06:30 and 19:00.

Qualifications

• Previous catering or food service experience preferred but not essential.
• Excellent communication and a good work ethic are required.
• Ability to work well under pressure as part of a team.
• Basic food hygiene certification is required.

Responsibilities

• Preparing and serving meals to patients, staff and visitors.
• Maintaining a clean and hygienic working environment.
• Assisting in food preparation and cooking.
• Adhering to food safety and hygiene regulations.
• Providing excellent customer service.

Skills

Excellent communication

Teamwork

Food safety awareness

Food preparation

Education

Level Two Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

If you have any queries, please contact, Claire Royle - Vacancy Control Manager - [e-mail]

About The Role

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust is a leading healthcare provider committed to delivering exceptional patient care. Our catering department plays a vital role in ensuring the well‑being of our patients, staff, and visitors.

Duties

• Preparing and serving meals to patients, staff, and visitors
• Maintaining a clean and hygienic working environment
• Assisting in food preparation and cooking
• Adhering to food safety and hygiene regulations
• Providing excellent customer service

Requirements

• Previous experience in a catering or food service environment is preferred but not essential
• Strong work ethic and commitment to providing excellent service
• Ability to work well under pressure and as part of a team
• Excellent communication skills
• Basic food hygiene certification

We have 1 full time position available working 5 days over 7 with variable shifts between the hours of 06.30am and 19.00pm, 37.5 hours per week.

* Previous applicants need not apply *

Main duties

• Working as part of a team, you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the food preparation and serving areas for patients, staff and visitors.
• A willingness to work in other areas of the catering department is essential to ensure continuity of service.
• Ensuring that food hygiene legislation and the Trusts Food Safety Policy (HACCP) are adhered at all times.
• The hygienic handling of food products in accordance with food hygiene legislation and the Trust Food Safety Policy (HACCP)
• Observation of statutory and Trust food hygiene regulations.
• The post holder will provide a food service to wards and the staff restaurant under the guidance of supervisors to patients/restaurants within the hospital.
• Regeneration of patient food using equipment as trained.
• To observe portion control guidance.
• Serving patient/staff meals in an appetising and attractive manner.
• Ensure that food products are correctly re‑generated according to instruction.
• Taking and recording of food temperatures and seeking further instruction where these are outside appropriate temperature limits.
• To be involved in the general cleaning following the appropriate cleaning schedules.
• Appropriate disposal of waste in accordance with instruction.
• Check stock deliveries into the catering department and complete the appropriate documentation.
• Ensure stock is dated and stock rotation procedures are observed.
• Complies with health and safety regulations.
• Observes the quality control procedure within the catering department.
• Ensure that personal appearance, conduct and customer care are of the highest standard.

Qualifications

• Level Two Food Hygiene Certificate or IEHO (Basic Food Hygiene Certificate)

Experience

• Previous experience of working in a commercial catering environment
• Allergen Training

Knowledge and awareness

• An awareness of all regulatory catering hygiene requirements.

Skills And Abilities

• Good food preparation skills
• Able to follow written and given instruction

Be part of MY team

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Our Benefits

• Access to the NHS pension plan
• Generous holiday allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with 5 and 10 years of service
• Exceptional employee health and wellbeing services
• Extensive benefits and support, including:
• Onsite nurseries and childcare salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Home electronics scheme
• Car lease salary sacrifice scheme
• Working carers support and advice, carers network and carers passport
• Flexible working options and family and carer-friendly policies
• Established staff networks, including LGBTQ+ and Race Equality
• Career progression, training and support

Skilled worker sponsorship

You can find out more about skilled worker and health and care visas on our .