Kitchen Assistant

SeeMe Hired Ltd; Borehamwood; On-site; GBP 27,552,000 - 31,685,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Weekend enhancement

Staff discounts

Employee recognition

Job summary

Westgate Healthcare is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to join our team and support mealtimes for residents. You’ll help prepare meals, serve residents, and ensure food presentation meets standards.

The role is 30 hours per week with shifts 8:00am–6:30pm. Pay is £12.71 per hour, plus £0.50 extra per hour on weekends. No prior kitchen experience required; attitude and willingness to learn are important.

Qualifications

• Great communication and teamwork.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a care home kitchen.
• Experience in care home, hotel or restaurant is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Helping with the preparation of meals and supporting the kitchen team
• Serving meals to residents, ensuring food is presented well and served at the correct temperature
• Washing crockery, cutlery, cooking and serving utensils and kitchen equipment
• Keeping the kitchen and dining areas clean, tidy and hygienic
• Following COSHH, health and safety and food hygiene requirements
• Receiving and checking kitchen deliveries and making sure stock is stored correctly and rotated appropriately
• Carrying out reasonable requests from the Home Manager or Head Chef

Skills

Cleaning Skills

Food Production

HACCP/Food Safety Management Skills

Time Management

Job description

Kitchen Assistant

Kitchen Assistant

Come and make a difference with Westgate Healthcare! #CareWithUsAtWestgate

Are you someone who enjoys being busy, working as part of a team and taking pride in a job well done? Do you like the idea of preparing and serving food that helps make someone’s day?

We’re looking for a Kitchen Assistant to join our friendly team and play an important part in mealtimes for our residents. From helping prepare meals and keeping the kitchen running smoothly to making sure food looks great and is served at the right temperature, you’ll be part of creating a positive dining experience every day.

If you’re reliable, hands‑on and have a can‑do attitude, we’d love to hear from you.

About the role

What’s in it for you?

£12.71 per hour, plus 50p per hour weekend enhancement

30 hours per week

3 shifts per week, working 8:00am–6:30pm

What Will You Be Doing?

You’ll help keep our kitchen and mealtimes running smoothly, working alongside the Head Chef, care team and wider home team.

Your day‑to‑day will include:

• Helping with the preparation of meals and supporting the kitchen team

• Serving meals to residents, making sure food is presented well and served at the correct temperature

• Working with care staff to understand and accommodate residents’ individual meal preferences

• Washing crockery, cutlery, cooking and serving utensils and kitchen equipment

• Keeping the kitchen and dining areas clean, tidy and hygienic

• Following COSHH, health and safety and food hygiene requirements

• Receiving and checking kitchen deliveries and making sure stock is stored correctly and rotated appropriately

• Helping keep the kitchen organised and running efficiently

• Carrying out reasonable requests from the Home Manager or Head Chef

About You

You don’t need to have years of kitchen experience to join us. What matters is that you’re someone who:

• Takes pride in their work and enjoys being part of a team

• Is reliable, organised and happy to get stuck in

• Has a positive, can‑do attitude

• Cares about doing things properly and safely

• Understands the importance of cleanliness and hygiene

• Is friendly, respectful and considerate towards older people

• Can work at pace while still paying attention to detail

• Is happy to support wherever needed to keep things running smoothly

Previous experience in a kitchen, care home, catering or hospitality environment would be great, but the right attitude and willingness to learn are just as important.

Why Work at Westgate?

At Westgate Healthcare, we want our people to feel valued, supported and rewarded for the work they do.

When you join us, you’ll get:

• Competitive pay, with enhanced rates at weekends

• Equal pay for young workers – staff under 25 are paid the same as colleagues aged 25+

• Stream – access your wages before payday and enjoy exclusive discounts at a range of popular retailers

• Blue Light Card discounts

• Access to Byond Prepayment Card, Extras Discounts and Cycle to Work Scheme

• Refer a Friend Scheme – earn up to £500 for a successful referral

• Employee recognition schemes, including Employee of the Month and Long Service awards

• Team-building activities and social events

• Support to achieve additional and nationally recognised qualifications

• Financial and wellbeing support through The Care Workers Charity

• A comprehensive induction, free training and ongoing professional development

Most importantly, you’ll be joining a team where the work you do genuinely matters. Every meal you help prepare and serve is part of creating a positive experience for the people who call our homes their home.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we receive suitable applications, so early submission is encouraged.

Due to a high volume of applications, if you do not hear from us within 5 working days, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Westgate Healthcare is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

WGHROB

About the company

We are Westgate Healthcare, a family‑run care provider delivering award‑winning residential, nursing and dementia care across the South East of England.

With over 20 years of experience, we focus on creating safe, supportive and welcoming environments for older people.

Our approach combines high clinical standards with genuine compassion, ensuring every resident receives personalised, dignified care

Required Criteria

• The right to live and work in the UK
• Previous experience of working in a similar position is essential to be successful
• Previous experience in a care home environment is ideal, however candidates with a hotel/restaurant background are also encouraged to apply
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to work in a team, a caring nature and a positive attitude
• An understanding of Health and Safety, Infection Control and COSHH

Desired Criteria

Skills you'll need

• Cleaning Skills
• Food Production
• HACCP/Food Safety Management Skills
• Time Management