Catering Assistant

Job overview

3 positions are available, 1 working 30 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 6 hours a day, between the hours of 7.00 am and 8.00 pm. 1 post working 20 hours per week, 4 hours a day Monday - Friday, 11.00 am - 3.00 pm. 1 post working 12 hours, 6 hours Saturday and 6 hours Sunday, between the hours of 7.00 am and 8.00 pm. The rota pattern will be explained on interview.)

These positions will be predominately working in the retail outlets.

We are looking for  individuals who are enthusiastic and are interested in being part of this dynamic team delivering a high-quality service to our patients, staff and visitors.

Our Retail assistant role is very varied, and a typical day could consist of serving customers, taking orders & payments. using the till system and cash handling, basic food preparation and food handling,

We welcome applications who are enthusiastic and self motivated with a passion for general customer service duties and who take pride in their work and are responsive to the needs of the patients, visitors and staff through the delivery of excellent customer service at all times.

Please note this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received.

Main duties of the job

Required to undertake a wide range of duties including food preparation, cleaning, cash handling and meal service duties within the kitchen and our retail units.

The role of the Retail Catering Assistant is to carry out all duties to a required standard for the provision of the retail services within the Hospital.

Ensuring retail stock is well presented, with daily monitoring of product expiry dates & appropriate stock rotation, identifying products for replenishment & reporting any price/product changes.

Assisting with simple food preparation duties as instructed.

Completion of audit forms associated with food safety, financial policy & procedures.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Planning and Organisational Duties

• Work to standard operational procedures.
• Preparation of food, this could be within high risk chilled areas, to specified recipes.
• Ensuring labelling of products is correct eg product name dates.

• After training could be required to produce cooked foods e.g. soups, gravy, fried, bacon etc.
• Performance of duties in accordance with approved methods, frequencies and standards, adhering to strict food safety standards.

• Meeting deadlines for production of meals as part of a team.
• May be required to take patient menu choices at ward level, offer alternatives where required.

• Required to serve meals at ward level to patients, or in retail outlets to staff & visitors, occasional delivery of buffets & functions outside the Department.

• Use of equipment, machinery and cleaning materials once trained, ability to spot defects with fabric or machinery and report to Supervisor.

• Significant cleaning duties are associated with this post including cleaning of pans, cutlery, crockery, machinery, cooking equipment and floors walls and work surfaces.

• Recording temperatures and other key audit requirements onto the appropriate monitoring forms, reporting to Supervisors where particularly temperatures may be outside required limits.

• Have high standards of personal Hygiene and follow the Departmental uniform code of practice

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• Required to provide information on menus to patients, staff & visitors eg allergen information.

• May be required to undertake patient satisfaction surveys at ward level.
• Answer the telephone and take messages from wards on additional meals required, pass these on in a timely manner to Supervisors.

• Communicate with colleagues to ensure meal service proceeds efficiently.
• Answer questions during Food safety audits from external auditors eg Environmental Health Officer

Responsibility for Finance

• Required to handle cash, using retail tills, or emptying vending machines
• Use of bar codes, card readers, and security tags.
• May be required to open & secure Department.
• Maintain stock control
• Follow Departmental Procedures for cash handling, managing balances, receipts, discount buttons and meal deals.

• Accurate recording of information onto audit sheets and correct bagging and tagging of cash & receipts for delivery to General Offices.

• Compliance with Trust and Local procedures