Job summary
Ward food service assistant
Department: Catering - Patients
Band 2 £23,615 per annum pro rata (weekend enhancements apply)
We are looking to fill the following vacancies as part of our permanent team:
Monday to Friday 35 Hours per week
Saturday and Sunday 14 Hours per week
Sunday hours per week (enhanced rate for working Sunday)
Monday to Friday hours per week
Food is Medicine - Exciting Opportunity at Milton Keynes Hospital
Be a part of a great positive team providing and helping patients recovery and making a difference.
Milton Keynes Hospital invested in a new foodservice and has been running it for over 3 years. The system offers an a la carte menu featuring 35 dishes, it has improved food choice and quality and also improved patient satisfaction.
Part of the improvements was introducing a new ward based foodservice role, in this role you will take meal orders, serve meals, beverages, and snacks, you will be the link with the patient providing good food & beverages - helping the patients recovery.
We are looking for staff that have worked in customer service roles hospitality or retail who would like to make a real difference in our patients 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 patient foodservice.
Interview date: 13/12/2024
Main duties of the job
Post holders will be responsible for foodservice for patients across Milton Keynes University Hospital sites in accordance with specified standards.
Please note that we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.
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A staggering 88% of the Estates & Ancillary colleagues affirmed MKUH had made reasonable adjustments to enable them to carry out their work. (NHS Staff Survey 2023)
About us
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:
1. Free on-site parking
2. Free tea and coffee
3. Great flexible workingopportunities
4. Discounted gym membership
5. Lease car scheme
6. Generous annual leave and pension scheme
7. On site nursery (chargeable)
8. 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Assisting nursing staff in preparation of the breakfast trolley and the beverage trolley ready to assist in serving breakfasts, collection of breakfast trays once the patients have finished their meal. (Day staff only)
2. Collection of finished meal trays and beverages from patients and returning to the ward kitchen, loading the crockery and cutlery into the ward dishwasher.
3. Keeping any waste food and place it the caddy return it to the central dishwash when the insulated trolleys are returned.
4. Preparation of the beverage trolley and service of beverages and snacks to patients (making sure that the items are appropriate to their dietary requirements and restrictions)
5. Checking with the Nurse in charge to see if there have been any changes to patients or their dietary status
6. Make sure the patient has a menu and ask the patient for their meal order making sure it is suitable for their diet status, answering any questions the patient has on the menu and food service
Please refer to the attached 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
Desirable
9. Level one Food Safety Certificate Food Safety Level 2 or working towards
10. Customer service or working towards
Experience
Desirable
11. Previous catering/retail/care experience
12. Customer service experience
13. Experience of working as part of a team
Skills
Essential
14. Able to accommodate the demands of the post
15. Good organizational skills
16. Ability to prioritise tasks
17. Flexible approach to duties and tasks
18. Ability to maintain accurate written records
Desirable
19. Dietary/allergy knowledge
20. Ability to use a PC table
Personal and people development
Essential
21. To maintain patient confidentiality at all times
22. Able to take instructions and multitask
23. High standard of personal hygiene
Desirable
24. Work as part of a team
Communication
Essential
25. Good verbal communication skills
26. Good written communication skills
27. Ability to interact with patients, ward staff, colleagues and hospital visitors
Specific requirements
Essential
28. Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
29. High level of personal hygiene