Food Service Assistant

NHS National Services Scotland; Lerwick; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

NHS Shetland is seeking a part-time Food Services Assistant to join our catering team. The role covers two shifts across Friday, Saturday and Sunday with training provided on NHS standards and food safety.

This Band 2 position offers pro rata pay of £26,696–£28,988 plus an annual Distant Islands Allowance of £2,578. No prior NHS or catering experience is required, and you will work to support patient care and staff meals.

Qualifications

• No NHS or catering experience required.
• On-the-job training provided.
• Reliability and teamwork are valued.

Responsibilities

• Fridays – Servery: food service, basic cooking, stock control, cleaning and customer service.
• Saturdays & Sundays – Main Production Kitchen: assist with patient meals, food trolleys, and keeping the area clean and safe.

Skills

Food hygiene

Customer service

Teamwork

Job description

Food Services Assistant (Ref: 260522)

Substantive

Part Time – 20 hours per week

Friday 11:00am – 15:00pm Saturday & Sunday 08:30am – 17:30pm

Band 2 - Salary Range £26,696 - £28,988 per annum (pro rata)

Plus Distant Islands Allowance of £2,578 per annum (pro rata)

Like working with food? Enjoy being part of a team?

Come and work with us.

We’re looking for a Food Services Assistant to join our friendly Catering Team at NHS Shetland. This is a hands‑on role where your work really matters — supporting patient care and providing good food for staff and visitors.

What makes this role different?

You’ll work across two catering settings, so the job is varied and interesting:

Fridays – Servery: Customer‑facing work including food service, basic cooking, food handling, stock control, cleaning and providing a warm, friendly service.

Saturdays & Sundays – Main Production Kitchen: Supporting the preparation of patient meals, food trolleys, and keeping everything clean, safe, and running smoothly.

What you’ll gain

• Food hygiene and safe food handling
• Basic cooking and kitchen skills
• Customer service and communication
• Teamworking in a busy environment
• Experience working to NHS standards

No previous NHS or catering experience is needed — full training and support is provided.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Reliable and keen to learn
• Enjoys practical, hands‑on work
• Can work well as part of a team
• Takes pride in doing a job well

In return, you will get a supportive team, proper training, and the satisfaction of knowing your work makes a difference every day.

You will be expected to comply with the Induction Standards and Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers within 3 months of commencing your role – details can be viewed on http://www.hcswtoolkit.nes.scot.nhs.uk/resources/hcsw-standards-and-codes/

Closing date: 11th October 2026

Interviews: TBA

Please note this is a local advertisement and no relocation or interview expenses are applicable.

Preferred candidates will be required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update prior to a formal offer of employment being made.

In promoting equal opportunities, we welcome applications from all sections of the community.