Job summary
- Main area
- Catering
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 27.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 153-CO06498
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital
- Town
- Bournemouth
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Catering Menu & Provisions Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
We are looking for a Catering Menu & Provisions Assistant to provide comprehensive administrative and operational support to the Catering Department, ensuring the efficient delivery of patient meals, hospitality services, and retail catering. The role is essential in maintaining accurate data and supporting key operational processes, with particular responsibility for wastage reporting, allergen management, and patient menu collation to ensure patient safety, service quality, and regulatory compliance.
Collate patient menus from all wards accurately and within required timeframes, ensuring all dietary requirements, preferences, and service deadlines are met. This is a critical function that directly impacts patient experience, nutritional care, and service efficiency. This must be completed twice daily, 365 days a year, requiring a high level of accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
Maintain and regularly update allergen information across all menus and systems. This is a critical responsibility to ensure patient safety and compliance with food safety legislation. The post holder must ensure all allergen data is accurate, up to date, and reflects any menu or product changes immediately.
The role is part time for 27.50 hours per week
Interview date 18th August 2026
Main duties of the job
· Carry out a wide range of administrative duties to support daily operations. Including collating patient menus for all wards twice daily, and regularly updating allergen information across all menus and systems.
· Run, input, and send orders within deadlines for fresh Food Provisions daily. Goods receipt invoices and manage discrepancies.
· Work collaboratively with the catering team and wider Trust colleagues.
· Provide flexible support across the department as required.
· Assist with inputting data for audit reporting.
- Input and maintain accurate data across systems.
· Scan and upload documents to internal systems (e.g., ImageNow).
· Maintain records relating to menus, allergens, stock, and finance.
· Process mail and maintain documentation.
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Ensure all documentation is up to date and submitted on time.
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Undertake additional duties appropriate to the role as requested by management.
Working for our organisation
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Collate patient menus from all wards accurately and within required timeframes, ensuring all dietary requirements, preferences, and service deadlines are met. This is a critical function that directly impacts patient experience, nutritional care, and service efficiency. This must be completed twice daily, 365 days a year, requiring a high level of accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
Maintain and regularly update allergen information across all menus and systems. This is a critical responsibility to ensure patient safety and compliance with food safety legislation. The post holder must ensure all allergen data is accurate, up to date, and reflects any menu or product changes immediately.
Run, input, and send orders within deadlines for fresh Food Provisions daily.
Goods receipt invoices and manage discrepancies.
Person specification
application form
Essential criteria
- GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and Maths
- Basic IT qualification or demonstrable competency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Willingness to undertake job-related training (e.g. food safety, allergen awareness)
- Experience of working in an administrative or clerical role.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel (data entry, basic formulas, spreadsheets) and Outlook
- Experience using databases or electronic systems for ordering, reporting, and record keeping.
- Ability to work within a 365-day service, including flexibility in working patterns.
Desirable criteria
- Level 2 Food Safety / Food Hygiene Certificate
- Level 2 Allergen Awareness training
- NVQ Level 2/3 in Business Administration, Catering, or related field
- Experience within a healthcare catering environment.
- Experience with menu collation or food service systems.
- Knowledge of stock management or ordering systems
interview
Essential criteria
- Awareness of food safety and hygiene principles
- Flexible and adaptable to changing service demands.
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders, including ward staff, patients, and colleagues.
- Ability to accurately read, interpret, and record written information (e.g. patient menus, dietary requirements, allergen data)
Desirable criteria
- Interest in catering, nutrition, or healthcare services
- Ability to explain complex information (e.g. dietary or allergen details) in a clear and accessible way.
- Awareness of hospital catering operations and patient dietary needs
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Louise Clyde
- Job title
- Catering Operations Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 019 5059
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