Catering Assistant

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Do you want to be part of the busy catering team at Victoria Hospital, Blackpool?

We are currently recruiting a catering assistant to work in the main kitchen on a rota basis. The post holder will provide catering cover within the Catering Department, providing a catering service to staff, patients and members of the public. The successful applicant will work mainly in the kitchen on varied shifts 5 days over 7 covering early mornings, evenings and weekends including bank holidays.

The post holder will work as part of a dedicated Catering Team assisting in all areas of the Catering Department. These could also include the Restaurant Service, Patients Meal Service and Kitchen Area.

Main duties of the job

Main duties include: basic food prep, general cleaning of equipment and areas, deep cleaning, pan room duties, patient meals service duties.

The Catering Department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital are a 5 star establishment on the food hygiene rating and ensure that safety and quality is always paramount to our services to staff, patients and visitors. With this in mind the successful candidate must demonstrate a willingness to be flexible and work as part of a team; must be physically fit to perform the duties and have experience in the catering industry. Good assertion skills, customer care skills and an eye for detail are essential.

Uniform and training will be provided however the applicant will be required to have a catering background and level 2 certificate in Food Safety and Hygiene.

About us

One LSC stands for 'One Lancashire and South Cumbria' because there is one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership. The Trusts that make up One LSC are:

  • Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
  • Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

The core principles of One LSC are: by bringing services more closely together we can deliver the best service possible, eliminate duplication, ensure value for money, work across different organisations to benefit from being able to share common systems and processes.

Date posted

06 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£23,615 a year Per Annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

382-1LSC-BTH-04.25

Job locations

Victoria Hospital

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR


Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Communicate effectively, professionally and in a timely manner with all hospital staff, the public and colleagues across the Trust and attend meetings as required,
  • Serving meals directly to customers as required in Restaurant, service points, giving due attention to presentation and customer care
  • Take telephone calls that may include requests, complaints and enquires and ensure they are dealt with or passed on to an appropriate person in a timely manor
  • Provide a customer focused service to staff, visitors and patients via The Restaurant, and the patient meals service with responsibility for cash handling and card payments at authorised pay points, giving due care and attention to:
  • Compliance with the Catering Department Services and Hygiene & Quality Standards and food safety regulations.
  • Attractive presentation of all food items served.
  • Correct and consistent portion control.
  • Meeting required tempo of work & service deadlines
  • Clearing and cleaning of catering equipment, utensils and premises as required to meet and maintain high standards of cleanliness in kitchen areas.
  • Dishwashing operations (including use of industrial ware - washing machinery)
  • Collecting general refuse from bin points throughout kitchen and removal of refuse from catering department to a central waste location; including operation of refuse compactor machinery. Ensuring segregation is followed for recyclable items.
  • Basic preparation of some food items, including use of associated preparation machinery.
  • Working as part of the patient meals service belt paying particular attention to presentation and taking action, as required, to ensure correct portioning to avoid wastage.
  • Moving & handling of Trolleys e.g. Patient meal trolleys, general purpose trolleys for transfer of equipment, utensils, refuse and catering goods using trolleys within hospital catering operational areas. (observing safe 'Moving & Handling practices)
  • Being aware of and complying with correct cleaning procedures and instructions for use of cleaning materials. (C.O.S.H.H. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
  • Being correctly / cleanly dressed when on duty and in compliance with rules regarding, watches, hair control etc. Strictly complying with department codes of practice for personal hygiene.
  • Strictly complying with department SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), codes of practice and meeting the standards for general food safety and hygiene. Comply with the requirements of The Food Safety Act 1990 and any associated legislation, ensuring that all measures are taken to deliver a safe food service.
  • Awareness and compliance with Food Safety systems for Raw & Cooked separation E.g. use of colour coding for knives, cutting boards etc., to avoid cross contamination risks.
  • Knowing and applying the correct procedures and responsibilities to report any sickness/absence and especially compliance with the D & V policy.
  • Carry out training to correctly operate and ensuring proper cleaning, to a high standard of hygiene, any item of machinery used.
  • Observing and complying with Trust and department policies and procedures paying particular attention to safe Moving and Handling and Health and Safety procedures
  • Meeting personal responsibility, for own safety and safety of colleagues, through safe working practices. Warning colleagues, and reporting to Supervisor or Catering Manager, of any identified potential risk e.g. defective equipment requiring attention or repair.
  • Take appropriate action in the event of an accident to notify Supervisor or Catering Manager without delay, referring to and completing online incident report.
  • Communicate effectively, professionally and in a timely manner with all hospital staff, the public and colleagues across the Trust and attend department meetings

