Ward Catering Assistant

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Job Summary

The closing date is 16 June 2026. Join our team as a Ward Catering Assistant and support the front‑line delivery of inpatient meal service. The role is a 12‑month fixed term contract providing 30 hours over 3 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist ward teams to improve patients’ experience while they are in hospital, supporting the front‑line delivery of inpatient meal service to maintain standards for nutrition and hydration, reduce food waste and maximise efficiency.
• Provide a professional, patient-focused meal service ensuring hygiene and patient safety standards are maintained.
• Support the Trust’s commitment to excellent patient care by providing the right food for the right patient at the right time during each meal service.
• Cover annual leave and absences as required to maintain a high standard of service.
• Maintain all operational procedures and enforce compliance with waste management, hygiene, food safety legislation, facilities management, HACCP and national cleanliness standards.
• Participate in staff involvement groups for the Trust’s quality strategy.
• Ensure safe use of all equipment and comply with risk management and safe working practices.
• Ensure all appropriate hygiene monitoring is carried out and recorded for every process.
• Monitor and record food wastage, maintain and monitor stock levels, and ensure the economical use of trust resources.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Food Safety Level 2
• Basic numeracy
• Basic computer skills

Desirable Qualifications

• HACCP training
• ECDL or equivalent

Essential Knowledge

• Large-scale food production
• Team working

Desirable Knowledge

• NHS experience

Essential Skills

• Customer care skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Provision of a patient/customer focused service
• Principles of risk management
• Communication
• Ability to instruct other less qualified staff or students

Desirable Skills

• Cash handling abilities/use of cash registers

Other Essential Requirements

• Physically demanding role
• Pushing and pulling trolleys/cages
• Varied deadlines and ad‑hoc pressures
• Dealing with staff/customer issues
• Exposure to temperature variations
• Professional and hygiene awareness/appearance
• Varied shifts

Additional Details

• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 2
• Salary: £25,272 a year, pro rata
• Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
• Working pattern: Part‑time, flexible working
• Job locations: Southport Hospital, Town Lane, Merseyside, PR8 6PN, United Kingdom
• Reference number: 409-7955268

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A disclosure check will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Contact Information

Catering Manager: Angela Wakefieldangela.wakefield@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk01704744091

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