Catering Assistant

Job overview

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated Kitchen Assistant to join our busy and rewarding Catering team in Frimley Park Hospital.  In this role, you will help deliver a professional, high-quality catering service to patients, staff, and visitors across the hospital.

As a Kitchen Assistant, you will play an important part in ensuring a positive experience for everyone you serve. Your day-to-day tasks may include serving in patient and staff dining areas, assisting with food preparation, delivering meals to wards, operating tills, and supporting the smooth running of the department.

This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced environment, ideal for someone who enjoys working as part of a team but is also confident taking responsibility for individual tasks. You must be committed to maintaining high standards of customer service, cleanliness, and food hygiene in line with Trust policies.

working  five days out of seven days a week -  37.5 hours per week from 07.00 to 15.00 or 11.00 till 19.00

Previous catering experience and a Food Safety Certificate are desirable but not essential, as full training will be provided. As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to complete a Maths and English assessment to progress to interview.

Main duties of the job

• Food Service: Serve food and beverages to patients and staff in dining areas and on the patient meal assembly belt, ensuring quality and presentation are top-notch.
• Support in Food Prep: Assist with food preparation, including chopping vegetables, prepping salads, and ensuring proper portion control.
• Deliver Meals: Help deliver and collect meal trolleys to wards and departments, ensuring everything runs on time.
• Customer Care: Greet all visitors, staff, and patients with a warm, friendly approach, ensuring their needs are met with professionalism and care.
• Cash Handling: Operate cash registers, handling transactions with accuracy, ensuring cash security, and providing excellent service to retail customers.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a Kitchen Assistant, you’ll be part of a dedicated and friendly team, working across the main patient service area and Pinetree's restaurant. You will contribute to a range of exciting duties, from food preparation and serving to helping maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards. Every day, you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact by supporting the smooth running of our services and ensuring our customers receive the best care possible.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

What we’re looking for:

• A team player with a positive, can-do attitude who enjoys working in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.
• A proactive approach to maintaining high standards of hygiene, food presentation, and portion control.
• A willingness to assist with food preparation and a good understanding of food safety protocols (HACCP).
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with a diverse group of people, from patients to staff and visitors.
• Flexibility to assist in various duties and areas as needed, from food service to cashier tasks.

Why join us?

In the catering department, we value innovation and customer care. As part of our team, you will have the chance to make meaningful contributions, whether it’s suggesting improvements or supporting the continued growth of our services. Plus, we’ll provide you with training and development to help you grow in your role.

If you are looking for a rewarding role where every day is different and you can be part of a close-knit, supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note that this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the post.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if sufficient applications have been received.