Catering Porter/Assistant

Northampton General Hospital; Northampton; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is recruiting for a Main area Catering / Portering role (Band 2) on a permanent contract. The post involves delivering meals, portering, and general catering duties across site with varied shifts and 37.5 hours per week.

The role requires reliability and a positive attitude; previous experience is preferred, but training is available. You will support patients and staff while ensuring food safety and quality.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a catering/portering role is preferred, with training available.
• Able to operate electric trollies/vehicles and dishwashers while maintaining safety.
• Good customer service and awareness of dietary/cultural needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality food and beverage service to patients.
• Adhere to Health & Safety, Food Safety, COSHH and HACCP codes.
• Porter food around the hospital using trollies and electric vehicles.
• Clean floors and surfaces; maintain hygiene and proper storage of chilled foods.
• Assemble patient meals, desserts and snacks; monitor storage and comply with food safety guidelines.
• Complete daily schedules, temperature records and timesheets via app-based software.

Skills

Follow instructions

Multitask

Calm under pressure

Basic computer skills

Physical duties

Education

NVQ/Apprenticeship (Catering/ hospitality/ customer service)

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Main area Catering / Portering Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent: 5 Out of 7 days Varied shift Pattern Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (5 out of 7 Days) Job ref 265-8267334-COR

Site University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Town Northamptonshire Salary £25,272 Per annum / pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 27/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 09/11/2026

Job overview

We are looking for individuals who are reliable, team-oriented, and who have a positive attitude. Previous experience in a similar role is preferred, but we are willing to train the right candidates.

The portering role involves the delivery of food around the site, manual moving of food trollies and the use of electric vehicles, general catering duties, plating and service, general cleaning duties and the operation of mechanical industrial type dishwashers.

Other responsibilities may include assisting with food preparation, working on the assembly belt, restocking supplies, following food safety guidelines, and providing excellent customer service to patients and staff

Please note if you are interested in this role, it is in an Assembly Kitchen

Join us in providing top-notch care and service to our patients through delicious and nutritious meals.

Main duties of the job

The provision of a high quality and professional food and beverage service to all patients.

To ensure all Codes of Practice for Health & Safety, Food Safety & Hygiene, COSHH and HACCP are adhered too.

To carry out portering of food around the hospital site by the use of trollies and electrical vehicles

Carry out cleaning duties and maintain hygiene levels, to ensure Food Hygiene Legislation and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point procedures are conformed to and maintained.

Ensure correct storage, labelling and rotation of all chilled produce and monitoring of refrigerated and heated storage equipment

To always maintain food quality and excellent customer service, and to action any defects immediately and proactively

Assembly of Patient meals, desserts and Snacks as directed.

Working for our organisation

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To safely use all catering related equipment and to report any maintenance defects and problems immediately to the estates department

To carry out portering of food around the hospital site by the use of trollies and electrical vehicles

To monitor levels of waste and report them to the Supervisor

Operation of the electric transportation vehicles in line with the Trust’s policies

Cleaning of floors/surfaces and machinery as identified in departments cleaning schedule.

Collection and distribution of function requests.

Security of all Trust property when on duty, in accordance with Departmental Policy.

To always maintain a pleasant customer focus, providing Information about food choices taking into consideration cultural and dietary requirements.

To contribute to the development of the Catering Service by putting forward suggestions for improvements

Any other related tasks as identified by your Line Manager.

To complete daily schedules, temperature records and timesheets via app-based software packages.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to retain information and learning.
• Ability to multitask effectively and move from one task to another rapidly when priorities change.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure or challenging situations.
• Basic Computer Skills.
• Self-motivated to work under minimal supervision.
• Able to undertake the frequent physical duties of the role such a moving laden meal trolleys, carrying trays of food, operation of dishwashing etc.

Knowledge & Experience

• Previous experience of working in a food production environment
• Knowledge & Understanding of different dietary & cultural needs
• Knowledge of good health and safety practices
• Knowledge of food safety protocols
• Allergy awareness
• Experience of working in a customer facing industry
• Knowledge of special dietary requirements

Education,Qualification

• NVQ/Apprenticeship (or equivalent in Catering/ hospitality/ customer service
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (or be willing to undertake)

At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.

We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).

We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That’s why we talk about Team NGH. It’s all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Our Excellence Values:

• Compassion
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courageous
• Accountable

For further information on nursing, apprenticeships, A&E or any other departments please visit our specific website or pages that are indicated on the right hand side of this advert.

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust recognises that staff of differing backgrounds and life experiences enrich our workforce and bring different skills and knowledge. We therefore encourage and welcome applications for our vacancies from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE VACANCIES PRIOR TO THE ADVERTISED CLOSING DATE WHEN WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF SUFFICIENT APPLICATIONS

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.

Name Ellie Theobalds Job title Deputy Catering Manager - Patient Services Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01604 544146