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Job summary

Main area
Catering
Grade
Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Job share - 42.5 hours per week (9am-1pm or 1.30pm-6pm Monday to Friday)
Job ref
267-CS7336140
Employer
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Oxford Clinic | Littlemore Mental Health Centre
Town
Oxford
Salary
£24,465 per annum | pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/08/2025 23:59
Interview date
18/08/2025

Employer heading

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Part-time Catering Assistant - Oxford Clinic

Band 2

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

We are a responsive and innovative Foundation Trust that places our values of Caring, Safe and Excellent at the heart of everything we do. We take great pride in our staff and believe that investing in you is key to us achieving our vision of outstanding care delivered by outstanding people.

We work with a wide range of partner organisations to deliver care and support to people in their own homes and from a number of hospitals and community bases. We focus on delivering care as close to home as possible for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

We actively support anti-racism, equality, diversity, and inclusion so, if you’re excited about this job opportunity and you meet our Trust values, but feel unsure about applying, then please get in touch and we will be happy to have a conversation with you.

We are also committed to increasing diversity in the workforce, that is why we actively encourage applications from those groups of people who are currently under-represented, which include amongst others: people with disabilities; men from all socio-economic backgrounds; people from diverse ethnic backgrounds; and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Good luck and we hope to hear from you.


 

Job overview

We are looking for two Catering Assistants to join our team at the Oxford Clinic based at Littlemore Hospital which has a fresh cook kitchen serving patients and staff.

The Oxford Clinic is a medium secure male unit with up to 32 inpatients across three wards including acute, rehab and specialist wards with individuals detained under the Mental Health Act and/or the criminal justice system. 

We're looking for team players who are flexible and reliable, with good interpersonal and communication skills. There are two part-time roles available:  9am to 1pm or 1.30pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.

You'll be a key part of improving our patient experience by working as part of the catering team, assisting in all aspects of food preparation and production. Duties include washing up and cleaning, front of house duties, and serving food to service users.

If you have experience in delivering high-quality service and would like to make an difference to mental health care in the NHS, we would love to hear from you! We can provide training required for all aspects of this role so please do consider applying, even if you don't have a lot of experience in this area. 

Main duties of the job

  • To ensure that all food is presented to patients in a professional manner in compliance with statutory guidelines and regulatory requirements.
  • Ensuring that all produce used is of the highest quality.
  • To assist with the preparation  of menu items as required.
  • To ensure the highest standards of cleanliness are maintained in the catering department in line with current legislation.
  • To prevent wastage and damage to food and equipment within the catering department.

Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties.

Working for our organisation

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the “candidate guide to making an application” and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

•    Excellent opportunities for career progression
•    Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
•    27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
•    NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
•    Competitive pension scheme
•    Lease car scheme
•    Cycle to work scheme
•    Employee Assistance Programme
•    Mental Health First Aiders
•    Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
•    Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the “supporting statement” element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Please indicate in your supporting statement which role you would like to be considered for as part of this job share: 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday or 1.30pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Some knowledge of working in catering industry

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Basic catering skills

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to communicate sensitively with people who have mental health concerns
  • An understanding of the principles of delivering quality customer service
  • Flexible
Desirable criteria
  • To demonstrate an interest in learning /further training

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthNHS 75th BirthdayDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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
Ellen Gaughan
Job title
Facilities Support Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07350375099
Additional information

At Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust we want to employ people not just with experience, but with the aptitude and motivation to succeed and whose values resonate with our own.

Therefore, if you don’t meet all the requirements of the role and are unsure about applying but are excited about the opportunity, please do get in touch. We will be happy to discuss the requirements in more detail ahead of making a written application.

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