Job overview
The Catering Department are looking to recruit a Catering Assistant to join our Retail Team.
1 x 30 hour post, working 6 hours a day between the hours of 7.00 am and 8.00 pm. Working 5 weekend out of 7.
The successful candidate will need to provide colleague cover when required.
The rota pattern will be explained on interview.
This is an excellent opportunity to join the NHS and help to provide an excellent service to the patients, staff and visitors of Wigan Infirmary. There are many fantastic opportunities for development and progression within the Catering Department. The successful candidates should be enthusiastic and will enjoy being part of this dynamic team delivering a high-quality service.
Please note that this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
Please note: Applicants who have previously been advised that they do not meet the requirements for this position should not reapply unless they have since taken clear steps to strengthen their application. Reapplications must include evidence demonstrating how the essential criteria are now met.
Main duties of the job
You will work as part of a busy team working to tight timescales.
You will be required to undertake a wide range of duties including food preparation, cleaning and meal service duties within the kitchens, and retail outlets.
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 & allocated by the Catering Manager, other department managers or supervisors.
Completion of audit forms associated with food safety; financial policy & procedures will be required.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- 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 e.g. 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.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Catering Assistant with Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Wigan, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 2 Estates and facilities role. The advertised salary is £25,272 per annum, pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 09 Jun 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (02 Jun 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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