Facilities Operative Catering (Ward Based Caterer)

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Wales; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health board in the United Kingdom is seeking a motivated Facilities Operative Catering to work within Patient catering at the University Hospital of Wales. The role involves working flexible hours and requires good customer care skills, food hygiene certification, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Ideal candidates should be organised and able to adapt in a busy hospital setting. The position offers various benefits including enhanced pay for weekends, excellent pension schemes, and generous leave provisions.

Benefits

Enhanced rates of pay for weekend work

Opportunity to join an excellent pension scheme

27 annual leave days plus 8 bank holidays

Qualifications

• Experience of working in an NHS health care environment.
• Able to work as a team member.
• Ability to work without direct supervision.

Responsibilities

• Join the Facilities team within Patient catering as a ward-based caterer.
• Adapt to an ever-changing health-care environment.
• Prioritise workloads according to schedules and service needs.

Skills

Good customer care and verbal / written communication skills

Sufficient experience of Catering service

Education

Good numeracy and literacy education

Intermediate food hygiene

N.V.Q level 2 Catering qualification or equivalent.

Job description

Facilities Operative Catering (Ward Based Caterer)

The closing date is 04 January 2026

We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic people with a flexible approach to work to join our Facilities team within Patient catering as a ward-based caterer at the University Hospital of Wales.

The vacancy is permanent and various hours are available between 15:00 and 19:30 and any five on seven days.

Main duties of the job

Candidates must possess a current food hygiene certification, have good customer‑care skills and be able to work on their own initiative or as part of a team. Knowledge of catering within a hospital environment, COSHH, health & safety and infection control would be beneficial but not essential as training will be provided. The ideal candidate will need the ability to adapt to an ever‑changing health‑care environment. You will need to be organised and have experience of working in a busy service and environment where you would be required to prioritise workloads according to schedules and service needs.

There are development opportunities for people with good organisational and communication skills and a good knowledge of delivering a quality service to patients, relatives and members of staff.

We offer excellent staff terms and conditions including enhanced rates of pay for weekend work, opportunity to join an excellent pension scheme, 27 annual leave days plus 8 bank holidays.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.

Our mission is "Caring for People, Keeping People Well" and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population's health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10‑year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing. We are contributing to a healthier Wales with a great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research. Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.

Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good numeracy and literacy education
• Intermediate food hygiene
• N.V.Q level 2 Catering qualification or equivalent.

Experience

• Able to work as a team member
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Experience of working in an NHS health care environment
• Previous Catering Experience

Skills

• Good customer care and verbal / written communication skills
• Sufficient experience of Catering service

Special Knowledge

• Cleaning techniques within a catering environment in accordance with food hygiene
• General knowledge of cleaning techniques and cleaning frequencies
• Dietary / nutrition awareness
• Knowledge of cleaning techniques in accordance with NHS Standards of

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.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board