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Sanctuary Group; Watlington; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CQC inspection bonus

Health and wellbeing support

Company-paid life insurance

Parental leave

Training & development

Flexible working options

Free meals

Retail discounts

Job summary

Sanctuary Group’s Watlington and District Nursing Home in Oxfordshire is hiring a Catering Assistant to support the kitchen team with basic food preparation and meal service. The role offers a stable 30-hour week at £12.96 per hour, with no late nights or split shifts.

You will help present meals to residents, keep areas clean, and follow hygiene standards, working in a supportive culture that prioritises staff development and resident care.

Qualifications

• Caring and enthusiastic approach to older people.
• Good teamwork and willingness to support colleagues.
• Understanding of safe food handling and cleaning practices.
• Previous catering experience and a food hygiene certificate, or willingness to work towards one.
• Clear communication skills and a flexible approach.

Responsibilities

• Support the catering team with basic food preparation and meal service
• Present and serve meals to a high standard for residents
• Follow food hygiene and safety standards at all times
• Keep kitchen and dining areas clean, safe and welcoming
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to support residents’ daily experience

Skills

Caring attitude

Teamwork

Food hygiene knowledge

Communication skills

Flexible approach

Education

No formal qualifications required

Tools

None

Job description

At Sanctuary Care, we believe in providing high quality care homes where people are looked after with the utmost dignity and respect. It goes without saying that kindness is what care is all about, so first and foremost, we carefully choose our staff for their kind and compassionate nature. We aim to care, nurture and enrich the lives of all in our 'family' at Sanctuary Care, whether that’s our staff, residents or family members.

Catering Assistant

Watlington and District Nursing Home, Oxfordshire

£12.96 per hour

30 hours per week - no late nights, no split shifts

Cook up your career in care with a better work-life balance

We believe providing culinary excellence is more than a job – it’s a calling, and we’d love you to be part of it. We’re excited to welcome a Catering Assistant to our friendly team at Watlington and District Nursing Home in Oxfordshire. With 94% of our colleagues saying they would recommend Sanctuary Care as a great place to work, you’ll be joining a culture where you’re supported to thrive and grow, and recognised for the difference you make.

We're proudly Investors in People Gold accredited and not-for-profit, which means every penny we make goes straight back into our people and our homes. Whether you’ve already found your calling or you’re still discovering it, we’ll support you every step of the way. From your first day to your dream role, we’ll help you get there.

When you join Sanctuary Care, you’re joining an award-winning team where colleagues and residents truly matter. We’re proud winners of the 2025 Nursing Times Award for Care of Older People and the 2025 Care Home Awards Best for Training and Development, and Outstanding Larger Care Home Group.

Your role

• Support the catering team with basic food preparation and meal service
• Present and serve meals to a high standard for residents
• Follow food hygiene and safety standards at all times
• Keep kitchen and dining areas clean, safe and welcoming
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to support residents’ daily experience

Your skills

• A caring, enthusiastic approach with a genuine interest in older people
• Good teamwork skills and a willingness to support colleagues
• An understanding of safe food handling and cleaning practices
• Previous catering experience and a food hygiene certificate, or willingness to work towards one
• Clear communication skills and a flexible approach

Your rewards

You deserve more than the basics. That’s why, alongside 28 days’ annual leave pro rata (including bank holidays), occupational sick pay linked to length of service, and a contributory pension, we’ve created a package to help you thrive:

• CQC/CI inspection bonus
• Health and wellbeing support - including Aviva Digicare+ with virtual GP appointments, plus an Employee Assistance Programme offering medical, financial, and legal advice, as well as short-term counselling
• Company-paid life insurance
• Parental leave arrangements and annual leave purchase scheme
• Company-funded training and ongoing career development opportunities, including our Team Leader Development Programme
• Flexible working options and an inclusive culture where everyone belongs, supported by our staff networks including PRISM, Disability, Race Equality and Parent networks
• Free meals dependant on shift duration
• Exclusive retail discounts, Cycle to Work, and salary sacrifice arrangements

Some rewards are subject to a qualifying period or other criteria - visit our website for more information.

Before you apply

• We can only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK.
• All roles require safeguarding and pre-employment checks, including criminal records and overseas police checks if needed; for more information, please get in touch.
• Internal candidates should apply via their internal careers account.
• We may close this advert early, so please apply as soon as possible.

Inclusion is one of our core values. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process in line with our Disability Confident employer status.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

Company: Sanctuary Group

Salary: Not specified

Hours: Full-time

Location: Watlington, OX49 5AE

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 29 Sept 2026

Closing date: 29 Oct 2026

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