Relief Catering Assistant

NHS; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A local NHS trust in Rochdale is seeking a Relief Catering Assistant to join their busy catering department. The role involves preparing meals, ensuring food safety, and assisting patients with their dietary needs. Candidates must have food safety level 2 and basic food preparation experience. The position offers opportunities for professional development and a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Flexible working opportunities

Protected hours for health and wellbeing activities

Qualifications

• Good knowledge of spoken and written English.
• Awareness of allergens.
• Basic computer knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness.
• Prepare, plate, and distribute patient meals.
• Handle cash transactions following Trust policies.
• Work independently and meet deadlines under pressure.

Skills

Able to cover absences with notice

Education

Food safety level 2

Job description

Relief Catering Assistant

The closing date is 30 October 2025

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual to work in our busy catering department at Rochdale Infirmary and associated sites. The role will involve working between retail and patient catering, regeneration of frozen meals, and preparation of simple foods such as breakfast items, sandwiches and salads.

This involves working directly with patients, some of whom are compromised, on a one-to-one basis and being fully conversant with the nutritional state of all patients. You will advise patients on the various nutritional/dietary options available dependent upon the patient's needs.

The post holder will ensure that patients receive their food/drinks in an environment that has been adequately prepared for mealtimes.

Main duties of the job

• Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness in line with Catering Food Standards Policy and legislation.
• Clean premises and equipment per departmental hygiene policy and HACCP regulations, ensuring a safe and tidy workplace under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Operate and clean automatic dishwashers.
• Prepare, plate, and distribute patient meals, accurately probe and record food temperatures per HACCP procedures.
• Collect patients' daily food requirements and deliver food to wards, ensuring correct storage, rotation, and stock levels.
• Handle cash transactions following Trust policies.
• Complete all relevant documentation accurately.
• Work independently and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues to meet service standards.
• Provide cover during absences and work scheduled shifts.
• Maintain good working relationships across departments and wards.
• Be flexible to work in any section or location as required and act up to higher grades when necessary.
• Adapt to new regulations and uphold all hygiene and safety standards consistently.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Food safety level 2

Knowledge

• Good knowledge of spoken and written English
• Awareness of allergens
• Basic computer knowledge

Experience

• Experience in simple food preparation
• Catering experience

Skills

• Able to cover absences with notice

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.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust