Mealtime Assistant / Housekeeper

Salisbury; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Onsite parking

Onsite facilities

Staff discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Uniform provided

Job summary

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated inpatient nutrition assistant to join the ward-based team on the spinal injuries unit. The role focuses on supporting patients’ nutritional needs, liaising with other departments, and contributing to a safe ward environment.

The post is full-time (37.5 hours per week) with an annual salary of £25,272. Applicants should note sponsorship is not provided and the closing date is 8 October 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience of food service in a busy healthcare setting.
• Proven communication skills within a healthcare team.
• Experience working as part of a team in a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Support and assist Sister/Charge Nurse in meeting patients’ and visitors’ needs through a variety of duties.
• Assist patients with spinal cord injury to eat and drink in a safe and timely manner.
• Maintain a high standard of cleanliness while working with the Housekeeping Team.
• Ensure supplies of essential items are always available.

Skills

Food service

Healthcare food service

Communication skills

Teamwork

Job description

Main area Spinal Injuries Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (10.00-18.00) Job ref 269-SFT9974

Site Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Town Salisbury Salary £25,272 Per Annum Pro rata if part time Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 23:59

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Job overview

We are seeking a dedicated and proactive individual to join our in-patient team based on the Unit. This ward-based role is essential in maintaining a high-quality service by supporting patients’ nutritional needs and contributing positively to the overall ward environment. Also, liaise effectively with other departments to coordinate day-to-day patient care and safety.

Please note: we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position.

Main duties of the job

• To support and assist Sister/Charge Nurse in meeting patients’ and visitors’ needs through the performing of a variety of duties.
• To assist patients with spinal cord injury to eat and drink in a safe and timely manner.
• To consistently maintain a high standard of cleanliness while working with Housekeeping Team.
• To ensure supplies of essential items are always available

Please see attached Job description and person specification for full details of roles and responsibilities.

Working for our organisation

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is part of the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Hospitals Group, alongside Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. Together, we are committed to delivering outstanding, sustainable healthcare through collaboration, innovation and excellent patient care.

With a history spanning more than 250 years, SFT combines a proud heritage with a forward-looking approach to healthcare. We employ more than 4,000 staff, provide around 470 beds and deliver acute, specialist and regional services across Wiltshire and beyond.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where colleagues feel valued, developed and empowered to reach their potential. Flexible working helps colleagues balance work and personal commitments while meeting the needs of patients.

We offer NHS benefits including the NHS Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, staff discounts and onsite facilities.

Salisbury offers an exceptional quality of life, combining a historic city with beautiful countryside, access to the south coast and excellent transport links. Find out more at Experience Salisbury.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job description and person specification for full details of roles and responsibilities.

Person specification

Experience

• Experience of food service
• Experience of food service in a busy Healthcare setting

Experience

• Experience of working as ateam
• experience of working as a team in a Healthcare setting

Experience

• Proven communication skills
• Proven communication skill with in a healthcare team

We offer excellent benefits that help make SDH a great place to work. Take a look at our Employee Value Proposition (EVP) for more detailed information https://www.salisbury.nhs.uk/media/2lfatov2/employee-value-proposition-document-v12-final.pdf

These include but aren't limited to:-

• Holiday starting at 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years for Agenda for Change staff
• Holiday entitlement for Medical and Dental staff starts at 27 days for Junior/Senior Clinical Fellows, Specialty Doctors and rises to 32 days after 5 years. Consultant entitlement starts at 32 days and rises to 34 days after 7 year.
• Access to a career average revalued earnings pension scheme
• Life assurance if a member of the pension scheme
• An extensive Health and Wellbeing offer to help you deal with life's challenges
• Exclusive deals and discounts websites saving you money on everyday purchases, treats for the family, eating out and utility bills for home
• Cycle to work scheme
• Uniform provided (where required)
• 40% bus discount exclusive to SFT employees (period tickets only)
• On site Day Nursery and Holiday Play scheme
• On site health and fitness club
• On site car parking (fees and restrictions apply)
• Opportunities to get on - take advantage of our ongoing learning opportunities and training, to help you achieve the job and career you want.

Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa eg those with graduate visa's) should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

We continue to encourage and support our staff to participate in the seasonal respiratory vaccination programme in order to protect themselves, colleagues and their patients.

GETTING TO WORK

We offer parking on site at Salisbury District Hospital, a daily charge applies. We encourage our staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible, and our Trust is well connected through the bus services to the city centre and other areas.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY

We are committed to making Salisbury an inclusive and welcoming place for every single staff member, regardless of who they are and where they come from. Equality sits at the heart of everything we do, and we ensure that all employees have equal opportunity to develop, to apply for promotions and to work flexibly.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, martial status and age.

OTHER INFORMATION

If this job requires you to have DBS check to enable you to properly fulfil the requirements of the job, on appointment, you will be required to replay the cost of obtaining a DBS check and this amount will be reclaimed in instalments from your salary. Many staff use the DBS update service at a cost of £16 per annum but you need to sign up for this via their website.

Please read the job description and person specification carefully and ensure that your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required.

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This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.