Catering Assistant - Patient Services

East Lancashire Hospitals Nhs Trust; Rishton; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated Catering Assistant to support patient and staff dining services. You will work in wards, dining rooms and satellite venues, upholding hygiene standards and patient care. Full training will be provided, with Barista training advantage noted.

The role emphasizes teamwork, reliable service, and effective communication with colleagues and customers to deliver a high-quality catering experience within the hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in the food/catering industry.
• Ability to deal with the public.
• Knowledge of hygiene standards in the food industry.
• Willingness to work towards Level 2 Food Safety, COSHH, Food Hygiene and Allergen Awareness.

Responsibilities

• Assist with duties connected with the Retail Outlet for staff and visitors.
• Adhere to departmental standards and food hygiene regulations.
• Work as part of a team to ensure efficiency and excellent customer care.
• Prepare food service areas and equipment, serve food and drinks.
• Deliver and collect meal trolleys to wards and departments.
• Clear up after catering operations and perform cleaning tasks.
• Operate cash registers with diligence.

Skills

Food service

Customer service

Barista training

Cash handling

Teamwork

Communication

Education

GCSE level education

Willingness to study Level 2 Food Safety & HACCP (in-house training)

Tools

Cash registers

Job description

Job overview

37.5 hours Patient Services working 11.30 am till 8 pm 5 days over 7 with 1 hour break in afternoon

Our team is just that – a team – all supporting each other and working together to achieve the best outcomes, and we are really proud of this. We cannot wait to welcome you to the team when you start and will have experienced Catering Staff to help you along the way.

Our service is one where your passion, drive and motivation will genuinely make a real difference. Don’t just take our word for it, have a chat with Kevin Herbert our Retail Catering Manager (contact details below).

Catering experience is desirable along with a Level 2 Certificate in food safety though this is not essential, as full training will be given.

To find out more, watch a quick video here:

Main duties of the job

You will deal with food service in areas including wards, dining rooms and satellite venues. It goes without saying that you will be required to adhere to departmental standards and food hygiene regulations. You will also act at all times in a manner that upholds the Trust’s values, working as part of a team to ensure efficiency and excellent customer care.

This is a challenging but rewarding job role and there’s no doubt that will need motivated, enthusiastic team players, who are willing to work hard within a strong team, to provide a KEY service within the hospital for both staff and patients.

Come and join us here at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals a place where we are proud to work

You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you’d never have done.

You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care and enhancing their experience which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Working for our organisation

We have 10000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients. Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.
Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.

You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you’d never have done. You’ll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path.
You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties to include, but not be limited to:

• To assist with all associated duties connected with the Retail Outlet that serves staff and Visitors.
• Barista Training would be an advantage in this role alongside Customer Services experience, but not essential as full training would be given.
• The post-holder will be required to adhere to departmental standards and food hygiene regulations.
• To act at all times in a manner that upholds the Trust’s values, working as part of a team to ensure efficiency and excellent customer care.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure an accurate exchange of information about catering tasks and service needs
• Communicate with a range of customers in person and over the telephone to understand individual needs and provide information relating to the catering service
• Undertake all duties relating to food service, including: -
  • preparing food service areas and equipment
  • serving food and drinks in patient / staff dining outlets and on the patient meal assembly belt
  • serving food and drinks at hospitality events held on Trust premises and occasionally in other locations
• delivering and collecting meal trolleys to/from wards and departments
• clearing and tidying up after any catering operation
• Undertake cleaning either manually or using mechanical equipment provided e.g. cleaning of areas, washing of crockery, cutlery and utensils
• Operate cash registers in retail areas, demonstrating diligence at all times

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Previous experience in the food/catering industry
• Previous experience in dealing with the public
• Awareness of the standards of hygiene and cleanliness within the food industry

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of Therapeutic diets
• Awareness of confidentiality in an NHS environment
• Knowledge of Information Governance

Qualifications & Education

Essential criteria

• Good general education to GCSE standard
• Willingness to work towards Level 2 Certificate in Food Safety, COSHH, Food Hygiene and Allergen Awareness (in-house training to be provided)

Desirable criteria

• Level 2 certificate in H.A.C.C.P
• COSHH qualification
• Basic Health and Safety
• Level 2 Certificate in Food Hygiene
• Level 2 Certificate in Food Safety
• Level 2 Certificate in Allergen Awareness