Food Services Assistant

NHS; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare provider in Nottingham is seeking a proactive Food Services Assistant to join their catering team. The role involves providing food and beverage services to patients while ensuring high standards of cleanliness. Responsibilities include ordering food, liaising with healthcare staff about patients' nutritional needs, and maintaining food safety standards. Candidates should have customer service experience and an understanding of food hygiene practices. This position offers opportunities for growth within a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Subsidised staff restaurant

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Staff discounts via NHS Discounts

Qualifications

• Knowledge of cleaning/hygiene COSHH procedures is essential.
• Ability to undertake NVQ level 2 in food service is required.
• Experience in patient food service principles is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide food and beverage services to patients at ward level.
• Maintain cleanliness of food preparation areas.
• Order food using electronic devices and liaise with healthcare staff.
• Identify patients with dietary needs and provide appropriate meals.

Skills

Knowledge of cleaning/hygiene COSHH procedures

Ability to undertake NVQ level 2 in food service

Previous experience in a customer/patient focused environment

Job description

Food Services Assistant

Closing date: 29 December 2025

We require proactive and hardworking staff to work as part of a team within Catering Services.

The role involves being an integrated part of the ward team providing Food and beverage services to the patients and maintaining the highest standard of cleaning to food preparation areas at ward level, ensuring at all times the highest degree of cleanliness, safety and care.

Main duties of the job

In addition to the below summary, you need to familiarise yourself with full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert.

Food Service experience is desirable though full training will be given. Responsibilities will include Food and Beverage services to patients at ward level and daily cleaning tasks such as hard floors, equipment such as dishwashers, fixtures and fittings Replenishment of disposable commodities, i.e., soap, gel and hand towels as required and the removal of waste from ward kitchens to designated collection points.

About us

With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

Our organisation is driven by our strategic objectives and organisational values and we look for people who are strongly aligned with them.

Our Team is tight knit and work well together.

A subsidised staff restaurant is available on site which is open 7am-11pm 7 days a week.

Annual Leave starts at 27 days a year plus bank holidays. There are also a number of staff discounts via NHS Discounts website.

Job responsibilities

• Inform patients about the hospital’s food offer and the procedure for any ad-hoc requests and help them to make an informed choice from the range of foods and beverages.
• Order food using the hospital's electronic ordering devices.
• Liaise with nurses, caterers and dieticians to ensure patients food, nutrition/clinical needs and preferences are identified and met.
• Identify patients not eating sufficiently to the Nurse in Charge.
• Ensure appropriate feedback is given on the patients food service experience e.g. quality, quantity and choice.
• Provide information to the next food service assistant who is on duty using the guidelines provided to ensure a seamless service.
• Store food in accordance with manufactured guidelines and food safety legislation.
• Offer patients a choice of hot & cold beverages, as and when required a minimum of 5 times a day.
• Ensure a regular supply of fresh water is provided to each patient throughout the day.
• Serve the patients their choice and portion size of main dish, vegetables and accompaniments in an appealing and appetising way. Offer second portions if required.
• Ensure patients with special dietary requirements receive the appropriate food following liaison with the dietician or nurse.
• Identify appropriate meal choices to meet patients needs/preferences.
• Movement of food to wards/RDU as required adhering to food safety legislation.
• Maintain adequate stock levels to meet the needs of the patient e.g. milk, bread, tea, coffee, cereal, and preserves.
• Identify shortages of crockery and cutlery to the Facilities Team Leader.
• Ensure an appropriate supply of crockery and cutlery is available.
• Ensure efficient and safe use of cleaning equipment.
• Prepare the patients eating environment (day room/bedside table) to the standards stipulated in the ward manual according to where the patient wishes to eat, to ensure a relaxed environment.
• Clear cutlery/crockery and clean dayroom/bedside table following service promptly.
• Clean all surfaces and equipment in the kitchen according to the daily cleaning schedule.
• Carry out daily and weekly cleaning tasks as directed through the cleaning schedules and complete the required paperwork.

Training & Qualifications

• Knowledge of cleaning/hygiene COSHH procedures
• Ability to undertake NVQ level 2 in food service
• Knowledge or ability to understand working practices for providing a patient food service

Experience

• Previous experience of working in a customer/patient focused environment.
• Principles and criterion of Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP), COSHH

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.

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts