• Job Description

  Req#: C9279-25-0924?language=en&page=268&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Up 15 hours a week across five days between Monday to Sunday - 3 hours shifts ( 4pm to 7pm)

  An exciting opportunity has arisen to joint the Patient Catering Team at Worthing Hospital as a Food Service Assistant.

  2019 saw the introduction of a team of specially trained catering staff dedicated to patient nutrition and hydration as well as cleaning duties to a high Infection control and food safety standard.

  Successful applicants should have some previous experience within both the food service and customer service industry although full training will be given.

  Previous experience within a healthcare setting would be beneficial.

  Duties include but are not exclusive to hot and cold meal and beverage service, meal ordering via electronic system (IPad) general kitchen cleaning duties, Cleaning of patient bedside tables and lockers and washing up.

  This is a manual role and applicants will be required to spend the duration of their shift on their feet, pushing, pulling, bending and lifting.

  Applicants will be required to under go full training in Food safety, Infection control, COSHH and Special diets. They are also required to operate food service equipment including regeneration trolley, beverage trolley and IPads.

  Excellent customer service and communication skills are essential.

  Should you require Additional Support with completing your Application, please contact the Facilities and Estates Recruitment Team via email below:

  uhsussex.FandErecruitment@nhs.net

  Main duties of the job

  To work as part of the ward team, under the direction and supervision of the Catering Department, providing a high standard in food and beverage service to patients. Undertake preparation, reheating and presentation of patient meals and beverages, whilst adhering to all hygiene and HACCP/ Health and Safety legislation. To ensure cleaning is of a high standard in ward pantry and associated areas in line with Trust cleaning regulations.

  The post holder will work as part of a team of catering staff responsible for the effective day to day delivery of food & beverage services across multi sites. The services provide in excess of 20,000 meals per week to almost 1000 hospital beds and various departments within the Trust. Based at ward level, the post holder is required to provide a range of hot and cold meals, snacks and beverages to a maximum of 30 Patients over the course of the day.

  About us

  At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

  We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

  As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

  We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

  Details

  Date posted

  20 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 2

  Salary

  £24,169 a year per annum, pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Part-time

  Reference number

  279-7147452-MAY25

  Job locations

  Worthing

  Lyndhurst Road

  Worthing

  BN11 2DH

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Main Duties and Responsibilities

  Communication

  • Maintain good communication, liaison and working arrangements with ward staff, own team and other hospital departments.
  • Communicate effectively with patients and their relatives to ensure their food and beverage requirements are met.
  • To communicate in a courteous, co-operative and sympathetic manner with due regard for privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times.
  • To read and understand written and verbal instructions, and complete HACCP records accurately.
  • Take instruction and direction from catering team leaders and senior staff on the ward.
  • Ensure daily orders are communicated in a timely manner, to enable the Catering Department to prepare and deliver food items on time.
  • Use appropriate communication skills to respond to any aggressive and abusive behaviour and report the situation as soon as possible to the nurse in charge.
  • Report any concerns regarding the patients nutritional or fluid intake to the nurse in charge.
  • Assist nursing staff in updating the nutritional board in the ward area.

  Analytical and Judgemental Skills

  • Understand basic HACCP principles and food hygiene policies and procedures, and act upon straightforward day to day issues.
  • Report any Health and Safety, and/or Food Safety issues to the Team leader in good time, including any equipment failures or defects.
  • Recognise when advice should be sought from the team leader, and be able to escalate problems and concerns.

  Please see Job description and person specs for full details.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Main Duties and Responsibilities

  Communication

  • Maintain good communication, liaison and working arrangements with ward staff, own team and other hospital departments.
  • Communicate effectively with patients and their relatives to ensure their food and beverage requirements are met.
  • To communicate in a courteous, co-operative and sympathetic manner with due regard for privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times.
  • To read and understand written and verbal instructions, and complete HACCP records accurately.
  • Take instruction and direction from catering team leaders and senior staff on the ward.
  • Ensure daily orders are communicated in a timely manner, to enable the Catering Department to prepare and deliver food items on time.
  • Use appropriate communication skills to respond to any aggressive and abusive behaviour and report the situation as soon as possible to the nurse in charge.
  • Report any concerns regarding the patients nutritional or fluid intake to the nurse in charge.
  • Assist nursing staff in updating the nutritional board in the ward area.

  Analytical and Judgemental Skills

  • Understand basic HACCP principles and food hygiene policies and procedures, and act upon straightforward day to day issues.
  • Report any Health and Safety, and/or Food Safety issues to the Team leader in good time, including any equipment failures or defects.
  • Recognise when advice should be sought from the team leader, and be able to escalate problems and concerns.

  Please see Job description and person specs for full details.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in Hospitality/Customer Services or previous experience in a care environment

  Desirable

  • L2 Food Safety Award or relevant Food Hygiene experience
  • COSHH training
  • Food Allergen Awareness training
  • Previous experience in completing HACCP/food safety documentation

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous experience of working in a busy catering environment or healthcare setting

  Skills

  Essential

  • Good standard of English literacy and numeracy skills and ability to follow instructions both verbally and written
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

  Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

  Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 in Hospitality/Customer Services or previous experience in a care environment

  Desirable

  • L2 Food Safety Award or relevant Food Hygiene experience
  • COSHH training
  • Food Allergen Awareness training
  • Previous experience in completing HACCP/food safety documentation

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous experience of working in a busy catering environment or healthcare setting

  Skills

  Essential

  • Good standard of English literacy and numeracy skills and ability to follow instructions both verbally and written
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

  Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

  Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Employer details

  Employer name

  University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

  Address

  Worthing

  Lyndhurst Road

  Worthing

  BN11 2DH

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

  Address

  Worthing

  Lyndhurst Road

  Worthing

  BN11 2DH

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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