Catering Assistant (Bank)

Anchor; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A care home organization in Ipswich is seeking a Catering Assistant to prepare and serve meals, ensuring high hygiene standards and supporting a friendly team environment. Ideal candidates will have a Level 2 Food Safety Certificate and experience in catering, although experience with older people is not essential. This role offers a chance to work in an award-winning home dedicated to providing excellent care and fostering a supportive atmosphere.

Benefits

Gym and fitness discounts

Mental health support

Flexible working options

Ongoing professional development

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a catering or kitchen environment.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and COSHH procedures.
• Experience working with older people is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with preparation and service of meals.
• Ensuring health, safety, and hygiene standards.
• Minimising waste and using kitchen equipment safely.
• Communicating any issues to the catering team.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

Calm under pressure

Team player

Reliable and adaptable

Education

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Job description

Looking for a role where you can make a real difference while being part of a supportive, friendly team? At XXXXX, we’re proud to deliver high-quality meals that make our residents’ days brighter — and we’re looking for a Catering Assistant who shares our passion for great food and great people.

This is more than just a job in the kitchen. It’s a chance to work in a positive environment where your attention to detail, teamwork, and care for others really matter.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Assisting with the preparation and service of nutritious, well‑presented meals.
• Ensuring all health, safety, and hygiene standards are followed to the highest level.
• Helping minimise waste and using kitchen equipment safely and efficiently.
• Supporting the catering team and communicating any issues promptly.

What You’ll Bring

• Level 2 Food Safety Certificate (or willingness to obtain one).
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and COSHH procedures.
• Previous experience in a catering or kitchen environment.
• Experience working with older people (ideal, but not essential).

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise when things get busy.
• Calm, professional, and able to work well under pressure.
• A true team player who’s also confident working independently.
• Reliable, adaptable, and committed to delivering high standards every day.

We believe in creating an environment where you can grow, feel valued, and take pride in what you do.

If that sounds like your kind of workplace, we’d love to hear from you. Click apply today

Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK.

Canterbury House in Hadleigh is home to well trained and helpful staff with rooms for up to 63 residents. At Anchor, we pride ourselves in providing 24‑hour care and specialised services for elderly people, the beauty of our grounds, the quality of our catering and our engaging activities we deliver.

• To work in an anchor inspires dementia award winning home
• To work in a team striving towards a CQC outstanding rating
• The opportunity of furthering your job prospects and thriving in the Anchor company

Anchor – a great place to work

Anchor is England’s largest not‑for‑profit provider of care and housing for older people. Our heartfelt ambition is to transform housing and care so everyone can have a home where they love living in later life.

We’re not‑for‑profit which means every penny we make or save is invested in the people who live with us, the places they live and the people who work here. That means a better standard of care and customer service, better wages, more investment in training and development and improved facilities.

Our values

Every one of us can make a difference to our residents and play a part in shaping homes and services around their needs.

Our Anchor values of being Accountable, Respectful, Courageous and Honest apply to us all, whether you manage colleagues as part of your role or not.

Displaying our values can influence those around us to do the same. We can all be leaders at Anchor and should all be driven by the same customer ethos. Our helps align these values with the skills and behaviours we demonstrate.

A rewarding environment

From health and happiness to finance and your career, we’ll give you all the support you need.

Health & happiness

• Gym, fitness and wellbeing discounts
• Mental health support
• Flexible working options

Finance

• Pension plan – contribute between 4% and 8% and we’ll match it or better
• Quick and easy pension transfer service
• Savings and financial advice, loans, free life assurance
• Discounts on shopping, holidays, phones, technology and more

Career

• Ongoing personal and professional development programme
• Leadership Pathways online learning resources
• Career progression and promotion opportunities

To see our full range of benefits, check out our dedicated being‑well website. Please follow the link or copy and paste.

Celebrating diversity, celebrating you

Anchor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aim to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all that we do, as we know that the more diverse our colleagues are, the better care and support we can give to our residents and each other.

We are proud to have an LGBT+ group for our residents, and also Disability, LGBT+ and race and ethnicity colleague networks. These work to celebrate diversity, address concerns, review policy and practice and empower their members. We also have an Inclusive Ambassador network to allow all colleagues to be part of promoting diversity and to be an ally to others.

We are a Gold Standard Inclusive Employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Menopause Friendly and a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant, HouseProud Pledge and Age Friendly Employer Pledge schemes.