Porter / Food Services Assistant

NHS; South Shields; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider based in South Shields is seeking a Porter / Food Services Assistant. The role involves delivering meals, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring a safe meal service. Candidates should have a driving license and experience in catering, along with basic hygiene certification. Flexibility and the ability to work independently are essential. This position offers a welcoming work environment with additional benefits.

Benefits

Fitness Centre

Cycle to work scheme

Childcare Coordinator access

Qualifications

• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to manage tasks independently.
• Experience of working in a healthcare environment.
• Previous experience in dealing with the public.

Responsibilities

• Complete daily food service tasks to Trust locations.
• Ensure the patient, staff and visitor meal service is safe and hygienic.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness.
• Check food supplies according to safety management systems.

Skills

Good understanding of catering services

Ability to accept and prioritise instructions

Driving Licence

Previous knowledge of catering environment

Education

Basic Numeracy and Literacy education

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Tools

Cash registers and card payment machines

Job description

Porter / Food Services Assistant

The closing date is 01 December 2025

ChoiceFacilities Services (based at South Tyneside District Hospital) is on the lookout for a dedicated, dependable and enthusiastic individual to take on the role as a Porter / Driver / Food Service Assistant.

The post is 24 hours per week working 3 days out of 7 at 8 hours per day between the hours of 6.30am 8.45pm. Salary is starting at £26,101 pro rata plus enhancements for weekend working and Bank holidays. Overtime may be available to cover colleagues absences, however this is not guaranteed.

Training will be provided, though candidates must demonstrate flexibility and the ability to manage tasks independently and work proactively.

Main duties of the job

As part of your daily duties the post will involve a variety of tasks which will include driving the catering van to deliver meals to our Coffee Shop at Palmer Hospital and meals to Haven Court. You will also deliver / collect by hand food trolleys to the wards within the hospital. There will be lots of cleaning involved in this post along with the expectation to work in various areas within the department, which could be changed daily to suit the needs of the service. In addition, there is a large part of your daily duties which include emptying of food trolleys and washing dishes and cleaning work areas. This is an important aspect of the job which helps us to maintain the existing exceptional standards of cleanliness.

Effective time management is essential to meet our service deadlines along with flexibility to adapt to changing daily service requirements.

About us

City Hospitals Independent Commercial Enterprises Ltd (CHoICE - trading since 2014) is a wholly owned subsidiary company of South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT). We provide a full range of Facilities Management, Procurement and Outpatient Pharmacy services. We employ staff in a wide range of functions, ranging from cleaners, porters, engineers, procurement and pharmacists.

Commitment, Care and Compassion- our Team contribute to the overall hospital environment, providing safe, secure and comfortable facilities for access by patients, staff and visitors. CHoICE is an exciting place to work that will provide you with an opportunity to grow and develop. Many of our staff work flexibly, including part-time and we are committed to offering flexible approaches to work where possible. We provide a range of benefits including Fitness Centre (SRH), cycle to work scheme and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

We welcome all applications regardless of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

• To complete daily food service tasks to Trust locations.
• To ensure the patient, staff and visitor meal service is provided in a safe, clean and hygienic environment.
• Ensure high standards of cleanliness are met and maintained.
• Understand the International Dysphasia Diet Standardisation (IDDSI) descriptors which will assist the safe service to patients who require a modified diet.
• Ensure that all food supplies which are delivered are checked following the Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
• Record food temperatures as directed by the FSMS.
• To be flexible on a day to day basis moving area to area and across departments (within catering).
• Operate cash registers and card payment machines, complete cash declaration sheets.
• Ensure stock rotation is followed.
• Assist with food preparation as necessary and as requested.

Person Specification

Experience

• Good understanding of catering services
• Driving Licence
• Catering Experience
• Experience of working in a healthcare environment
• Experience in production environment
• Experience of cash/card payment handling
• Previous experience in dealing with the public

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to accept and prioritise instructions
• Previous knowledge of catering environment

Physical Skills

• Combination of bending/lifting/standing and walking with frequent requirement for physical effort.

Qualifications

• Basic Numeracy and Literacy education
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

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

City Hospitals Independent Commercial Enterprises Ltd (CHoICE)