Food Services Assistant | Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A large NHS organization in Nottingham seeks proactive staff for its Catering Services to deliver food and beverage services to patients. Responsibilities include liaising with medical teams for dietary needs, ordering food, and ensuring cleanliness in food preparation areas. Candidates should have relevant experience, attention to detail, and strength in teamwork. The role comes with diverse development opportunities, 27 days of annual leave, and a subsidized staff restaurant. Applications are especially welcomed from underrepresented groups.

Benefits

Subsidized staff restaurant

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

NHS Discount opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience providing food and beverage services is desirable.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.

Responsibilities

• Inform patients about food offers and assist with choices.
• Order food using electronic devices.
• Liaise with medical staff to meet patient dietary needs.
• Maintain cleanliness in food preparation areas.
• Ensure patients receive their dietary requirements.

Skills

Food service experience

Communication

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Job description

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.

In addition to the below summary, you need to familiarise yourself with the 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 (soap, gel and hand towels) as required, and removal of waste from ward kitchens to designated collection points.

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.

CATERING Service Duties

• 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 patient’s 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 patient’s 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.

This advert closes on Monday 29 Dec 2025.