Join the Catering Department at Dorset County Hospital and play a vital role in delivering freshly prepared, nutritious meals to patients, staff, and visitors. As a Catering Assistant, you will be an essential part of a friendly, dynamic team committed to providing exceptional service in a fast-paced hospital environment. This is your chance to make a real difference while working in a supportive and rewarding setting.
The role involves preparing & serving meals across patient and retail operations, as well as operating catering equipment such as coffee machines and tills. You will also help maintain the high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene required in a healthcare setting, ensuring all areas are safe and presentable. Customer care is a key part of the position, and you’ll contribute to creating a positive experience for everyone who visits or stays at the hospital.
We are looking for individuals with excellent customer service skills who enjoy working as part of a team. You should be adaptable and willing to undertake online training to enhance your knowledge and skills. With flexible shifts across five days of the week, including mornings, lunches, and suppers, you’ll play a key role in meeting the hospital’s nutritional and operational needs.
If you are enthusiastic about food service and want to be part of a growing hospital that values its people, this could be the opportunity for you. Apply now to join a team dedicated to making a real difference every day!
As a Catering Assistant within the Catering Department, you will play a crucial role in delivering a high-quality service to the hospital, supporting the central meal service for patients, and maintaining excellent standards of cleanliness, food safety, and hygiene.
You will work collaboratively within a team, supporting both the patient meal service and the operation of the central dishwashing area. Your responsibilities will include the mechanical washing of crockery, cutlery, and utensils used by patients, staff, and visitors, as well as ensuring general cleaning duties are carried out throughout the catering environment.
The primary duties of a Catering Assistant include:
Food Preparation: Assist with food preparation, plating dishes, and supporting basic cooking tasks.
Stock Management: Monitor and manage supplies, ensuring stock levels are maintained and efficiently replenished.
Cleaning: Maintain cleanliness in kitchens and service areas, including washing up and ensuring hygiene standards are met.
Setting Up: Prepare the dining area or kitchen for service, which includes setting up furniture, trolleys, and service areas.
Customer Service: Provide exceptional service in retail outlets, ensuring staff and visitors experience high-quality service.
Meal Delivery: Safely and efficiently transport meal trolleys to and from wards, ensuring timely delivery.
Cash Handling: Operate tills and handle cash transactions, ensuring accuracy and security.
At Dorset County Hospital, we are looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join our dynamic catering team during an exciting period of transformation. As a valued team member, you will play a key role in driving change and ensuring the delivery of high-quality meals to our patients, using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
Our catering team is small yet incredibly supportive, and we rely on each other to succeed, especially when working under pressure. As part of this team, you'll be encouraged to lead by example, motivating and inspiring your colleagues to deliver their best work every day.
The Trust is committed to supporting the development and success of every team member. We offer comprehensive support systems to help you reach your career goals, including guidance from HR, the Staff Union, and various well-being initiatives such as Vivup and Steps to Wellbeing.
Within the catering department, you’ll find a diverse and welcoming group of individuals who treat each other like family. Our team thrives on collaboration, and we celebrate the unique qualities that each member brings to the table. We believe in positive encouragement, providing ample opportunities for personal growth and professional advancement to those who show dedication and commitment.
At Dorset County Hospital, hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. You’ll be recognized and praised for your efforts, ensuring you feel valued as an integral part of our team.
Ensure the central service of patient meals is delivered accurately, with the correct meals provided to patients as per their dietary requirements.
Participate in the cleaning and sanitation of food preparation areas and equipment, adhering to the highest food safety standards.
Operate mechanical cleaning machinery for the upkeep of premises and equipment.
Restock waste bins, hand towels, hand soap, and cleaning chemicals across the main kitchen and dining areas, ensuring proper hygiene practices are maintained.
Serve a diverse range of individuals in customer service areas, offering assistance with dignity and respect, and meeting their varying needs.
Assist with general food preparation, including the preparation of sandwiches, rolls, salads, and cold desserts, as required.
Collaborate with team members to maintain cleanliness in premises and equipment as needed.
Aid in the transportation of food and materials between service points to ensure smooth operations.
Follow departmental and hospital policies including those related to health & safety, fire safety, moving and manual handling, control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), and food safety & hygiene and all other relevant policies.
Provide excellent service to customers in all retail outlets, ensuring a high standard of service while operating till ensuring accurate transactions.
Maintain a hygienic environment, ensuring cleanliness and compliance with all health regulations.
Uphold a high standard of personal hygiene, wearing the appropriate uniform/protective clothing and shoes provided.
Demonstrate flexibility in working to ensure continuous service provision, adapting to the needs of the hospital.
