Job summary
- Do you have the skills to provide a high quality catering service?
- Do you wish to develop your skills and knowledge in community inpatients?
If you answered yes, we've got the perfect role for you!
Join our catering team here at Medway Community Healthcare and help us make a difference for people with dementia, stroke and other conditions.
We are looking for two catering assistants to cover a total of 31 hours a week, approx. 15.5 hours per week each. The shifts will be Monday-Friday 5 hours a day and Saturday-Sunday 3 hours a day. You will support the catering team to provide a high quality catering service within Darland House, Our Zone and Harmony House. The ideal candidate will be approachable, flexible and willing to work as part of a team.
If this is you we look forward to welcoming you to our team.
Main duties of the job
To work as part of the catering team within Darland House, Our Zone & Harmony house, preparing and cooking food to the highest level of food and hygiene standards.
The post holder will be responsible for catering in line with Medway Community Healthcare CIC and NHS National Standards for food preparation for patients, staff, families and carers.
The post holders will need to be flexible working across different shifts covering 7 days a week.
About us
So what else?
- This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
- We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
- We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
- You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
The small print
- Informal visits can be arranged on request.
- We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
- MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communication and relationship skills
- Able to work flexibly and communicate with all members of the catering team to ensure that all tasks are carried out to a high standard.
- Able to communicate well with residents, carers, volunteers and staff especially with regard to menu changes, dietary requirements and dietary information
- Able to communicate effectively with outside contractors/agencies as advised by the supervisor.
- Knowledge, training and experience
- Has an understanding and knowledge of advanced Food and Hygiene requirements, catering procedures, practices and equipment. Is prepared to undertake further training as appropriate.
- Has an awareness of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
- Has experience of working in a health and social care environment and an understanding of health and safety requirements.
- Analytical and judgement skills
- Demonstrates a flexible approach and ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
- Ability to make decisions involving straightforward facts or situations in relation to the use of equipment
- Ability to offer alternative menus or soft diets as required in consultation with nutritionist and line manager.
- Planning and organisational skills
- Ability to carry out planned day to day work activities including cooking prioritising times and procedures, ensuring that tasks are completed in the agreed time scale adhering to infection control and food hygiene measures.
- Ability to reorganise a menu at short notice
- Complete monthly time sheet, delivery sheets, and temperature control sheets.
- Report any areas of concern to the Catering Manager.
- Physical skills
- Ability to move food and items/equipment used for the preparation and cleaning up of food around the kitchen area as required.
- Ability to manoeuvre food trolleys around the home as required.
- Perform work required for the preparation of food, this may include knife skills.
- Responsibility for patient / client care
- Perform work duties in a way that minimises risks to residents, relatives, visitors, volunteers and staff and assists in maintaining a healthy and safe environment.
- Communicate with and assist residents within responsibilities of role and under supervision of nursing staff.
- Ability to provide information relating to food provision as appropriate
- Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
- Follows Medway Community Healthcare policies and procedures, alerting the appropriate person to any difficulties in doing so.
- Participation in discussion regarding policies and procedures and any proposed changes.
- To be able to offer ideas and suggestions ensuring catering standards are met and maintained.
- Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
- Assist the Catering Manager in maintaining budgets within spending limits, making best use of resources available.
- Maintain duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Reporting problems or discrepancies quickly and to the appropriate person.
- The post holder needs to understand stock control and may be required to sign for food/goods received.
- Responsibilities for human resources (HR)
- Demonstrates own duties to new or less experienced employees and agency staff as required.
- Demonstrates good understanding and application of the equality and diversity policy.
- Identify and participate in any training required to carry out role as agreed with manager.
- Ensure own compliance in statutory and mandatory training.
- Responsibilities for information resources
- Correctly and accurately records personally generated information including monthly time sheet.
- Complete all kitchen related records as required e.g. fridge temperatures.
- Ensure compliance with Information Governance policies and procedures, respecting the duty to protect resident/family information at all times.
- Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)
- Participates in audits where appropriate e.g. staff survey
- Freedom to act
- Ability to work supervised and on own initiative as appropriate and accept personal accountability.
- Operates within health, hygiene, food preparation and cooking procedures.
- Be sensitive and respond to the needs of residents/carers in the home.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communication and relationship skills
- Able to work flexibly and communicate with all members of the catering team to ensure that all tasks are carried out to a high standard.
- Able to communicate well with residents, carers, volunteers and staff especially with regard to menu changes, dietary requirements and dietary information
- Able to communicate effectively with outside contractors/agencies as advised by the supervisor.
- Knowledge, training and experience
- Has an understanding and knowledge of advanced Food and Hygiene requirements, catering procedures, practices and equipment. Is prepared to undertake further training as appropriate.
- Has an awareness of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
- Has experience of working in a health and social care environment and an understanding of health and safety requirements.
- Analytical and judgement skills
- Demonstrates a flexible approach and ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
- Ability to make decisions involving straightforward facts or situations in relation to the use of equipment
- Ability to offer alternative menus or soft diets as required in consultation with nutritionist and line manager.
- Planning and organisational skills
- Ability to carry out planned day to day work activities including cooking prioritising times and procedures, ensuring that tasks are completed in the agreed time scale adhering to infection control and food hygiene measures.
- Ability to reorganise a menu at short notice
- Complete monthly time sheet, delivery sheets, and temperature control sheets.
- Report any areas of concern to the Catering Manager.
- Physical skills
- Ability to move food and items/equipment used for the preparation and cleaning up of food around the kitchen area as required.
- Ability to manoeuvre food trolleys around the home as required.
- Perform work required for the preparation of food, this may include knife skills.
- Responsibility for patient / client care
- Perform work duties in a way that minimises risks to residents, relatives, visitors, volunteers and staff and assists in maintaining a healthy and safe environment.
- Communicate with and assist residents within responsibilities of role and under supervision of nursing staff.
- Ability to provide information relating to food provision as appropriate
- Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
- Follows Medway Community Healthcare policies and procedures, alerting the appropriate person to any difficulties in doing so.
- Participation in discussion regarding policies and procedures and any proposed changes.
- To be able to offer ideas and suggestions ensuring catering standards are met and maintained.
- Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
- Assist the Catering Manager in maintaining budgets within spending limits, making best use of resources available.
- Maintain duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Reporting problems or discrepancies quickly and to the appropriate person.
- The post holder needs to understand stock control and may be required to sign for food/goods received.
- Responsibilities for human resources (HR)
- Demonstrates own duties to new or less experienced employees and agency staff as required.
- Demonstrates good understanding and application of the equality and diversity policy.
- Identify and participate in any training required to carry out role as agreed with manager.
- Ensure own compliance in statutory and mandatory training.
- Responsibilities for information resources
- Correctly and accurately records personally generated information including monthly time sheet.
- Complete all kitchen related records as required e.g. fridge temperatures.
- Ensure compliance with Information Governance policies and procedures, respecting the duty to protect resident/family information at all times.
- Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)
- Participates in audits where appropriate e.g. staff survey
- Freedom to act
- Ability to work supervised and on own initiative as appropriate and accept personal accountability.
- Operates within health, hygiene, food preparation and cooking procedures.
- Be sensitive and respond to the needs of residents/carers in the home.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Willingness to complete a diploma
Desirable
- NVQ or GCSE in English & Maths
- Food & Hygiene Certificate
Experience
Essential
- Previous catering and cleaning experience
- Experience of working in a team
Desirable
- Previously worked in a health/social care environment
Special Knowledge/expertise
Essential
- Ability to use appropriate catering and cleaning equipment
- Awareness of COSHH
- Understanding of basic health and safety
Attitude and commitment
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills
- Willingness to work unsocial hours as part of the role
- Flexibility and adaptability to change.
Practical skills
Essential
- Able to manage own workload and use initiative as appropriate
- Team player
MCH Values
Essential
- Being caring and compassionate
- Working in partnership
- Delivering quality and value
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Willingness to complete a diploma
Desirable
- NVQ or GCSE in English & Maths
- Food & Hygiene Certificate
Experience
Essential
- Previous catering and cleaning experience
- Experience of working in a team
Desirable
- Previously worked in a health/social care environment
Special Knowledge/expertise
Essential
- Ability to use appropriate catering and cleaning equipment
- Awareness of COSHH
- Understanding of basic health and safety
Attitude and commitment
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills
- Willingness to work unsocial hours as part of the role
- Flexibility and adaptability to change.
Practical skills
Essential
- Able to manage own workload and use initiative as appropriate
- Team player
MCH Values
Essential
- Being caring and compassionate
- Working in partnership
- Delivering quality and value
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
