Catering Assistant

Transformationunitgm; Chester; On-site; GBP 25,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Chester is seeking a Catering Assistant to support food service operations. The role involves assisting in kitchen areas, providing excellent customer service to patients and staff, and maintaining cleanliness in food preparation areas. Applicants should have basic food hygiene training and work well in a team. The position offers part-time hours during evenings and requires a flexible approach to work, including weekends.

Qualifications

• Basic standard of education with numeracy and literacy skills.
• Willingness to undertake additional training related to food safety.
• Experience in a healthcare environment in a similar role.

Responsibilities

• Assist in all food service areas under the direction of team leaders.
• Provide customer service to patients and visitors.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene in food preparation areas.

Skills

Teamwork

Food safety knowledge

Customer service

Education

NVQ Level 1 / 2

Basic Food Hygiene Level 1 Certificate

Food Safety Level 2 Certificate

Job description

Main area Facilities Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Various Part time hours: 3 x 16.25 hours working 5 out of 7 days including weekends Job ref 210-2025-830

Employer Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Countess of Chester Hospital Town Chester Salary £24,465 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 19/01/2026 23:59 Interview date 26/01/2026

Catering Assistant

Band 2

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working evenings 4.45 to 8.00 - 16.25 hrs per week

2 positions working 2 out of 3 weekends

As part of an effective team, you will be responsible for efficiently assisting in all food service areas/retail outlets as directed by your Team Leader /Line Manager and operating within established food hygiene and safety practices, methods and procedures and within the principles of a flexible team approach.

Main duties of the job

Service areas include all kitchen and dish wash sections, hospitality and retail sections including functions, restaurants , Hospital shop, vending, and any other related areas including Ellesmere Port Hospital.

You will provide an excellent customer service to patients, staff and all visitors to the Trust remaining professional, polite and helpful at all times.

Duties include the cleaning of premises and equipment, food preparation and packaging, food service, vending and ward trolley service.

The role will include undertaking duties in a chilled and/or frozen working and storage environment, as appropriate.

You will take part in the preparation of raw food materials as part of the process to make our patients nutritional meals throughout their healthcare pathway during their time at CoCH. In addition, you will take part in meal(s) preparation for our staff and Trust visitors throughout the seven day week.

You will help maintain a clean and hygienic food prep & meal cooking environment in line with the National Standards of Cleanliness. You will establish and maintain good working relationships across your wider catering team; specifically, clear line of communication with Supervisors, Ward Teams, Departmental staff and Visitors.

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Numeracy and literacy skills, a basic standard of education.
• Training to NVQ level 1 / 2.
• Basic Food Hygiene Level 1 Certificate.
• Food Safety Level 2 Certificate.

Knowledge and Experience

• Enjoys working as part of a team.
• Good knowledge of food safety & health & safety standards & a willingness to undertake additional training to maintain currency.
• Has worked in a healthcare environment in the same capacity
• Knowledge of COSHH
• Knowledge of (HACCP)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Overseas Candidates

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a new publication to support overseas candidates looking to work in health and care in the UK.
The new guidance provides information on the recruitment process that candidates should expect when applying for work in the UK. Please follow the below link:
Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a CoS for the post by assessing their circumstances against criteria specified on the Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, Tier 2 / skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, must 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 dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

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