Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Allocate duties to all kitchen staff on a daily basis following an assessment of competence

To liaise with ward staff regarding menu changes and individual dietary information details for patients

To work closely with the other Catering Supervisors and to attend meetings as required with ward and departmental staff on behalf of the Catering Department

It is essential that the post holder has knowledge of the procedures and practices relating to the management and provision of food services. This must include knowledge of HACCP, COSHH and Health and Safety

Management training, to Advanced Food Hygiene standard required in order to process theoretical and professional knowledge gained through specialised courses and experience

To carry out menu planning with full knowledge of standard recipes and food production in large scale catering operations

Must have thorough knowledge of therapeutic diets acquired through training and experience

To audit and identify the training needs of the kitchen staff, and support staff to undertake a variety of duties to continually enhance their skills  

Responsible to complete departmental induction and training programme for new kitchen staff

Participate in any online training facilities

To audit and review the temperature recording procedures in the Catering department in line with the H.A.C.C.P Day to day operation of the electronic MONIKA task minder system

To be responsible for the maintenance of all due diligence records

Completion of rota’s to ensure sufficient staff is on duty at all times

Ensure that there are sufficient provisions available to provide the service for patients, staff and visitors

To keep the food wastage percentages to a minimum and carry out regular waste surveys at ward level to identify areas where actions could be taken to reduce food waste

Organise and plan specialist food training programmes for specific staff 

Manage catering and food production documentation in line with the trust policy and follow operational catering policy and procedures related to the storage and retention of records

Maintain records of catering complaints, incidents, and ward visits to provide reports for the senior catering manager monthly 

Liaise with the Executive Head Chef to plan for any building work and new equipment/ software upgrades in the kitchen area

Liaise with the estates department to process any maintenance requirements regarding the catering department

Develop skills with experience for manipulation of tools i.e. knives and equipment where margins of error are narrow

To prepare food to meet deadlines where accuracy is essential

Physical skills are required for managing deliveries of stock

You will provide nutritional, attractive, and palatable meals to hospital patients, staff and visitors and adopt responsibility at all times for the quality and outcome of each dish

Carry out regular ward visits to monitor all aspects of the patient food service

Assist all patients, staff, and visitors regarding the catering and food preparation and ward service

You will be available to see individual patients on request to address    queries or concerns and be ready to provide alternatives to the menu as necessary

Liaise with ward staff; and ensure process is in place to identify any specific needs

Maintain the Allergen matrix for all meals provided to the patients, staff and visitors and liaise with all staff if any changes to the recipes 

Work with the front of house manager to develop ideas for income generation within the catering department and look at the effects that this may have on other departments

Implement policies/procedures to staff on all aspects of food purchase, storage, and production, which will impact beyond own work area

Implementing and monitoring the HACCP policy, addressing any controls and constraints and identify actions required

To implement all recommendations of external bodies i.e., EHO inspector to meet the agreed standards

Implement policies for the catering department and legislative changes relating to all aspects of food purchase, storage, production and service

Use complaints, incidents and comments positively to learn from issues and provide feedback to improve services

Operate in line with the current catering policy; contribute to developing, reviewing, and updating the policy

To maintain good housekeeping procedures, stock rotation of all provisions in fridges and freezers

To draw up requisitions for all provision required on day to day basis

To liaise with the Stores Person to ensure that the required standards are met for all provisions and delivery

Report any defects of building or equipment immediately to Management 

To manage all the kitchen staff, cover holidays, sickness and other leave and allocate overtime where necessary.  Draw up weekly rotas for shift changes etc

Participate in the recruitment process, shortlist candidates carry out selection interviews

Carry out annual PDP/appraisal meetings with assigned staff

To hold team meetings, agree development targets and monitor targets.  Ensure that all meetings are recorded for attendance and content

Carry out return to work interviews when kitchen staff return from sickness absence and complete all relevant paperwork

Responsible for dealing with staffing issues informally e.g. counselling for grievances, poor performance etc and keeping documented evidence for issues

Ensure electronic records (where they apply) are maintained for all related aspects of responsibility

Keep a record of all staff meetings, allergen work, ,ward visits, training and associated documents  on the catering drive for evidence   

Competent in use of MANNA Stock System, entering data and pulingl off reports

To maintain the Monika refrigeration monitoring system / Task minder to ensure that the day-to-day temperatures and cleaning tasks are recorded, and any non-compliance actioned

To review and maintain Burlodge digital monitoring system and act on noncompliance 

To enter data manually in event of failing IT systems, this includes all daily records for fridge, and freezers, and hot and cold food temperatures throughout the department

Support staff with E-lite training on ESR to ensure compliance with all mandatory and departmental training  

Complete spread sheets for food wastage surveys and collates information accordingly

To liaise with management to continuously develop and improve the kitchen environment and food service. 

To work alongside management to promote the healthy eating ethos for patients staff and visitors. 

Liaise with the dietetic team on menu developments and dietary matters or requirements.   

To take overall responsibility for the Catering Department in the absence of the Executive Head Chef. 

Work within agreed hygiene policies and procedures.

Participate in the manual service provision of the department as necessary. This may include the preparation, cooking and service of food, delivery of trolleys to wards and departments, cleaning  as required.

Responsible for putting away deliveries if and when required, ensure good stock control is in place.

Responsible for all requests made by patients, staff and visitors. 

This entails constant interruption and the need to prioritise your workload in order to facilitate a smooth running of the service.

Supervise a number of different grades of staff within the catering department, responding to all stakeholders. 

Full awareness is required when using knives, equipment and monitoring system. 

Concentration is required on daily use of IT and software programmes

To be able to listen and address complaints as they arise. 

Support staff with their personal concerns or performance related issues.

Communication with customers, whether patients, staff or visitors who could be experiencing distressing circumstances and make informed decisions as to how to solve their complaints.  Immediate responses are needed and then more robust long-term solutions.

Working conditions will include food preparation, storage areas and exposure to extreme temperatures within food storage areas

In this role you must be willing to work in other areas of the department and carry out any role that you expect staff to whether in hot conditions, cold storage and other extreme temperatures.

Occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions is required, this may include areas where pests have been located.

Meetings, discussions, audits and surveys will take place in patient and visitor areas.

Responsible for Health and Safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by acts and omissions at work and ensure that statutory and departmental safety regulations are adhered to.

Undertake any other duties or responsibilities commensurate with the seniority of this post as agreed with the technical manager for soft facilities.

This post is to assist the senior catering manager across the full range of their duties and to deputise for them in their absence. Close working is required to provide managerial cover across the Facilities Division.    

N.B. The majority of the post’s tasks are non-routine. This job description is not exhaustive.  It may be necessary to carry out any other duties in order to provide an effective Catering Services.  This could involve working within another area but would only be done after discussion with the employee.