Relief Catering Assistant

NHS National Services Scotland; Kirkwall; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Orkney is seeking a dedicated General Catering Assistant to join their Catering Team at The Balfour. This role involves assisting in food preparation and customer service within a high-quality meal service environment. Ideal candidates will provide excellent support under the direction of supervisory staff, contributing positively to the care of the Orkney community.

Benefits

Distant Islands Allowance

Attractive pension scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounts for local and national retailers

Qualifications

• Ability to provide kitchen support in a healthcare environment.
• Willingness to undertake training for food hygiene certification.

Responsibilities

• Assist in food preparation and restaurant operation.
• Serve food in the restaurant and deliver meals to wards.
• Support chefs and maintain kitchen standards.

Skills

Customer Service

Food Preparation

Teamwork

Education

Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

About the Organisation:
As Scotland’s smallest health board, NHS Orkney is driven by a bold vision: looking after our community and providing excellent care. Whether you’re starting your NHS journey or bringing expertise from another NHS employer, your skills will make a real difference to the health and lives of Orkney’s 22,000 residents.

Our state-of-the-art healthcare facility, The Balfour, opened in 2019 and is home to modern inpatient wards, an emergency department, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices, and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Collaboration thrives here, ensuring exceptional care for every patient. Beyond our main facility, we’re investing in our outer isles, enhancing services, and transforming patient care across our islands.

About Orkney:

Orkney itself is nothing short of magical. With over 70 islands (20 inhabited), this breathtaking destination offers stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and vibrant cultural and sporting activities. Recognised as one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney promises a lifestyle like no other.

The Post:
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a General Catering Assistant to work within the Catering Team at the Balfour to provide assistance in all aspects of food preparation, restaurant operation and customer service.

The Catering Service provides a high-quality patient meal service to the Balfour, providing 3 meals per day for up to 43 patients. A public restaurant service is also provided for staff and members of the public, serving upwards of 250 meals per day. This role will also entail providing assistance to the chefs, the service of food at the restaurant and delivering meals to wards.

The Candidate:
The successful candidate will work as part of a small team, providing a high standard of kitchen support under the direction of the Supervisor Chef/Retail & Restaurant Supervisor and Catering Team Lead.

If there are applicants that do not have an elementary food hygiene certificate, they will be able to undertake training towards this qualification which will be provided by NHS Orkney, through other partners.

Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:
This post will be based at The Balfour

The successful candidate will work: Relief (as and when required)

This post is on a Relief Basis

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.

Benefits and Salary:
Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?

The salary for this post is on a Band 2 £25,694 - £27,900 and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,654 pro rata per year, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.

NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.

Further Information:

If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!

To find out more about this opportunity please contact Danny McCaig, Interim Catering Lead on [e-mail]

Interview Date: Monday 28th July 2025