Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

General Catering Assistant

The closing date is 06 June 2025

Job summary

As a member of the Support Services Directorate, to play an active role in the provision of high quality catering service, ensuring that high standards of cleanliness and hygiene are maintained throughout the retail area and being responsive to the needs of the patients, visitors and staff through the delivery of excellent customer service at all times within the retail area of the hospital.

Main duties of the job

  • to record temperature's of temperature controlled areas in accordance with the HACCP system and guidance.
  • To assist with basic restocking, ordering and other comparable tasks as directed by the Catering Manager and Deputy Catering Manager for products used with the retail area.
  • To clean departmental equipment and areas, including storage spaces and temperature controlled areas in accordance with the HACCP system and guidance.
  • To monitor all shop areas for signs of pest infestation and to report any such infestations to the Catering Manager to ensure that appropriate measures can be taken to remove the reported pests.
  • To ensure that all food waste is disposed of in the food waste machine and that all other waste material is compacted as far as possible and disposed of in the appropriate location.
  • To correctly store and use all cleaning materials within the catering department, to ensure that the work is carried out in a safe manner and to the required standards and in accordance with COSHH regulations.
  • To assist with the service of patients, staff and visitor within the shop area within the hospital.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£22,383 a year weekend enhancements

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

418-COR8352-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital, South Wing

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Catering Dept, Kempston Road, Bedford MK42 9DJ

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To correctly store and use all cleaning materials within the catering department, to ensure that the work is carried out in a safe manner and to the required standards and in accordance with COSHH regulations.
  • To assist with the service of patient meals; loading the food trolleys and ensure that these are delivered at the specified time and plugged into the relevant point on each ward.
  • To ensure that all food trolleys are promptly returned to the kitchen, cleared and cleaned following each meal service; ensuring that they are ready for the next meal service as required.
  • To manage stock items through agreed systems of rotation, ensuring that all items are in date and stored in accordance with food storage regulations (HACCP).
  • To organise own workload on a daily basis, working within scheduling guidelines to ensure that all required tasks are completed each day
  • To monitor and replenish stock levels of cleaning materials, portable cleaning equipment and disposables; ensuring that items do not fall below acceptable levels and reordering as necessary
  • To accurately complete appropriate documentation and logs as required.

Please see full job description attached.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To correctly store and use all cleaning materials within the catering department, to ensure that the work is carried out in a safe manner and to the required standards and in accordance with COSHH regulations.
  • To assist with the service of patient meals; loading the food trolleys and ensure that these are delivered at the specified time and plugged into the relevant point on each ward.
  • To ensure that all food trolleys are promptly returned to the kitchen, cleared and cleaned following each meal service; ensuring that they are ready for the next meal service as required.
  • To manage stock items through agreed systems of rotation, ensuring that all items are in date and stored in accordance with food storage regulations (HACCP).
  • To organise own workload on a daily basis, working within scheduling guidelines to ensure that all required tasks are completed each day
  • To monitor and replenish stock levels of cleaning materials, portable cleaning equipment and disposables; ensuring that items do not fall below acceptable levels and reordering as necessary
  • To accurately complete appropriate documentation and logs as required.

Please see full job description attached.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Desirable

  • Food Allergen Awareness Training
  • Qualification/Certificate in Customer Service

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of Health & Safety procedures

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of working as part of a team
  • Previous experience of working with the public

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a care or hospital environment
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Desirable

  • Food Allergen Awareness Training
  • Qualification/Certificate in Customer Service

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of Health & Safety procedures

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of working as part of a team
  • Previous experience of working with the public

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a care or hospital environment

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital, South Wing

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Catering Dept, Kempston Road, Bedford MK42 9DJ

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital, South Wing

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Catering Dept, Kempston Road, Bedford MK42 9DJ

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Catering Manager

Steven Cowley

steven.cowley@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

01234792152

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£22,383 a year weekend enhancements

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

418-COR8352-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital, South Wing

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Catering Dept, Kempston Road, Bedford MK42 9DJ

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)