• Job Description

  Req#: C9418-26-0257?language=en&page=657&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  To prepare and serve food to a high standard for distribution across the hospital, ensuring it meets user expectations and responds to the needs of patients, visitors, and staff through consistently excellent customer service. The post holder will work across various areas within the department and maintain high standards of hygiene and presentation at all times. They will support Supervisors and Managers by ensuring all preparation and kitchen areas remain clean, tidy, and well-organised. The role also includes ensuring that staff, equipment, and food resources are used efficiently and cost-effectively to support the overall delivery of the service.

  Main duties of the job

  Main duties include assisting with basic food preparation such as baguettes, sandwiches, salads, fruit and vegetables, beverages, and other tasks as directed by the Catering Manager. The post holder will also serve customers politely and professionally at all times, ensuring a positive experience within the catering department and responding to the needs of patients, visitors, and staff through excellent customer service.

  Responsibilities also include replenishing and monitoring stock on shelves, ensuring timely re-ordering through the correct procedures. The post holder will operate cash registers and manage cash takings in line with departmental guidelines. They will clean equipment and work areas--including storage spaces and temperature-controlled areas--in accordance with HACCP guidance and with full understanding of COSHH requirements. They will also monitor and replenish cleaning materials, portable cleaning equipment, and disposables, ensuring stock levels remain adequate and reordering when required.

  About us

  Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

  Our valuesWe not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

  Details

  Date posted

  12 March 2026

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 2

  Salary

  £24,465 a year weekend enhancements

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Part-time

  Reference number

  418-BANK6925-SSJ-A

  Job locations

  Bedford Hospital, South Wing

  Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Catering Dept, Kempston Road, Bedford MK42 9DJ

  Bedford

  MK42 9DJ

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Assist with basic food preparation, including baguettes, sandwiches, salads, fruit and vegetables, beverages, and other tasks as directed by the Catering Manager. Provide polite, professional customer service at all times to ensure a positive experience for patients, visitors, and staff.

  Replenish and monitor stock on shelves, ensuring timely reordering through the correct procedures. Operate cash registers and manage cash takings in line with departmental guidelines.

  Participate in daily cleaning duties according to the departmental cleaning schedule. Clean equipment, storage areas, and temperaturecontrolled spaces in line with HACCP guidance and with full awareness of COSHH requirements.

  Monitor kitchen areas for signs of pest activity and report any concerns to the Catering Manager so appropriate action can be taken. Ensure all food waste is disposed of using the food waste machine and that other waste is compacted and disposed of correctly.

  Please refer to the full job description for further details.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Assist with basic food preparation, including baguettes, sandwiches, salads, fruit and vegetables, beverages, and other tasks as directed by the Catering Manager. Provide polite, professional customer service at all times to ensure a positive experience for patients, visitors, and staff.

  Replenish and monitor stock on shelves, ensuring timely reordering through the correct procedures. Operate cash registers and manage cash takings in line with departmental guidelines.

  Participate in daily cleaning duties according to the departmental cleaning schedule. Clean equipment, storage areas, and temperaturecontrolled spaces in line with HACCP guidance and with full awareness of COSHH requirements.

  Monitor kitchen areas for signs of pest activity and report any concerns to the Catering Manager so appropriate action can be taken. Ensure all food waste is disposed of using the food waste machine and that other waste is compacted and disposed of correctly.

  Please refer to the full job description for further details.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

  Desirable

  • Food Allergen Awareness Training
  • Qualification/Certificate in Customer Service

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Knowledge of Health & Safety procedures
  • Communication Skills - written & verbal

  Desirable

  • Understand of COSSH
  • Understanding of HACCP
  • Training skills

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous experience of working as part of a team
  • Previous experience of working with the public
  • Experience of dealing with customers in a catering/retail environment
  • Basic food preparation knowledge

  Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a care or hospital environment
  • Working in a large production kitchen/retail units.

  Personal Skills

  Essential

  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Able to read, write, and communicate in English effectively

  Desirable

  • Ability to prioritise workload

  Other

  Essential

  • Physical job involving long periods of standing, push/pulling machinery with repetitive tasks daily

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

  Desirable

  • Food Allergen Awareness Training
  • Qualification/Certificate in Customer Service

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Knowledge of Health & Safety procedures
  • Communication Skills - written & verbal

  Desirable

  • Understand of COSSH
  • Understanding of HACCP
  • Training skills

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous experience of working as part of a team
  • Previous experience of working with the public
  • Experience of dealing with customers in a catering/retail environment
  • Basic food preparation knowledge

  Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a care or hospital environment
  • Working in a large production kitchen/retail units.

  Personal Skills

  Essential

  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Able to read, write, and communicate in English effectively

  Desirable

  • Ability to prioritise workload

  Other

  Essential

  • Physical job involving long periods of standing, push/pulling machinery with repetitive tasks daily

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Additional information

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Bedford Hospital, South Wing

  Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Catering Dept, Kempston Road, Bedford MK42 9DJ

  Bedford

  MK42 9DJ

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Bedford Hospital, South Wing

  Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, Catering Dept, Kempston Road, Bedford MK42 9DJ

  Bedford

  MK42 9DJ

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (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.

Notice