Kitchen AssistantNHS
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Kitchen Assistant to join our team at St Margaret's Hospice.
We are looking to expand our catering services to strengthen up and coming future projects.
You will provide outstanding support to a busy kitchen which will include food preparation, cooking of meals and general cleaning throughout whilst complying with HACCP management.
We are looking for someone who:
- Understands food safety processes, in line with environmental health guidelines.
- Has a positive attitude, is highly motivated and enthusiastic.
- Is willing to go above and beyond to ensure that our patients receive outstanding care.
- Experience of working within a similar environment would be preferable as the role will require interaction with patients
Main duties of the job
You'll support the Chefs with food preparation, creation of meal development, serving meals, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring high standards of food hygiene throughout the main kitchen and kitchenette areas.
The rota is fairly flexible within reason. You will predominantly (but not exclusively) be working 4 days over 7. This is inclusive of weekends when required to meet the demands of the service.
Key duties include:
- Assisting with food preparation and basic cooking tasks.
- Serving meals and maintaining a clean, safe kitchen environment.
- Correctly storing and labelling food.
- Washing catering equipment and carrying out other relevant cleaning duties.
- Preparing and maintaining of rooms for functions and events.
Job description
- When required, take responsibility for the ordering, preparation, cooking and serving of patient meals and other catering requests.
- Accept deliveries and check for accuracy against delivery note, report any discrepancies to the chef on duty
- Clear and clean equipment, utensils and wash up crockery/cutlery and ensure the wash up area is kept clean and tidy
- Maintain personal and catering standards in accordance with HACCP guidelines and current food safety legislation
- To inspect catering equipment before use and report any defects vi the Estates defect log
- Be able to work to time schedules and under pressure when the kitchen is busy
- Understand food allergen laws and demonstrate knowledge and compliance with current legislation and hospice food safety and allergen policy
- Clean all areas of the Kitchen, ensuring cleaning schedules are followed and accurate records are kept in line with national food hygiene standards
- To have a full understanding of all kitchen equipment, consumables, materials, and correct use of cleaning agents
- Ensure all cleaning equipment is left clean and in a safe working condition.
- Report any defects in equipment and remove from service via Estates defect log
- Replenish all consumable products as necessary
- Demonstrate good organisational skills and be able to prioritise effectively to meet the needs of the service
- Take reasonable care of your health and safety and that of others when working with equipment, e.g., floor cleaning equipment, moving furniture, and manoeuvring loaded cleaning trolley.
- Handle and dispose of domestic, recyclable waste in line with Department of Health 07-01 Safe Management of Healthcare Waste and Hospice Health & Safety Policy.
- Report incident, near miss and accident via electronic recording system
- Support and assist kitchen volunteers
- Ensure good catering practice to minimise waste
- Undertake cash handling duties which include electronic payments in line with Hospice Cash handling policy and procedure
About us
You won't just be joining a fantastic team you'll become part of a welcoming, community-minded charity making a real difference every day.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment alongside a range of benefits including:
Holiday entitlement
- 33 days including bank holidays, rising to 35 days after 1 year, and increasing with length of service (pro-rata if part-time)
- Ability to buy and sell annual leave
Pension scheme
- NHS pension continuation where applicable*
- 6% employer / 5% employee contribution for non-NHS staff
Additional Benefits
- Life assurance cover (2x salary)
- Health Cash Plans
- Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access, counselling, wellbeing support, and legal/financial advice
- Blue Light Discount Card
- Enhanced maternity leave*
- Excellent learning and development opportunities
- Free on-site parking in Yeovil and Taunton
- Opportunities to volunteer and support fundraising initiatives