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Job summary

Main area
Catering Assistant
Grade
Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 25 hours per week (Working Monday to Saturday between the Hours of 07:00 to 19:00)
Job ref
236-NCA-EA101-25-PS
Employer
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Rochdale Infirmary
Town
Rochdale
Salary
£24,465 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
30/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust logo

Relief Catering Assistant

Band 2

Job overview

We are looking for enthusiastic motivated individual to work in our busy catering department at Rochdale Infirmary and associated sites  who will be primarily working between retail and patient catering regeneration of frozen meals and preparation of simple foods such as breakfast items, sandwiches and salads.

This involves working directly with patients some of whom are compromised, on a one-to-one basis and being fully conversant with the nutritional state of all patients. You will advise patients on the various nutritional/dietary options available dependent upon the patient’s needs.

The post holder will ensure that patients receive their food/drinks in an environment that has been adequately prepared for mealtimes.

Main duties of the job

  • Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness in line with Catering Food Standards Policy and legislation.
  • Clean premises and equipment per departmental hygiene policy and HACCP regulations, ensuring a safe and tidy workplace under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • Operate and clean automatic dishwashers.
  • Prepare, plate, and distribute patient meals, accurately probe and record food temperatures per HACCP procedures.
  • Collect patients’ daily food requirements and deliver food to wards, ensuring correct storage, rotation, and stock levels.
  • Handle cash transactions following Trust policies.
  •  Complete all relevant documentation accurately.
  • Work independently and meet deadlines under pressure.
  • Collaborate effectively with colleagues to meet service standards.
  •  Provide cover during absences and work scheduled shifts.
  • Maintain good working relationships across departments and wards.
  • Be flexible to work in any section or location as required and act up to higher grades when necessary.
  • Adapt to new regulations and uphold all hygiene and safety standards consistently.

Working for our organisation

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we’re always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire – to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Food safety level 2

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Good knowledge of spoken and written English
  • Awareness of allergens
Desirable criteria
  • Basic computer knowledge

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in simple food preparation
  • Catering experience
  • Experience in simple food preparation

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good communication skills
  • Able to cover absences with notice

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardFair Train work experience quality standard - gold standardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoWorkplace Wellbeing Charter LogoArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerTime to changeStep into healthGM Good Employment Charter

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Shelley Pearson-Smith
Job title
Catering Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01706 157067
Additional information

Please phone between the hours of 8.00am to 4pm, Monday to Friday 

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