Catering Assistant (Ward Operatives)

NBT; West of England; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is inviting applications for central Production Kitchen, Restaurant or Regen Ward Kitchens roles at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. The post involves food service, cleaning, and pre-preparation with shifts that include 11:00-14:30 and 15:30-19:30, with full-time 37.5 hours and maternity leave/relief contracts available.

Salary is £23,615 per annum (FTE) or pro-rata for part-time, with flexible working discussions encouraged.

Qualifications

• Hold or obtain within 3 months a Level 2 Foundation certificate in Food Hygiene or equivalent.
• Up-to-date awareness of catering procedures and food safety.
• Ability to communicate with catering staff regarding work issues and instructions.
• Currently works in the catering industry.
• Recent catering experience within the last 3 years is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Service of food, cleaning of premises and equipment.
• Pre-preparation of food items prior to service.
• Regenerate cooked meals for patients at lunch and supper.
• Cash handling, mainly via cash tills.
• Pot wash and work in the catering stores area.

Skills

Level 2 Foundation certificate in Food

Food Hygiene awareness

Communication ability

Catering industry experience

Recent catering experience desirable

Job description

Main area Facilities Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent: 1 Relief staff working 37.5h a variety of different shift days Monday-Sunday. Predominant shifts being 11:00-14.30 and 15.30-19.30. 1 Subtantive contract working: 32h. Wednesday to Saturday 10.30-14.30 and 15.30-19 1 Subtantive contract working: 24h Tuesday to Thursday 15.30-19.30 and Friday 10.30-14.30/ 15.30-19.30 1 Maternity leave Fix term 12 months: Relief staff working 37.5h a variety of different shift days Monday-Sunday. Predominant shifts being 11:00-14.30 and 15.30-19.30. Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (1 Relief staff working a variety of different shift days. Predominant shifts being 11:00-14.30 and 15.30-19.30.) Job ref 339-FD1687-CCC

Site Southmead Hospital Town Bristol Salary £23,615 per annum (FTE) or pro-rata for part time roles Salary period Yearly Closing 16/10/2026 23:59

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

Carrying out of duties in the central Production Kitchen, Restaurant or Regen Ward Kitchens and associated areas.

Main duties of the job

These duties include service of food, cleaning of premises and equipment, pre-preparation of food items prior to service and to regenerate cooked meals for patients at lunch and supper at ward level. It can involve taking of cash, manly via the use of cash tills. Pot wash and working in the catering stores area. Full training is given before this duty is undertaken.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retaina workforce whichrepresentsthe rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Shortlisting Criteria

• To hold or obtain within 3 months of commencement of employment with NBT, a Level 2 Foundation certificate in Food Hygiene or its equivalent.
• Up to date awareness of Catering Procedures and Food Safety
• Ability to communicate with other catering staff regarding work issues and instructions
• Currently Works in the Catering Industry
• Recent relevant catering experience is desirable (Experience within the last 3 years)

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.