Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Relief Catering Assistant

The closing date is 30 October 2025

Job summary

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.

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

Main duties of the job

  • 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.

About us

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.

Details

Date posted

23 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

236-NCA-EA101-25-PS

Job locations

Rochdale Infirmary

Whitehall Street

Rochdale

OL12 0NB


Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Food safety level 2

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good knowledge of spoken and written English
  • Awareness of allergens

Desirable

  • Basic computer knowledge

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in simple food preparation
  • Catering experience
  • Experience in simple food preparation

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Able to cover absences with notice
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Food safety level 2

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good knowledge of spoken and written English
  • Awareness of allergens

Desirable

  • Basic computer knowledge

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in simple food preparation
  • Catering experience
  • Experience in simple food preparation

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Able to cover absences with notice

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

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rochdale Infirmary

Whitehall Street

Rochdale

OL12 0NB


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rochdale Infirmary

Whitehall Street

Rochdale

OL12 0NB


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Catering Manager

Shelley Pearson-Smith

Shelley.Pearson-Smith@nca.nhs.uk

01706157067

Details

Date posted

23 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

236-NCA-EA101-25-PS

Job locations

Rochdale Infirmary

Whitehall Street

Rochdale

OL12 0NB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust 's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)