See Job Description for full details

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Communicate effectively, professionally and in a timely manner with all hospital staff, the public and colleagues across the Trust and attend meetings as required,
  • Serving meals directly to customers as required in Restaurant, service points, giving due attention to presentation and customer care
  • Take telephone calls that may include requests, complaints and enquires and ensure they are dealt with or passed on to an appropriate person in a timely manor
  • Provide a customer focused service to staff, visitors and patients via The Restaurant, and the patient meals service with responsibility for cash handling and card payments at authorised pay points, giving due care and attention to:
  • Compliance with the Catering Department Services and Hygiene & Quality Standards and food safety regulations.
  • Attractive presentation of all food items served.
  • Correct and consistent portion control.
  • Meeting required tempo of work & service deadlines
  • Clearing and cleaning of catering equipment, utensils and premises as required to meet and maintain high standards of cleanliness in kitchen areas.
  • Dishwashing operations (including use of industrial ware - washing machinery)
  • Collecting general refuse from bin points throughout kitchen and removal of refuse from catering department to a central waste location; including operation of refuse compactor machinery. Ensuring segregation is followed for recyclable items.
  • Basic preparation of some food items, including use of associated preparation machinery.
  • Working as part of the patient meals service belt paying particular attention to presentation and taking action, as required, to ensure correct portioning to avoid wastage.
  • Moving & handling of Trolleys e.g. Patient meal trolleys, general purpose trolleys for transfer of equipment, utensils, refuse and catering goods using trolleys within hospital catering operational areas. (observing safe 'Moving & Handling practices)
  • Being aware of and complying with correct cleaning procedures and instructions for use of cleaning materials. (C.O.S.H.H. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
  • Being correctly / cleanly dressed when on duty and in compliance with rules regarding, watches, hair control etc. Strictly complying with department codes of practice for personal hygiene.
  • Strictly complying with department SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), codes of practice and meeting the standards for general food safety and hygiene. Comply with the requirements of The Food Safety Act 1990 and any associated legislation, ensuring that all measures are taken to deliver a safe food service.
  • Awareness and compliance with Food Safety systems for Raw & Cooked separation E.g. use of colour coding for knives, cutting boards etc., to avoid cross contamination risks.
  • Knowing and applying the correct procedures and responsibilities to report any sickness/absence and especially compliance with the D & V policy.
  • Carry out training to correctly operate and ensuring proper cleaning, to a high standard of hygiene, any item of machinery used.
  • Observing and complying with Trust and department policies and procedures paying particular attention to safe Moving and Handling and Health and Safety procedures
  • Meeting personal responsibility, for own safety and safety of colleagues, through safe working practices. Warning colleagues, and reporting to Supervisor or Catering Manager, of any identified potential risk e.g. defective equipment requiring attention or repair.
  • Take appropriate action in the event of an accident to notify Supervisor or Catering Manager without delay, referring to and completing online incident report.
  • Communicate effectively, professionally and in a timely manner with all hospital staff, the public and colleagues across the Trust and attend department meetings

See Job Description for full details

Person Specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • Literacy competency
  • Will satisfactorily complete Food Hygiene training and achieve qualification within first 12 weeks of employment

Desirable

  • Holding recent Qualification in Food Hygiene at Level 2

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Previous employment or studies indicate capability to undertake training in duties of post
  • Experienced in catering industry in similar position with full working knowledge of hygiene & food safety
  • Evident Good Personal Hygiene, Clean and tidy appearance

SKILLS AND ABILITY

Essential

  • Ability to carry out catering tasks with special attention to hygiene, food presentation and speed of work.
  • Physically able enough to fulfil tasks of the post (refer to Job Description)

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in large group / busy environment
Person Specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • Literacy competency
  • Will satisfactorily complete Food Hygiene training and achieve qualification within first 12 weeks of employment

Desirable

  • Holding recent Qualification in Food Hygiene at Level 2

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Previous employment or studies indicate capability to undertake training in duties of post
  • Experienced in catering industry in similar position with full working knowledge of hygiene & food safety
  • Evident Good Personal Hygiene, Clean and tidy appearance

SKILLS AND ABILITY

Essential

  • Ability to carry out catering tasks with special attention to hygiene, food presentation and speed of work.
  • Physically able enough to fulfil tasks of the post (refer to Job Description)

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in large group / busy 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

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Victoria Hospital

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR


Employer's website

http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Victoria Hospital

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR


Employer's website

http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Kitchen Manager

Darren Cadwell

darren.cadwell@nhs.net

01253956154

Date posted

06 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£23,615 a year Per Annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

382-1LSC-BTH-04.25

Job locations

Victoria Hospital

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR


Supporting documents

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