Catering Assistant

Job overview

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

We are currently recruiting a part time catering assistant to work 22hrs per week on the patient meals service.

The successful candidate will work a 8 week rota covering supper service 5 days over 7, including bank holidays and weekends from 3pm to 8pm, Mon - Fri and 4pm to 8pm, Sat & Sun.

The post holder will be part of the supper meal conveyor belt serving elements of the evening meals to patients or delivering and collecting meal trolleys to wards followed by the associated cleaning of the work area and equipment ready for the next meal service.

Main duties of the job

The Catering Department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is a 5 star establishment on the food hygiene rating and will always ensure that safety and quality is always a paramount to our staff, patients and visitors.  Please refer to the Job Description and Personal Specification for the full details and requirements.

Main duties include:

• Serving meals to patients, or staff as required, giving due attention to compliance with the Catering Department Hygiene & Quality Standards
• Serve patient meals accurately as per patient’s choice, and ensure patients receive the correct meal they have requested.
• Attractive presentation of all food items served with correct and consistent portion control.   Meeting required tempo of work.
• Carry out general cleaning of equipment and service areas.

With this in mind the successful candidates 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Catering Assistants must be committed to applying a partnership approach to new ways of working which best deliver the range and quality of service required, in as efficient and effective a way as possible and organised to best meet the needs of the service.  Catering assistants work as part of a busy team to deliver a quality service as directed by policies and procedures monitored by service supervisors.  Assisting in all aspects of cleaning duties, including use of industrial dishwasher, relating to the provision of the meal production and service provision.

For day-to-day duties, responsible to the Service Supervisor for work allocation, consultation and instruction as well as seeking information, direction or approval as appropriate.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serving meals to patients, or staff as required, giving due attention to compliance with the Catering Department Hygiene & Quality Standards
• To serve patient meals accurately as per patient’s choice, to ensure patients receive the correct meal requested.

Attractive presentation of all food items served with correct and consistent portion control.

• Meeting required tempo of work & service deadlines.
• As applicable to daily work section, completing written records of times and temperatures of foods as required. (H.A.C.C.P. – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).  Reporting to Section Supervisor regarding any food items which are not considered to be of a satisfactory temperature / standard for meals service.
• Ensuring that all items needing refrigeration are correctly stored and used in date code stock rotation.
• Moving & handling of Meal Trolleys e.g., General transfer of food items, using trolleys and other food service equipment within operational areas. (Observing safe 'Moving & Handling - refer to sections below)
• Utilisation of electric tug for delivery/return of meal trolleys where appropriate
• Assisting in basic food preparation as required.
• Clearing and cleaning of crockery, utensils, catering equipment and premises as required to maintain high standards of cleanliness. Dishwashing operations (including use of industrial crockery & utensil washing machinery)
• 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) to maintain the hygienic cleaning of the department and equipment ready for the next meal service.
• Being correctly / cleanly dressed when on duty and in compliance with uniform policy rules regarding jewellery, watches, hair controls etc. Strictly complying with department codes of practice for general food safety and personal hygiene.

See attached Job Description for full details