Support the department by working in other areas as required, contributing to the overall service delivery.
Support the estates and facilities department by working in other areas as required, contributing to the overall service delivery.
Responsibility for Patients
Assist in ensuring that patients' dietary needs are met by supporting the meal production process, ensuring that meals are prepared and served in line with individual dietary requirements.
Answer the kitchen phone in a timely and professional manner, addressing inquiries or directing them to the appropriate team members.
Relay messages throughout the department to ensure smooth communication and efficient operations.
Participate in briefings with retail staff to discuss important details such as portion sizes, menu content, allergens, and any updates related to food service.
Learn and familiarise yourself with the patient menu ordering system to assist with meal selections and dietary needs.
Support the team in managing patient menu changes as required, ensuring adjustments are communicated and implemented accurately.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development
Actively adhere to and enforce the department’s food safety procedures, ensuring that all catering staff comply with food safety standards. Proactively suggest improvements to the line manager to enhance processes and service delivery.
Attend meetings, briefings, and informal training sessions as required, staying updated on departmental procedures and best practices.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
Actively contribute to increasing sales and profit margins by demonstrating awareness of business needs and supporting operational efficiencies.
Ensure the safe and proper use of kitchen equipment, taking care to handle and maintain all tools and appliances correctly.
Maintain awareness of stock levels and ensure the security and proper storage of provisions in the kitchen and storage areas.
Demonstrate cost-consciousness by assisting in maintaining budgets and supporting efforts to minimise waste.
Ensure that the kitchen, equipment, and all storage areas are kept clean and organised at all times, adhering to health and safety standards.
Responsibility for Staff
Assist with the training and orientation of new staff, ensuring they are familiar with their roles, departmental procedures, and safety protocols.
Responsibility for Information Resources
As an employee, you are legally responsible for the accurate handling of all records you gather, create, or use in your role within the Trust. This includes patient, financial, personal, and administrative records, whether paper-based or electronic. All records are considered public, and you have a legal duty of confidentiality regarding all service users.
Ensure compliance with the Trust's Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy and seek guidance from your manager if you have any doubts about managing records appropriately.
All staff members are responsible for ensuring that information quality standards are consistently met.
Report any mechanical or equipment faults immediately, ensuring appropriate warning signs are displayed.
Participate in annual refresher training, staff appraisals, and specific training in line with governmental, departmental, and Trust policies to support personal development.
Responsibility for Research and Development
Take part in and complete staff surveys.
Assist the Head Chef in catering research and development opportunities as required by new methods and technology and/or new legislation.
Physical Skills
Proficient in using various kitchen tools and equipment, including knives, dishwashers, and food preparation tools, ensuring proper safety and hygiene practices are followed at all times.
Able to assist in food preparation, including chopping, assembling, and plating meals under the direction of chefs, ensuring adherence to recipes and portion sizes.
Comfortable working with a range of cooking methods and food types, including assisting in the preparation of hot and cold meals, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.
Capable of working efficiently and maintaining focus under pressure, particularly during busy meal times or when faced with changing circumstances such as last-minute orders or changes in service.
Adaptable and responsive to the demands of the kitchen, including adjusting to last-minute dietary changes or specific requests from patients, staff, and visitors.
Ensures all kitchen areas, including work surfaces and equipment, are kept clean and sanitised to the highest standards, supporting a safe and hygienic food service environment.
Able to transport food items and materials between service areas, ensuring food safety and maintaining efficiency throughout meal delivery.
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Report any equipment failures to the line manager or Estates team, providing clear details of the issue and using your best judgement to suggest the most efficient solutions or temporary fixes to minimize disruption to food service.
Identify and report any issues with suppliers or product availability to the line manager, assisting in finding practical solutions to supply challenges that may affect meal production or service.
Apply sound judgement when facing staffing challenges, helping to adjust and streamline workflows to ensure the timely delivery of food services, particularly during busy periods or when staff shortages occur.
Respond effectively to queries from ward staff or other departments regarding catering-related matters, using good judgement to resolve issues and ensure smooth coordination between the kitchen and other hospital areas.
Planning & Organisational Skills
Support stock control processes, ensuring supplies are available and properly stored, and help monitor waste to contribute to cost-effective operations.
Adapt to changing service requirements, assisting with meal preparation and delivery based on varying demand or special dietary requests.
Work collaboratively with the team, following instructions and assisting in the smooth running of kitchen operations.
Assist in the efficient allocation of tasks, supporting team members to ensure work is completed on time and to the highest standards.
This advert closes on Thursday 20 Feb 2025
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