Bank Catering Assistant

Join Our Outstanding Team as a Bank Catering Assistant

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated individual to join our hospice catering team as a Bank Catering Assistant, delivering high-quality service and nutritious meals to patients, visitors, and staff.

Why Join Us?

At Ashgate Hospice, food is more than just a meal - it's a source of comfort, nourishment, and wellbeing for those in our care. Our catering team plays a vital role in creating fresh, wholesome, and appetising dishes tailored to individual dietary needs.

We have recently been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). If you take pride in your cooking, value teamwork, and want to work in an outstanding environment where compassion, respect, and excellence are at the heart of everything we do, we'd love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

Meal Preparation & Service: Assist in preparing and serving meals and beverages to patients, ensuring their dietary needs and preferences are met with care and efficiency.

Patient Comfort: Ensure patients' comfort during mealtimes, addressing their needs promptly and courteously.

Hygiene & Cleanliness: Maintain cleanliness in kitchen and dining areas, adhering to infection control policies to provide a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

Stock Management: Assist with deliveries and manage stock rotation, ensuring all food items are stored appropriately and used within their best-before dates.

Team Collaboration: Work closely with catering staff and volunteers, supporting each other to deliver high-quality food services.

Flexibility: Adapt to various tasks within the catering department as required, demonstrating a willingness to contribute where needed.

About us

Ashgate Hospice, based in North Derbyshire, offers free palliative and end of life care for adults with life-limiting or incurable illnesses, including cancer, neurological diseases, and advanced heart, kidney, and lung conditions. Last year, we cared for over 2,400 people. Our aim is to support our patients by keeping them informed, managing their symptoms, and improving their quality of life from diagnosis onwards. We also provide vital support to the people who are important to them, offering practical assistance and emotional support, including bereavement services. We're more than a care provider. We're a campaigner for sustainable end of life care funding in the UK, and we continually invest in our services and workforce.

Job responsibilities

The Bank Catering Assistant supports the hospice's food services by assisting in meal preparation, accurately taking and fulfilling patients' meal orders, and ensuring their comfort during dining.

The role includes maintaining cleanliness in kitchen and dining areas, adhering to infection control policies, and managing stock deliveries and rotation.

Working collaboratively with catering staff and volunteers, the assistant must be adaptable to various tasks within the department. Upholding the hospice's values and maintaining confidentiality are essential, as is demonstrating sensitivity in interactions with patients, visitors, and volunteers.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Food hygiene certificate level 2 (or working towards)
• NVQ level 2 Food Production or Hospitality
• Experience of working within a catering or hospitality environment

Experience

• Respect and maintain confidentiality of patient and organisational information.
• Basic knowledge of special dietary needs (training will be provided)
• Familiarity with high standards of food preparation and service.
• Open to new ideas and practices within the catering environment.
• Ability to interact effectively with patients, staff and visitors.
• Works well within a team, collaborating with and supporting colleagues and volunteers.
• Organised and capable of prioritising tasks to meet service demands.
• Ability to lead and support volunteers during shifts.
• Demonstrate a caring and sensitive approach to patients and relatives' needs.
• Friendly and approachable demeanour.
• Maintains a positive attitude towards staff, visitors, and patients.
• Committed to continuous learning.
• Willingness to undertake further training and attend team meetings.
• Adaptable to working in various areas within the catering department as required.
• Previous experience working with the general public and cash handling and financial transactions.
• Able to work independently and make informed decisions.
• Background in working within a hospice or similar environment.

Additional Criteria

• Demonstrates honesty, reliability and commitment to the hospice's values and ambitions.
• Engages in ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Access to independent means of travel.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.