Retail Catering Assistant - Relief

NHS; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 23,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading hospital trust in Portsmouth is seeking a Relief Catering Assistant. Responsibilities include serving food, cleaning, and supporting food service operations. Ideal candidates will have prior experience in food service and excellent customer care skills. The role offers flexible shifts and membership in the NHS Pension Scheme.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Weekend and bank holiday enhancements

Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Ability to work as part of a team or independently.
• Good communication skills, including non-verbal communication.
• Ability to cope with unpredictable situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide cover for annual leave and other absences.
• Serve customers with food and beverages to high standards.
• Clean restaurant areas and equipment.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Food Safety Certificate

Job description

Job Summary

We are currently looking for an enthusiastic, friendly person to join the Catering Team as a Relief Catering Assistant working in B Level Restaurant and E Level Cafe.

Applicants will be required to carry out a variety of jobs including the following duties:

• Provide cover for annual leave and other absences
• Serve customers with food and beverages to a high standard
• Mechanical and hand washing
• Cleaning of B Level Restaurant, E Level Cafe and equipment in both areas
• Till work
• Functions
• Food preparation
• Barista
• Once trained to work in other areas of the Catering Department as required

Ideally, applicants will have some experience or working in a busy food service environment with some knowledge of allergen and food labelling legislation, be a team player, have a calm disposition and great customer care skills.

We can offer straight shifts, 25 days annual leave rising to 27 days, weekend and bank holiday enhancements and membership of the NHS Pension Scheme.

IN LINE WITH TRUST GUIDELINES THIS POST REQUIRES CANDIDATES TO PROVIDE 5 YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT AND/OR PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES.

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust have adopted a smoke-free policy. You are unable to smoke anywhere on the hospital site.

The Trust is committed to valuing the benefits of diversity in its staff and committed to qual opportunities.

Main duties of the job

Applicants will be required to carry out a variety of jobs including the following duties:

• Provide cover for annual leave and other absences
• Serve customers with food and beverages to high standards
• Mechanical and hand washing
• Cleaning of B Level Restaurant, E Level Cafe and equipment in both areas
• Till work
• Functions
• Food preparation
• Barista
• Once trained to work in other areas of the Catering Department as required

About Us

Equans working in partnership with PHUT. The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for our patients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commission report published 2020 and became a University Hospital. We are ranked as the third in the country for research; embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuously strive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. The Trust’s main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, starting life as a military hospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the south coast. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist services to a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire. The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, colleagues and our community you will find a home at PHU. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Details

Date posted: 10 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 2

Salary: £22,834 a year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: C9192-25-0028

Job locations: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3LY

Job Description

The catering service is provided as part of the wider Estates & Facilities Directorate. The Retail Assistant works as part of a multi-disciplinary team, delivering a high standard of catering. Staff must be flexible, adaptable and work to support a clean and safe food service.

KEY RESULT AREAS

• Responsible for providing a high-quality food service in line with local operational procedures and work schedules.
• Communicate information relating to food service to customers both verbally and by telephone.
• Notifying management on any discrepancies from receipt and distribution of catering supplies.
• Demonstrate duties to new starters.
• Organise own day to day work tasks or activities.
• Reporting details of faults and failures of electrical equipment /fabric of the building to management.
• The moving of light furniture for general cleaning purposes following H&S procedures.
• Ensure that the correct cleaning products are used within the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, alongside the use of personal protective equipment such as safety goggles, gloves and aprons.
• Report accidents, near misses or non-conformities to Team Leader or Manager.
• Responsible for ensuring the safe disposal/packaging of waste as per NHS policy e.g. Household Waste.
• Responsible for maintaining adequate stocks of food provisions and consumables and requesting further supplies from the catering store.
• Responsible for the completion of temperature records/log sheets.
• Complete all cleaning schedules and any other relevant paperwork accurately within given timelines where applicable.
• Undertake surveys and audits as necessary.
• Safe and secure operation of cash registers and supporting equipment.
• Follow guidelines regarding cashing up of registers and ensuring money is secure.
• Responsible for dismantling and reassembling of equipment.
• Manually and/or mechanically washing up catering utensils, crockery and cutlery.
• Environmental cleaning of floors, work surfaces, fixed equipment following department procedures.
• Serving food while adhering to food safety guidelines while maintaining good portion control and presentation skills.
• Basic food preparations to include salads, sandwiches, breakfast, deep fried food and snack food.
• Organise the delivery of functions throughout the hospital site.
• Responsible for maintaining high standards of cleanliness including personal hygiene.
• Ensure HACCP guidelines are followed.
• When necessary carry out relief cover for breaktimes, annual leave and sickness.
• Work together with Department in Performance and Development Reviews.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Work together with Policies and Procedures of NHS Portsmouth and the Department.
• Demonstrate courteous behaviour.
• Workforce management responsible for swiping/logging in at the start and finish of the shift.
• It is possible that on occasion the post holder may be asked to work in other areas of the facilities service. This is not expected to be on a frequent or regular basis and would only take place after appropriate training and support was given.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Have the ability to work as part of a team or on own initiative.
• Have the ability to follow instructions.
• Possess good communication skills, including non-verbal communication skills.
• Ability to respond constructively to unpredictable situations.
• Be calm, focused and able to cope with work under pressure.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable.

Desirable

• Have a knowledge of Health & Safety.

Qualifications

Essential

• No formal qualifications are necessary, but a Food Safety Certificate would be desirable.

Desirable

• Food Safety 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 details

Employer name: Equans Working with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3LY

Employer's website: https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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