Dining Room AssistantNHS

Job summary

We are looking for a friendly, approachable and customer-focused Dining Room Assistant to join our catering team at Ashgate Hospice.

Hours: 15 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Based primarily in our cafe and dining room, you will provide a warm and welcoming service to patients, visitors and staff. You will serve food and beverages, operate the cafe till and help maintain a clean, safe and inviting dining environment.

You will work closely with our chefs, Catering Assistants and volunteers, supporting the wider catering service with basic food preparation, stock rotation, cleaning and other duties as required.

Previous experience in catering, hospitality, retail or another customer-facing environment would be helpful, but we are more interested in your approach to customer service, reliability and willingness to learn. If you enjoy working with people and want to make a positive difference within an Outstanding hospice, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a friendly, welcoming and efficient service to patients, visitors and staff using the hospice cafe and dining room. Duties will include serving food, snacks and beverages, operating the electronic till and handling payments, setting up and maintaining the dining area, and responding courteously to customer enquiries and requests.

The post holder will also support the catering team with basic food preparation, stock rotation, food storage and cleaning as required, while following food hygiene, allergen, infection prevention and health and safety procedures. The role involves working closely with chefs, Catering Assistants and volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the service and maintaining high standards of customer service, cleanliness and presentation at all times.

Job description

The post holder will provide a friendly, professional and welcoming service to patients, visitors and staff using the hospice cafe and dining room. The role is primarily customer-facing and involves serving food, snacks and beverages, operating the cafe till and processing payments accurately, and helping to create a clean, comfortable and welcoming dining environment throughout service. The post holder will respond courteously to customer enquiries and requests and escalate any concerns to the appropriate member of the catering team.

The role also provides support to the wider catering service and includes basic food preparation, food storage, stock rotation and replenishment as required. The post holder will work closely with chefs, Catering Assistants and volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the service and maintain high standards of food presentation, food safety and customer service. The post holder will be expected to follow all relevant food hygiene, allergen, infection prevention and control, health and safety and financial procedures, as well as maintaining high standards of personal hygiene, cleanliness and professional presentation. Mandatory and role-specific training will be provided, and the post holder will be expected to contribute positively to the catering team and support the wider needs of the service.

This is a customer-facing role within a hospice environment, so a compassionate, respectful and sensitive approach is important. The post holder may interact with patients, relatives, visitors, staff and volunteers and should always be mindful of individual needs, dignity and confidentiality.

For further information about the role or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Mark Taylor, Head Chef, on 01246 568 801 or [email protected].

Ashgate Hospice is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please contact our People Services team on 01246 568 801 or [email protected].

Successful applicants will be required to complete a DBS check as part of the pre-employment process. Applications must be submitted via the Apply Now button; applications sent directly to People Services or the recruiting manager will not be accepted.

We are unable to support applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK.

About us

Ashgate Hospice provides free, specialist and compassionate care for adults living with life-limiting or incurable illnesses across North Derbyshire. We support people and those important to them through a range of services, helping people manage symptoms, understand their care and maintain the best possible quality of life.

Each year, we support more than 2,640 people and also provide practical, emotional and bereavement support to those important to them.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and encouraged to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to supporting our staff through training, development and wellbeing initiatives.