Catering Assistant

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare foundation trust is seeking a Catering Assistant to join their team in Wakefield. The role involves providing a safe and nutritious meal service, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, and engaging in food preparation. A Level 2 Food Safety Certificate is essential, and applicants should ideally have previous experience in customer service and catering. This position offers 20 hours per week with flexible shifts including weekends.

Benefits

Staff uniform provided

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience working within a customer-focused environment is preferred.
• Commitment to undertake relevant training commensurate to the job role.
• Previous experience in the catering industry is essential.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a team in a fast-paced catering environment.
• Provide safe and nutritious meal service to service users.
• Carry out basic food preparation and cooking duties.

Skills

Customer service

Food safety knowledge

Ability to work under pressure

Teamwork

Communication skills

Education

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

BICSc qualification

Level 3 Certificate in Food Safety

Job description

Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Catering Assistant

The closing date is 17 October 2025

20 hours per week, includes weekend and bank holiday working

We are looking to recruit a hardworking, enthusiastic individual to join our Catering Team based in the main kitchen at Fieldhead Hospital. The post includes weekend and bank holiday working.

The successful post holder will be required to provide a safe, nutritious, and exciting meal service to service users, staff and visitors. You will also participate in the preparation of functions and special events, no two events are the same which will provide you with a challenge and diversity in the job role.

Catering, food safety, cleanliness and hygiene in healthcare environments is paramount, therefore we are looking to appoint staff who are ambitious, motivated and take pride in the work they do. You will be responsible for cleaning duties in the kitchen this is to ensure a safe, efficient workplace and environment for all. You will adhere to the NHS cleaning standards.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment and you will be able to use your initiative to prioritise and organise daily duties. You will maintain a professional approach and comply with all relevant policies and procedures.

Staff uniform will be provided.

You will be part of a team that provides safe and nutritious meal service to service users.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we are run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will carry out a wide range of general catering duties in the restaurant, hospitality, vending and patient catering in an efficient and effective manner to ensure that a high-quality service is provided at all times. This post has a significant amount of personal contact with staff, patients and members of the public.

• Carry out basic food preparation, packing labelling and chilling of sandwiches and other food products, according to set recipes and procedures.
• Packing and labelling of pre-prepared food commodities for patients special diets.
• Carry out basic cooking duties including breakfast and back bar items.
• Operate cash registers and reconciliation of monies in line with departmental policies and procedures.
• Prepare and deliver hospitalities in accordance with hospitality forms.
• Clean, fill and attend to vending machines on a daily basis as per agreed procedures.
• Serve meals in the staff dining room and other associated areas as required and to portion food in the correct manner according to portion control.
• Prepare restaurant counters, refrigerated commodities and ensure that restaurant tables have all items ready to carry out efficient service.
• Distribute provisions, meals and equipment within the department and hospital site.
• Clean equipment and premises in accordance with duty rotas and work schedules using the appropriate equipment and chemicals.
• Report any sitings of pests or damage to the fabric of the catering areas that could provide potential harbourage to pests.
• Operate equipment e.g. scrubbing machine, flight dishwasher, cash register etc. in a safe and responsible manner after training and to report faulty equipment to the supervisor.
• Dispose of all waste food and refuse in a hygienic manner and in accordance with the waste food policy.
• Complete all relevant control documents including: daily quality reports sheets, recording the temperature of food and equipment and to report any untoward issues to the supervisor.
• Maintain all relevant records in compliance with the HACCP document to ensure due diligence.
• Monitor and record the fridge and freezer temperatures, reporting any fall in temperature to the supervisor.
• Promote a positive and professional image of the catering service in order to maximise sales.
• Wear approved protective clothing provided, in accordance with the role and food hygiene policy.
• Open the food stores areas as necessary at the start of the shift.
• Carry out all duties, adhering to manual handling and lifting procedures / practice.
• Accept incoming deliveries, ensuring that goods are accounted for on the order requisition and any adjustments are clearly marked and reported.
• Receive, check and record weekly deliveries for quantity, quality and temperature where applicable.
• Ensure stores are correctly rotated, used in date order and any out of date products are disposed of in the correct manner.
• Be aware of patient special diets and to ensure that all special dietary needs / requests are followed.
• Open and close units ensuring equipment is turned off and areas secured.

The post holder will work as part of a team and on occasions may be required to work without supervision and make work place decisions.

Actively engage in good team working to facilitate effective relationships with everyone.

Participate in the Trust appraisal and personal development plan process by identifying your own development needs and agreeing development plans for these.

Ensure your required mandatory and job specific training is kept up to date.

Ensure your own actions support equality, diversity, rights and maintain quality.

Respect the privacy and dignity of others whilst carrying out domestic duties.

Maintain the highest standards of personal hygiene.

Person Specification

Training

• Experience working within a customer focused environment.
• Commitment to undertake relevant training commensurate to the job role.

Qualifications

• Completed or willing to undertake and achieve the level 2 Food Safety Certificate, COSHH Training and Trust mandatory training courses.
• Hold BICSc qualification or willing to undertake and successfully complete within 12 months or equal experience at Level 2.
• Level 3 Certificate in Food Safety.

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Ability to communicate with other staff, Trust employees, service users who may have behavioural issues or severe communication difficulties.
• Ability to accept and prioritise instructions.
• Ability to work under pressure in order to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate positive and proactive approach to customer care and service improvement.
• Takes personal responsibility to deliver own work to a high standard.
• Takes a positive proactive approach to learning and self-development.

Experience

• Previous experience in the catering industry.
• Previous experience of dealing with the public.
• Knowledge of therapeutic diets.

Physical Attributes

• A satisfactory sickness record over previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).

Personal Attributes

• To work on own initiative, as a lone worker or as part of a team.
• Flexible approach to working hours / shift patterns.

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.

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust