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University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Patient Catering Support Manager

The closing date is 19 October 2025

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Job summary

There is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Catering Management team at Derriford Hospital. The successful applicant will work alongside the Kitchen Manger to ensure that Patient Catering Services are managed in line with the catering strategy and transformation plan for Facilities across the Trust. The post holder will manage the day to day running of the catering services at ward level within the hospital focussing on food safety and clinical/patient interaction, There may times when there is a requirement to support the central production unit off site and the individual will be part of the Hotel Services Management team. The post-holder will work with the Catering Management team throughout the Trust to continually develop and transform the catering services, assisting with the development and implementation of patient centred transformational plans.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will work alongside the Kitchen Manger to ensure that Patient Catering Services are managed in line with the catering strategy and transformation plan for Facilities across the Trust.The post holder will manage the day to day running of the catering services at ward level on site and also when required support the central production unit and is a part of the Hotel Services Management team. There will be a requirement to effectively interact and engage with patients, clinical and Hotel Services Staff. The post holder will be required to carry out audits which will include, food safety, health & safety, patient satisfaction and waste monitoring. Audit reports and findings will be delivered to the Catering Assurance Group. The post holder will be required to report any incidents and carry out investigations regarding any health and safety or food safety incidents within the Trust. The post-holder will work with the Catering Management team throughout the Trust to continually develop and transform the catering services, assisting with the development and implementation of patient centred transformational plans. Manage complex tasks, priorities and information and have an understanding of and commitment to equal opportunity and good working relationships.Ensure that food safety is managed within all areas of the catering operations, and to ensure that a minimum of 4 stars is achieved.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-AM-A7446034-A

Job locations

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To manage aspects of the Trusts catering operation ensuring that costs, quality, quantity and timing of all service provision is within agreed standards and within budget.

2. To maintain and monitor professional and technical standards for the catering department as agreed with the Head of Facilities ensuring that those standards meet all statutory food safety requirements and stipulated requirements of the Patient's Charter and Trust.

3. To ensure that standards set are achieved in accordance with agreed levels and that those standards are monitored at all times.

4. To ensure UHP meets full statutory compliance with all aspects of food safety legislation, promoting a positive food safety culture across the Trust.

5. To manage all aspects of the Catering Department to ensure appropriate staffing, controls and systems are implemented and monitored to ensure a high-quality service is provided to all patients.

6. To support with any future developments of the catering service and indicate any cost savings possibilities.

7. To administer all recommendations from any audit ensuring that all aspects of the catering operation are within agreed parameters and that appropriate documentation is in place for compliance.

8. To ensure all staff undertake and remain up to date with stipulated statutory training requirements ensuring that all relevant food hygiene, health and safety, fire, manual handling and other legislation is adhered to at all times and that records are kept to demonstrate this.

9. To ensure that patients have a variety of choice by ensuring an appropriate level of stock available, nutritional guidelines are met, quality of service is maintained and budgeted costs are complied with, maintained or reduced.

10. To assist with the development, implementation and monitoring of a comprehensive standard recipe database, which will facilitate regular alterations to patient menus that will ensure a consistency of product in terms of portion size, quality and cost.

Please see the JD&PS for further details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To manage aspects of the Trusts catering operation ensuring that costs, quality, quantity and timing of all service provision is within agreed standards and within budget.

2. To maintain and monitor professional and technical standards for the catering department as agreed with the Head of Facilities ensuring that those standards meet all statutory food safety requirements and stipulated requirements of the Patient's Charter and Trust.

3. To ensure that standards set are achieved in accordance with agreed levels and that those standards are monitored at all times.

4. To ensure UHP meets full statutory compliance with all aspects of food safety legislation, promoting a positive food safety culture across the Trust.

5. To manage all aspects of the Catering Department to ensure appropriate staffing, controls and systems are implemented and monitored to ensure a high-quality service is provided to all patients.

6. To support with any future developments of the catering service and indicate any cost savings possibilities.

7. To administer all recommendations from any audit ensuring that all aspects of the catering operation are within agreed parameters and that appropriate documentation is in place for compliance.

8. To ensure all staff undertake and remain up to date with stipulated statutory training requirements ensuring that all relevant food hygiene, health and safety, fire, manual handling and other legislation is adhered to at all times and that records are kept to demonstrate this.

9. To ensure that patients have a variety of choice by ensuring an appropriate level of stock available, nutritional guidelines are met, quality of service is maintained and budgeted costs are complied with, maintained or reduced.

10. To assist with the development, implementation and monitoring of a comprehensive standard recipe database, which will facilitate regular alterations to patient menus that will ensure a consistency of product in terms of portion size, quality and cost.

Please see the JD&PS for further details.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant demonstrable experience of a management position including within the Catering management function
  • Proven knowledge of health service management including change management and workforce design
  • Proven evidence of successful service development

Desirable

  • Strategic thinker & ability to anticipate and problem solve.

Qualifications

Essential

  • CIEH Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate or equivalent qualification
  • Qualification in Health & Safety (IOSHH)
  • Relevant qualification in Cookery/Catering

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and able to communicate with all levels of professional staff
  • Able to work autonomously and be accountable for own actions
Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Significant demonstrable experience of a management position including within the Catering management function
  • Proven knowledge of health service management including change management and workforce design
  • Proven evidence of successful service development

Desirable

  • Strategic thinker & ability to anticipate and problem solve.

Qualifications

Essential

  • CIEH Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate or equivalent qualification
  • Qualification in Health & Safety (IOSHH)
  • Relevant qualification in Cookery/Catering

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and able to communicate with all levels of professional staff
  • Able to work autonomously and be accountable for own actions

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Facilities Manager (Catering Operations)

Shaun Williamson

shaun.williamson3@nhs.net

01752439732

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-AM-A7446034-A

Job locations

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Supporting documents

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