Catering Assistant (P/T 30 hrs p/w)

Royal Berkshire; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a part-time Band 2 Catering Assistant to join the catering facilities team in Reading. The 30-hour week (approx 16:00-20:00, Monday to Friday) focuses on producing patient meals and serving the restaurant, while delivering safe, high‑quality service to patients, staff and visitors.

Responsibilities include assisting with stock, food preparation, serving, stores duties and keeping the department clean and compliant with health, safety and

Qualifications

• Customer service experience in a catering setting.
• Experience working in a catering function.
• Able to work 30 hours per week (16:00–20:00, Monday to Friday).

Responsibilities

• Deliver a high-quality catering service in line with Trust policies and standards.
• Prepare, portion, present and serve food for patients and other catering services.
• Receive, check, store and distribute catering supplies; report discrepancies.
• Maintain cleanliness, safety, and hygiene across catering areas.
• Train and support colleagues and provide cover when needed.

Skills

Customer service

Catering experience

Education

Basic Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Band 2 Catering Assistant / Catering Facilities Assistant

This is a part-time post for 30 hours per week (Approx 16:00-20:00 Monday to Friday)

The post holder is expected to:

• To work as part of the catering team in producing approximately 1600 patient meals and the serving of 700 customers in the restaurant per day.
• To provide catering assistant / store portering duties to ensure the smooth, efficient and safe running of the catering function, stores and all its services to the standards outlined. Including the receiving, checking and appropriate storage of all food and catering supplies, undertaking interdepartmental deliveries. All food safety policies and procedures, accurate record keeping and adherence to health, safety and quality control measures.
• To assist in maintaining a clean, tidy and safe department, whilst providing the customer with pleasant and efficient service. Carrying out duties in line with the department's working procedures.
• To assist with the smooth running and appearance of the Trust, the post holder is expected to be flexible and work across the Facilities Directorate and the Trust, as required and appropriate to the grade.
• Provide and assist with the provision of the services described to a high standard, ensuring effective operation of the hospital organisation

Main duties of the job

• Deliver a high-quality catering service in line with Trust policies, procedures, SLAs, health and safety and food service standards.
• Prepare, portion, present and serve food for patients and other catering services, maintaining appropriate quality and presentation standards.
• Undertake basic food preparation and cooking, including salads, sandwiches, breakfasts, vegetables and other food items as required.
• Receive, check, order, store and distribute catering supplies, including deliveries to wards and departments, and report any discrepancies.
• Maintain stock levels and undertake stock taking, stock control and preparation of goods for future food production.
• Operate catering equipment, including dismantling, reassembling, cleaning and ensuring equipment is safe and fit for use.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and environmental safety across catering areas, including completing required cleaning, temperature and wastage records.
• Provide effective customer service and communicate food service information to patients, staff, ward teams and members of the public.
• Organise and prioritise own workload, provide cover across the catering service as required, and support colleagues to maintain service continuity.
• Support, train and demonstrate duties and procedures to new and less experienced colleagues, while identifying and reporting safety, maintenance and equipment issues.

About us

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC recently rated the care provided by The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details regarding the role

Person Specification

Education

• Evidence of adequate level of education
• Demonstrate adequate level of literacy and numeracy skills
• Basic Hygiene Certificate

Experience

• Dealing with a range of people with a customer/service focus
• Experience of working in a catering function

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.