Catering Assistants

NHS; Whitehaven; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Whitehaven is seeking Catering Assistants to work in a busy hospital catering department. You'll be responsible for assisting with food preparation, serving meals, and maintaining cleanliness of equipment and areas. Excellent customer service skills are essential, along with the ability to work in a physically demanding environment. The role requires flexible hours, including weekends and bank holidays, with a commitment to high-quality service.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

NHS Discounts

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Free counselling and information service

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering role is preferred.
• Willingness to undertake training as required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with food preparation and customer service.
• Maintain cleanliness of work areas and equipment.
• Follow food safety legislation.

Skills

Food preparation and catering practices

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work alone and in a team environment

Ability to follow health, safety and hygiene procedures

Education

GCSE English language or equivalent

Food hygiene certificate or equivalent

Job description

Catering Assistants

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 28 November 2025

Band 2 Catering Assistants WCH 37.5 hours per week

An opportunity as arisen at North Cumbria Integrated Care based at West Cumberland Hospital in the busy Catering Department. This is for various hours in the Catering Department. Catering Assistant post working up to 37.5 hours per week. Working various hours from 7am - 7pm on a 4 week rota which includes Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. The role entails working on a ward taking temperatures of food, plating meals for patients, washing crockery and cutlery in an industrial dishwasher, cleaning, disposing of food waste. Working in the busy Restaurant and coffee shop. Serving staff, visitors and patients. Using a till and card machine. Excellent customer service is essential.

Main duties of the job

The job entails working in a busy work environment assisting with food preparation, taking temperatures, cleaning all crockery, disposing of waste, using industrial equipment, reporting faults and dealing with customer complaints. The successful applicant must have the ability to work alone and to work effectively as part of a team. This is a large area to work in and is a physically demanding job and you will be on your feet for most of the shift and must be able to work in both hot and cold environments. The post holder will carry out a wide range of general catering duties in an efficient and effective manner ensuring that all patients, staff and visitors who use the catering service are provided with a high quality service. Responsible for the simple preparation of foodstuffs, general cleaning of equipment and areas within the Catering Department and ward kitchens, and preparation and service of food to patients on the ward. Working in the busy Restaurant and Costa. Serving staff, visitors and patients. Using a till and card machine. Excellent customer service is essential. Responsible for following food safety legislation and recording accurate information.

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

• 27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• NHS Discounts*
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE English language or equivalent.
• Food hygiene certificate or equivalent.

Knowledge & Experience

• Food preparation and catering practices.
• Previous experience in a catering role.
• Working in a hospital environment.
• Cash machine usage.
• Temperature record taking.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work alone and in a team environment.
• Able to use initiative appropriately.
• Ability to follow health, safety and hygiene procedures.
• Awareness of appropriate image/appearance to suit service needs.

Personal Circumstances

• Flexible approach to working patterns.
• Willing to undertake training as required.

Other requirements

• Promote equality and value diversity
• Adhere to Trust Values and professional behaviours

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust