Catering Assistant

Job overview

Catering Assistant

Department: Hotel Services

Band 2: £23,615 Per annum pro rata

Hours: Part-time 6 hours per week, predominantly working Saturday only 13.00-19.00. Enhanced rate paid for Saturday working

Be a part of a great team providing a professional service to Staff, Visitors and Patients.

Milton Keynes Hospital has a fresh cook staff restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and evening meal along with snacks and a proud to serve Costa.

We are pleased that many of our existing catering staff have worked in the department for a long time which makes it a great place to work in an everchanging environment. If you are welcoming have great customer service skills, you need to apply for this role.

We are looking for a team member that has worked in a busy Restaurant and has a passion for keeping the environment clean and tidy. The restaurant offers on site hospitality and retail and is a busy fast paced environment. We want you to be part of a team that makes a real difference to our staff restaurant enhancing patients and staff experience whilst in hospital. Don't worry if you have not worked in a hospital before - full training and induction will be given, special diets, food allergens, food hygiene and foodservice.

Interview date: w/c 11 November 2024

Main duties of the job

Post holders will be responsible for assembling and delivering food and provisions across Milton Keynes University Hospital sites in accordance with specified standards.

Post holders will be required to provide a wide range of Catering service-related tasks within Milton Keynes University Hospital sites.

The post holder will aid in cooking tasks and food preparation as per daily work plan using different cooking and preparation methods, keeping to time schedules set out by the Supervisor.

Working for our organisation

MKUH staff scored highest for 'I look forward to coming to work' (NHS Staff Survey 2023).

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking
• Free tea and coffee
• Great flexible working opportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• On site nursery (chargeable)
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Setting up food counters in accordance with meal service, cutlery, crockery and serving utensils.
2. Assemble and Transporting function trolleys to the relevant wards and meeting rooms and setting them up according to the request of the organiser at agreed time schedules following booking forms in the supervisor office.
3. Ensure food is above 75 c testing of food and recording temperatures on the temperature record sheet prior to the food being served.
4. Ensure the plates and bowls are heated in the plate warmers in the Restaurant counters before hot food service starts.
5. Plating and serving meals at the various counters ensuring all customers receive a well-presented meal and good high standard customer service.
6. Liaise with the Head chef, Restaurant supervisors and Catering Managers to ensure a positive meal experience.
7. Assist the ward in obtaining extra meals should the need arise by contacting the plating room or Supervisor.
8. Preparing salads and sandwiches as directed by Supervisor.
9. To record the number of portions left at the end of lunch and supper service.
10. Wash up duties and cleaning duties as directed by the area Supervisor.
11. Assist in the training of new starters by demonstrating duties to new starters.
12. Assisting with the preparation of salads and sandwiches if required.
13. Assist with the topping up of all display counters including cleaning of confectionary stands.

Please refer to the job description for further details

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.

Person specification Qualifications and knowledge Essential criteria

• Level one Food Safety Certificate Food Safety Level 2 or working towards
• NVQ Food preparation or Customer service or working towards
• NVQ level 2 food safety certificate or working towards

Experience Essential criteria

• Previous catering experience
• Experience of working as part of a team

Desirable criteria

• Customer service experience
• Cash handling experience

Skills Essential criteria

• Able to accommodate the demands of the post
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to prioritise tasks
• Flexible approach to duties and tasks
• Ability to maintain accurate written records

Desirable criteria

• Dietary/allergy knowledge
• Basic knife skills and food preparation to deadlines

Personal and people development Essential criteria

• To maintain patient confidentiality at all times

Communication Essential criteria

• Good verbal communication skills
• Good written communication skills
• Ability to interact with colleagues, suppliers, patients and external contacts
• Inform patients and visitors on Dietary and allergen information