Job Description

This is a part-time post for 20 hours per week (Monday to Friday 11am -15 pm)
**Additional shifts / overtime also available**
The post holder is expected to:

• Provide and assist with the provision of the services described to a high standard, ensuring effective operation of the hospital organisation.

• Develop and maintain good working relationships with service users, patients, visitors, staff and managers as well as external agencies providing services to the Trust.

• Communicate and act in a positive manner, which will promote the organisation, by maintaining standards being professional compassionate and caring at all times.

• Maintain a high standard of personal dress/uniform, conduct and deportment in keeping with the nature of your duties, ensuring that the duties carried out will reflect to the credit of the department and Trust.

• Attend training courses and development sessions when required, communication and briefing meetings, communicating positively contributing to the teams and Departments objectives.

Main duties of the job

• To work as part of the catering team in producing approximately 1600 patient meals and the serving of 700 customers in the restaurant per day.
• To provide catering assistant/store portering duties to ensure the smooth, efficient and safe running of the catering function, stores and all its services to the standards outlined. Including the receiving, checking and appropriate storage of all food and catering supplies, undertaking interdepartmental deliveries.
• All food safety policies and procedures, accurate record-keeping and adherence to health, safety and quality control measures.
• To assist in maintaining a clean, tidy and safe department, whilst providing the customer with pleasant and efficient service. Carrying out duties in line with the department's working procedures.
• To assist with the smooth running and appearance of the Trust, the post holder is expected to be flexible and work across the Facilities Directorate and the Trust, as required and appropriate to the grade.

About us
Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.
The CQC recently rated the care provided by The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.
Our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.
Details
Date posted
05 June 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 2
Salary
24,169 a year pro-rata per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
193-7234617COR
Job locations
Royal Berkshire Hospital
London Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the highest level of quality, and compliance with Service Level Agreement [SLAs], Trust Procedures, Policies, Guidelines and Health & Safety requirements.
• Undertaking in a competent and safe manner the full range of tasks for the role to the required standards, frequencies and schedules and on an ad hoc basis, in line with the Departments policies and procedures.
• Communicate information relating to food service requirements to staff, patients and other members of the public both verbally and by telephone.
• Notifying the supervisor on any discrepancies from receipt and distribution of catering supplies.
• Deliver food to wards as and when required.
• Undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work, e.g. crockery / cutlery etc.
• Operate cash till / cashless system when required, which would include peak periods of the day. Following guidelines regarding cashing up and ensuring money is secure.
• In the absence of the manager, effectively organising own day-to-day work tasks or activities.
• Responsible for dismantling and reassembling kitchen equipment used by chefs.
• Manually and / or mechanically washing up catering utensils, crockery and cutlery.
• Environmental cleaning of floors, work surfaces, fixed equipment, etc., following departmental procedures.
• Serving food, maintaining good portion control and presentation skills. Maintaining good levels of concentration during the plating of patients food for extended periods (e.g. 90 minutes).
• Food preparation to include salads, sandwiches, breakfasts, deep fried goods, vegetable steaming and any other one or two step cooking processes. General preparation of food stuffs as directed.
• Ensure safety regulations and safe working practices are being followed and reporting any safety issues or concerns to senior colleagues.
• Lifting and storing of heavy equipment and food deliveries as required
• Ensure equipment is cleaned properly and fit for use by the start of the next shift.
• Taking responsibility for maintaining high standards of cleanliness within the department including personal hygiene.
• Maintaining daily records including temperature checking, cleaning and wastage sheets.
• Training and supporting colleagues when necessary and as appropriate to post holders level of responsibility.
• Demonstrating duties and procedures to new and inexperienced colleagues.
• Reporting any maintenance issues, including ensuring correct operation of fridges/freezers and pest control measures.
• Providing cover (e.g. for annual leave and on an ad-hoc basis) for other roles and tasks within the catering department, as appropriate and in line with service needs.
• Receiving / checking / ordering / storage of goods.
• Deliveries to wards / departments as per schedule plus Restaurant / TEC etc. Communicating with ward staff & HCAs.
• Stock taking and stock control.
• Moving and handling activities, including transporting and storing of food and equipment etc. of variable weights and shapes several time a day. Following the Trust Safe System of Work (equipment and training will be provided).
• Maintaining of records.
• Delivery of milk and bread / provisions to departments & wards.
• Picking of goods for the following days food production.

Please refer to the attached & Person Specification for further details. Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the highest level of quality, and compliance with Service Level Agreement [SLAs], Trust Procedures, Policies, Guidelines and Health & Safety requirements.
• Undertaking in a competent and safe manner the full range of tasks for the role to the required standards, frequencies and schedules and on an ad hoc basis, in line with the Departments policies and procedures.
• Communicate information relating to food service requirements to staff, patients and other members of the public both verbally and by telephone.
• Notifying the supervisor on any discrepancies from receipt and distribution of catering supplies.
• Deliver food to wards as and when required.
• Undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work, e.g. crockery / cutlery etc.
• Operate cash till / cashless system when required, which would include peak periods of the day. Following guidelines regarding cashing up and ensuring money is secure.
• In the absence of the manager, effectively organising own day-to-day work tasks or activities.
• Responsible for dismantling and reassembling kitchen equipment used by chefs.
• Manually and / or mechanically washing up catering utensils, crockery and cutlery.
• Environmental cleaning of floors, work surfaces, fixed equipment, etc., following departmental procedures.
• Serving food, maintaining good portion control and presentation skills. Maintaining good levels of concentration during the plating of patients food for extended periods (e.g. 90 minutes).
• Food preparation to include salads, sandwiches, breakfasts, deep fried goods, vegetable steaming and any other one or two step cooking processes. General preparation of food stuffs as directed.
• Ensure safety regulations and safe working practices are being followed and reporting any safety issues or concerns to senior colleagues.
• Lifting and storing of heavy equipment and food deliveries as required
• Ensure equipment is cleaned properly and fit for use by the start of the next shift.
• Taking responsibility for maintaining high standards of cleanliness within the department including personal hygiene.
• Maintaining daily records including temperature checking, cleaning and wastage sheets.
• Training and supporting colleagues when necessary and as appropriate to post holders level of responsibility.
• Demonstrating duties and procedures to new and inexperienced colleagues.
• Reporting any maintenance issues, including ensuring correct operation of fridges/freezers and pest control measures.
• Providing cover (e.g. for annual leave and on an ad-hoc basis) for other roles and tasks within the catering department, as appropriate and in line with service needs.
• Receiving / checking / ordering / storage of goods.
• Deliveries to wards / departments as per schedule plus Restaurant / TEC etc. Communicating with ward staff & HCAs.
• Stock taking and stock control.
• Moving and handling activities, including transporting and storing of food and equipment etc. of variable weights and shapes several time a day. Following the Trust Safe System of Work (equipment and training will be provided).
• Maintaining of records.
• Delivery of milk and bread / provisions to departments & wards.
• Picking of goods for the following days food production.

Please refer to the attached & Person Specification for further details.
Person Specification
Education
Essential

• Evidence of adequate level of education
• Demonstrate adequate level of literacy and numeracy skills
• Basic Hygiene Certificate
• Manual Handling Certificate

Experience
Essential

• Dealing with a range of people with a customer/service focus

Desirable

• Experience of working in a catering function

Person Specification
Education
Essential

• Evidence of adequate level of education
• Demonstrate adequate level of literacy and numeracy skills
• Basic Hygiene Certificate
• Manual Handling Certificate

Experience
Essential

• Dealing with a range of people with a customer/service focus

Desirable

• Experience of working in a catering function