Relief Catering Assistant | Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working opportunities

Annual leave allowance

Health and wellbeing support

Job summary

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Relief Catering Assistant for Rochdale Infirmary and surrounding sites to support retail and patient catering, preparing simple meals including breakfasts, sandwiches and salads.

The role involves direct patient interaction, nutrition guidance, ensuring mealtime service, and maintaining hygiene while handling cash and completing documentation. Shifts may include evenings, bank holidays and weekends.

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering or hospital kitchen environment.
• Ability to handle cash transactions and complete documentation accurately.
• Able to work flexible hours including bank holidays, evenings or weekends.
• Knowledge of HACCP procedures and hygiene standards.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness.
• Clean premises and equipment in line with hygiene policy and HACCP.
• Operate and clean automatic dishwashers.
• Prepare, plate and distribute patient meals and check food temperatures.
• Deliver meals to wards with correct storage and rotation.

Skills

Food service

Patient care

Cash handling

Hygiene standards

Documentation

Tools

Dishwashers

Food prep equipment

Job description

Relief Catering Assistant | Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for enthusiastic motivated individual to work in our busy Catering Department at Rochdale Infirmary and associated sites who will be primarily 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.

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

Please note that this role will include working on Bank Holidays, evenings or weekends.

*Previous applicants need not apply*

• 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.

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.

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

This advert closes on Wednesday 28 Oct 2026

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