Catering Technician

Job overview

We have exciting opportunities for Catering Technicians to join our dedicated and hardworking catering team. We are looking for reliable, flexible individuals with good communication skills who work well as part of a team. Previous catering experience is desirable. In this role, you will help provide a high-quality meal service for patients, visitors, and staff across the Trust.

We are currently recruiting to three contracted posts within the department:

- 15 hours per week – made up of 3-hour shifts across 5 days

- 22.5 hours per week – made up of 7.5-hour shifts across 3 days

- 30 hours per week – made up of 7.5-hour shifts across 4 days

The kitchen operates from 6am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday, offering a variety of shift patterns to support service needs

Under current Home Office Immigration Rules, this role does not meet the UK Visas and Immigration criteria and the position is not therefore eligible for skilled worker sponsorship. Applications from candidates that require skilled worker sponsorship will NOT be shortlisted.

Main duties of the job

You will be part of a busy team, working to tight deadlines and supporting a wide range of catering duties. These include food preparation, cleaning, meal service in the kitchens, and operating the till while serving customers in our retail outlet. You will also complete audit records linked to food safety and financial policies and procedures.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide a catering service to patients and staff.
• Receive and share information about patient meal choices, dietary requirements, and service adaptations, ensuring messages are clear, understood, and delivered in a timely manner.
• Collect and record menu choices from inpatients and staff delivery services, ensuring specific requirements are noted and dietary alerts are highlighted.
• Clean crockery, cutlery, utensils, containers, and small equipment both manually and using dishwashing machines.
• Clean floors, work surfaces, furnishings, and related equipment manually and with machinery.
• Prepare and present ready-to-eat food within the scope of the Catering Department.
• Assist cooks with basic food preparation and cooking.
• Follow internal procedures and use your judgement to maintain safe systems of work, including prioritising high-risk food preparation, allergen awareness, and cleaning protocols.
• Prepare and deliver ward stores and supplies to wards and departments.
• Clean and prepare ward food trolleys for meal service.
• Comply with food hygiene regulations relating to food service equipment and departmental cleanliness.
• Follow Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points and the Trust’s Food Safety Management System, ensuring all relevant paperwork is completed.
• Maintain high standards of personal hygiene.
• Comply with Health and Safety regulations.
• Report faulty equipment, repair needs, maintenance issues, and requests for personal protective equipment or light equipment to a supervisor or other relevant staff member.
• Help maintain building security by ensuring doors are locked and windows are secured when left open or unsecured.
• Work as part of the team, including supporting the training of new staff in work patterns and specific tasks.
• Guide relief staff on procedures when covering duties.
• Operate the cash register at the point of service.
• Store goods correctly and rotate stock appropriately.
• Take part in Performance and Development Reviews within the department.
• The role involves standing for long periods, lifting stock and supplies, and moving waste bins, meal trolleys, and hot lockers, with weights over 15kg frequently handled during a shift.
• Following training, you will be required to operate a range of specialised catering equipment, which may include knives, mandolins, meat slicers, and industrial steamers.
• You will be expected to work in a noisy, hot, and humid environment.