North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Support Services Assistant

The closing date is 07 April 2026

Job summary

Support Services Assistant - Band 2 - Part Time 18.5 hours per week (worked over a 7 day period)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic person to work at the Darwin Unit.

To cover 7 days per week

As a Support Service Assistant, you will be expected to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for patients, visitors and staff in line with the National Standards of Cleanliness.

You will be responsible on a day-to-day basis to provide a full Cook Service.

You must also have:

Good interpersonal skills with other staff, Trust employees and patients
Ability to adhere to standards and procedures
Ability to accept, organise and prioritise instructions
Ability to work on their own initiative and as part of a team
Flexible approach to working hours and schedules

Provide cover during annual leave, sickness and absence which will include week ends and bank holidays.

Previous cooking/domestic experience will be beneficial but there are no formal qualifications required for this post as you will be trained by our in-house supervisory team in the use of equipment and COSHH

NOTE: This role is not eligible for sponsorship

Main duties of the job

To work as part of a team to provide cleaning and catering services in order to enhance the quality of the patient and staff environment on a regular and ongoing basis. Also to ensure that at all times quality standards are maintained in relation to the cleanliness and food provision and that legal requirements are met regarding the food service.

About us

As a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care.

We pride ourselves onensuring our team has their wellbeing put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.

We are committed to the Greener NHS national ambition to becoming the world's first 'carbon net zero' national health system by 2045 (Greener NHS (england.nhs.uk). As part of this, sustainability is embedded in our strategy as one of our four key enablers. In order to deliver on this commitment, we recognise that we need a workforce that is as passionate as we are about achieving these goals, for the benefit of our service users, workforce, local communities and the planet alike.

The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under-represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities.

The Trust is committed to the Step into Health scheme and actively encourages applicants from the Armed Forces Communities to apply.

Date posted

24 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

232-SPL-7880884

Job locations

Darwin Centre

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 7LF

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

To communicate on a daily basis with patients, staff, visitors, general public and report problems to the Support Services Supervisor, Department / Service Lead

To be friendly, courteous and helpful to clients, visitors, staff and the general public, challenging discrimination, promoting equality.

To ensure that patients, their relatives and carers are treated with dignity and respect.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills/ Freedom to Act

To follow established procedures and schedule of work.

To seek advice from Support Services Supervisor or Department / Service Lead as necessary.

To comply with the requirements of Food Hygiene, Health & Safety legislation and the Trusts Food Safety policy as necessary.

To be responsible for the cleaning provision to client areas and offices with the premise in accordance with work schedules and activity within the area.

To comply with the National Standards of Cleanliness, Health & Safety legislation and COSHH regulations and Trust policies as applicable to the job.

Planning and Organisational Skills

To have a responsibility for liaising with, Support Services Supervisor, Department / Service Lead to organise work.

Physical Skills

To ensure that the general cleaning in the premise is undertaken in accordance with the agreed work schedule

To ensure that domestic, clinical, and mixed recycling waste is correctly bagged and placed in the appropriate disposal areas in accordance with services within the premise

To ensure that all stocks are stored correctly.

Ensure all areas are clean and tidy, particularly prior to and following mealtime service

To be responsible for the cleanliness of the kitchen and serving area, including crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils and food trolley in accordance with services within the premise

Ensure all areas are clean and tidy, particularly prior to and following meal times as necessary.

To carry out specialist cleaning procedures in response to any infection control outbreak; new builds; refurbishments

Responsibility for Patients

Provide food and beverage service to clients as required

Prepare the dining room environment as required

Regenerate frozen / chilled food as required

Plate and serve food attractively as required

Responsible for providing a clean safe environment

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

To communicate on a daily basis with patients, staff, visitors, general public and report problems to the Support Services Supervisor, Department / Service Lead

To be friendly, courteous and helpful to clients, visitors, staff and the general public, challenging discrimination, promoting equality.

To ensure that patients, their relatives and carers are treated with dignity and respect.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills/ Freedom to Act

To follow established procedures and schedule of work.

To seek advice from Support Services Supervisor or Department / Service Lead as necessary.

To comply with the requirements of Food Hygiene, Health & Safety legislation and the Trusts Food Safety policy as necessary.

To be responsible for the cleaning provision to client areas and offices with the premise in accordance with work schedules and activity within the area.

To comply with the National Standards of Cleanliness, Health & Safety legislation and COSHH regulations and Trust policies as applicable to the job.

Planning and Organisational Skills

To have a responsibility for liaising with, Support Services Supervisor, Department / Service Lead to organise work.

Physical Skills

To ensure that the general cleaning in the premise is undertaken in accordance with the agreed work schedule

To ensure that domestic, clinical, and mixed recycling waste is correctly bagged and placed in the appropriate disposal areas in accordance with services within the premise

To ensure that all stocks are stored correctly.

Ensure all areas are clean and tidy, particularly prior to and following mealtime service

To be responsible for the cleanliness of the kitchen and serving area, including crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils and food trolley in accordance with services within the premise

Ensure all areas are clean and tidy, particularly prior to and following meal times as necessary.

To carry out specialist cleaning procedures in response to any infection control outbreak; new builds; refurbishments

Responsibility for Patients

Provide food and beverage service to clients as required

Prepare the dining room environment as required

Regenerate frozen / chilled food as required

Plate and serve food attractively as required

Responsible for providing a clean safe environment

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Able to demonstrate Basic Health & Safety / COSHH Training

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE level numeracy / literacy or can demonstrate same

Experience

Essential

Experience of prioritising own workload

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Able to demonstrate Basic Health & Safety / COSHH Training

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE level numeracy / literacy or can demonstrate same

Experience

Essential

Experience of prioritising own workload

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

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Address

Darwin Centre

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 7LF

Employer's website

https://www.combined.nhs.uk/working-together/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Address

Darwin Centre

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 7LF

Employer's website

https://www.combined.nhs.uk/working-together/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)