Patient Catering Assistant - LRI

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; Leicester; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekend shift pay enhancements

Job summary

University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust is seeking a Patient Catering Assistant for Leicester Royal Infirmary's patient catering service. You will prepare, transport and serve patient meals, collect orders using SAFFRON on a handheld tablet, and help ensure dietary requirements are met across wards and the main kitchen.

You'll work in a busy environment, maintain food safety records, follow COSHH procedures and Trust induction training.

Qualifications

• Achieve CIEH Level 2 Food Safety within three months.
• Achieve NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in support services and customer care within three years.

Responsibilities

• Collect meal orders from patients using the SAFFRON system on a handheld tablet and guide menu selections.
• Prepare, pick and pack patient meal trays, ensuring suitability for special diets.
• Transport meals to wards, collect used crockery and cutlery.
• Regenerate meals on wards, complete meal service and verify each patient receives a meal.
• Record meal temperatures and complete food safety records.
• Assist in wash-up and kitchen tasks, including dishwashing.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene in ward kitchens and work areas.

Skills

Teamwork

English communication

Attention to detail

Safety awareness

Education

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in support services and customer care

CIEH Level 2 Food Safety

Tools

SAFFRON tablet system

Dishwashing equipment operation

Job description

The Patient Catering Assistant works in the main kitchen and on wards for Leicester Royal Infirmary’s patient catering service. The role covers preparing, transporting and serving patient meals, collecting orders and maintaining food safety and cleanliness. It combines kitchen production and wash-up duties with ward-level meal preparation and service, including evening meals. The post requires CIEH Level 2 Food Safety within three months and an NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in support services and customer care within three years, as well as Trust induction and relevant training.

What the job involves

• Collect meal orders from patients using the SAFFRON system on a handheld tablet and give menu guidance to patients, relatives and ward teams
• Prepare, pick and pack patient meal trays, checking food is suitable for special diets
• Transport meals to wards and departments by trolley, Regen Oven or Cam cart, and collect used crockery and cutlery
• Prepare and regenerate meals on wards, complete meal service and check each patient receives a meal
• Record meal temperatures at the required times and complete food safety records
• Carry out minimal food preparation in the main kitchen and work in the wash-up area, using dishwashing equipment or washing by hand
• Clean ward kitchens, regeneration areas and designated work areas, including dismantling and reassembling the dishwasher and following a clean-as-you-go approach
• Maintain food safety, infection control, COSHH and colour-coding procedures, and use cleaning materials economically
• Record and dispose of food, cardboard and household waste in line with regulations and Trust procedures
• Clean, store and secure equipment and cleaning products, and report faulty equipment or area defects to the supervisor, taking unsafe equipment out of use and labelling it
• Report incidents, accidents and mishaps to the Team Lead
• Complete scheduled cleaning tasks and maintain cleanliness across the work area

What’s required

Qualifications

• Achieve CIEH Level 2 Food Safety within three months
• Achieve NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in support services and customer care within three years

Skills & knowledge

• Carry out instructions and duties set out in the job description
• Good written and spoken English for sharing routine information orally, in writing or electronically
• Use a handheld tablet after training to collect meal orders and provide menu information to patients, relatives and ward teams
• Work as part of a team or on own initiative, and plan daily and weekly tasks
• Follow standard operating procedures, good practice and policies, and understand required work standards
• Understand routine work processes and suggest improvements within own work area

Other

• Work in a busy care environment and meet deadlines safely
• Work in cold and wet conditions
• Concentrate while working in an unpredictable and demanding environment
• Take a flexible approach to working practices
• Attend Trust induction and relevant trainingDemonstrate Trust values and behaviours, treat people with dignity and respect, and support compassionate and inclusive practice

Nice to have

• Previous experience in a healthcare environment
• Catering experience
• CIEH Level 2 Food Safety
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in support services and customer care

What’s offered

• Weekend shift pay enhancements