Catering Assistant

Carrying out of duties in the central Production Kitchen, Restaurant or Regen Ward Kitchens and associated areas. These duties include service of food, cleaning of premises and equipment, pre-preparation of food items prior to service and to regenerate cooked meals for patients at lunch and supper at ward level. It can involve taking of cash, manly via the use of cash tills. Pot wash and working in the catering stores area. Full training is given before this duty is undertaken.

**Skills**:

- Ability to communicate with other catering staff regarding work issues and instructions

Training
- To be able to undertake a structured training programme through taught courses and on the job training to last approximately 3 months to include foundation certificate in food hygiene/level 2 food safety certificate, and equipment training (slicing, boilers, cooling kettles etc). To be signed off as competent with a 3-4 month period

Experience
- Recent relevant catering experience is essential (within the last 3 years)
- Currently Works in the Catering Industry
- Up to date awareness of Catering Procedures and Food Safety
- Duties are carried out in a busy and at times stressful environment.
- Handling of hot food on a daily basis, required to use correct PPE.
- Working in temperature controlled conditions (extreme hot and cold) on a daily basis for various degrees of time.
- Working to schedules within strict time constraints.
- Duties involve working in areas where noise, heat and steam are generated on a daily basis.
- Duties involve use of chemicals such as detergent/sanitiser on a daily basis throughout the shift
- Duties involve undertaking physically demanding tasks on a daily basis e.g. pushing and manoeuvring trolleys with food and equipment on, standing for long periods, lifting containers and carrying same, bending over tables and work surfaces, unloading stores and stacking shelves. Dealing with heavy pot wash on a regular basis.
- Duties involve the need to concentrate whilst undertaking repetitive tasks such as, plating patient’s meals, washing of pots and pans, cleaning of walls, using knives.
- Duties require tasks to be undertaken in a timely manner e.g. when meals are being plated, when undertaking dish wash duties using a mechanical system
- Duties require close teamwork. Each person’s effort directly affects the task being carried out by their colleague as part of the duty.
- Ability to work as a member of a team or alone
- Ability to organise day to day work tasks of self
- Ability to carry out basic teaching skills in assisting and demonstrating duties to new members of staff.
- Basic literacy and numeracy skills.
- Flexibility - able to handle several tasks at once, e.g. reading patient’s menus whilst plating up the food item ordered, interacting with staff whilst serving food
- Written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to interact verbally with patients, other staff, customers and visitors both in person and over the telephone
- Ability to communicate with other catering staff regarding work issues and instructions
- Ability to read instructions relating to work processes.
- Ability to use initiative and take prompt follow up action as required by the situation, e.g. replacing a patient’s meal.
- Knowledge of the food menu and special diets, dietary requirements and Allergens
- Ability to present and garnish meals to expected high standard of the Catering Department.
- Dealing with customers complaints.
- Training will be given for the above.
- Preparing salads, sandwiches, some cold sweets, cheese and biscuits etc prior to food service, plate and garnish.
- Preparing of work stations for the service of meals
- Prepare patient meal trays prior to food service.
- Serving/dispatching of meals for patients and dealing with any issues that arise eg menu mix ups, last minute dietary requests
- Serving of meals to other staff members and special function guests interacting and communicating as appropriate at all times
- Receipt of food, recording of temperatures and regen of food.
- Assisting Chefs as and when required with food preparation in readiness for cooking.
- Cleaning of premises including floors, walls, sinks, wash hand basins, work surfaces, cupboards etc.
- Cleaning of large items of equipment including regen ovens, microwave etc.
- Washing of crockery, cutlery and other utensils and small items of equipment
- Cleaning of food trolleys, general purpose trolleys etc.
- Replenishing of vending machines and completion of necessary paperwork
- Maintaining agreed standards of food hygiene at all times.
- Taking items to and collecting items from wards and other departments as required.
- When required, making custard and gravy in regen kitchen.
- Collect patient menus from wards.
- Loading / unloading and movement of meal service trolleys and insulated food boxes.
- Operating a variety of equipment, e.g. floor scrubbing machine, dishwashers etc.
- Carrying out duties with regar