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Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Ward Foodservice Assistant

The closing date is 12 January 2026

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Job summary

Ward food service assistant

Department: Catering - Patients

Band 2 £24,169 per annum, pro rata if part time

Hours: Various

Food is Medicine - Exciting Opportunity at Milton Keynes Hospital

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within the Catering department at Milton Keynes University Hospital. The role is part of the team providing the lunchtime and evening service on site. The role involves you working on a ward, as part of their team and delivering the lunch, evening meal, drinks and snack rounds, and the sanitising and cleaning of crockery and cutlery on the ward.

As part of our team, you will be providing patients with the important medicine that is our food, with over 35 different choices on our Menu. You will take the orders using an electronic tablet and cook the meals at ward level.

You will be paid enhanced rates for weekends and bank holidays.

The work is fast paced and rewarding. You will be making a difference to patient's care and recovery.

You will be provided with a uniform, training and a locker.

If you feel you can make a difference to our patient's lives and contribute to a happy and positive team, we want to hear from you.

Come and join the foodservice team at Milton Keynes Hospital and lets all prove that Food is Medicine.

Please note that we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.

Interview: 19 January 2026

Main duties of the job

'7.10 out of 10 feel they experience a safer workplace and focus on wellbeing, supporting one another and prioritising over all wellbeing, this scoring has increased from last year.' ''NHS Survey, 2024''

Post holders will be responsible for foodservice for patients across Milton Keynes University Hospital sites in accordance with specified standards.

We are looking to fill the following vacancies as part of our permanent team:

Saturday and Sunday working 16.00-19.30 7 hours contract (enhanced pay for weekend working)

Monday to Friday 16.00-19.30 17.5 hours 2x Posts available

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -

For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes

Details

Date posted

29 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

430-CORP25-257A

Job locations

Catering - Patients (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Assisting nursing staff in preparation of the breakfast trolley and the beverage trolley ready to assist in serving breakfasts, collection of breakfast trays once the patients have finished their meal. (Day staff only)

2. Collection of finished meal trays and beverages from patients and returning to the ward kitchen, loading the crockery and cutlery into the ward dishwasher.

3. Keeping any waste food and place it the caddy return it to the central dishwash when the insulated trolleys are returned.

4. Preparation of the beverage trolley and service of beverages and snacks to patients (making sure that the items are appropriate to their dietary requirements and restrictions)

5. Checking with the Nurse in charge to see if there have been any changes to patients or their dietary status

6. Make sure the patient has a menu and ask the patient for their meal order making sure it is suitable for their diet status, answering any questions the patient has on the menu and food service

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Assisting nursing staff in preparation of the breakfast trolley and the beverage trolley ready to assist in serving breakfasts, collection of breakfast trays once the patients have finished their meal. (Day staff only)

2. Collection of finished meal trays and beverages from patients and returning to the ward kitchen, loading the crockery and cutlery into the ward dishwasher.

3. Keeping any waste food and place it the caddy return it to the central dishwash when the insulated trolleys are returned.

4. Preparation of the beverage trolley and service of beverages and snacks to patients (making sure that the items are appropriate to their dietary requirements and restrictions)

5. Checking with the Nurse in charge to see if there have been any changes to patients or their dietary status

6. Make sure the patient has a menu and ask the patient for their meal order making sure it is suitable for their diet status, answering any questions the patient has on the menu and food service

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Desirable

  • Level one Food Safety Certificate Food Safety Level 2 or working towards
  • Customer service or working towards

Experience

Desirable

  • Previous catering/retail/care experience
  • Customer service experience
  • Experience of working as part of a team

Skills

Essential

  • Able to accommodate the demands of the post
  • Good organizational skills
  • Ability to prioritise tasks

Desirable

  • Dietary/allergy knowledge
  • Flexible approach to duties and tasks
  • Ability to maintain accurate written records
  • Ability to use a PC tablet

Personal and people development

Essential

  • To maintain patient confidentiality at all times
  • Able to take instructions and multitask
  • High standard of personal hygiene

Desirable

  • Work as part of a team

Communication

Essential

  • Good verbal communication skills
  • Good written communication skills
  • Ability to interact with patients, ward staff, colleagues and hospital visitors
Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Desirable

  • Level one Food Safety Certificate Food Safety Level 2 or working towards
  • Customer service or working towards

Experience

Desirable

  • Previous catering/retail/care experience
  • Customer service experience
  • Experience of working as part of a team

Skills

Essential

  • Able to accommodate the demands of the post
  • Good organizational skills
  • Ability to prioritise tasks

Desirable

  • Dietary/allergy knowledge
  • Flexible approach to duties and tasks
  • Ability to maintain accurate written records
  • Ability to use a PC tablet

Personal and people development

Essential

  • To maintain patient confidentiality at all times
  • Able to take instructions and multitask
  • High standard of personal hygiene

Desirable

  • Work as part of a team

Communication

Essential

  • Good verbal communication skills
  • Good written communication skills
  • Ability to interact with patients, ward staff, colleagues and hospital visitors

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

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Catering - Patients (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Catering - Patients (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Catering Manager

Francesco Fiore

francesco.fiore@mkuh.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

29 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

430-CORP25-257A

Job locations

Catering - Patients (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Supporting documents

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