Job Description

An opportunity has arisen to join the Inpatient Unit team in the exciting new position of Catering and Volunteer Assistant.



This important role supports both the catering service and volunteer coordination on the unit, helping ensure patients receive personalised, high-quality care in a safe, comfortable environment. It combines hands-on service, including food and drink delivery and patient menu support, with administrative responsibilities such as volunteer scheduling, inductions and maintaining compliance with infection control and food safety standards.



It's a varied and people-focused role that would suit someone with experience in healthcare or palliative care settings, strong organisational skills, and a compassionate, patient-centred approach. If you're looking to join a team that lives its values - offering the best of life, at the end of life, for everyone - we'd love to hear from you.



To provide the day-to-day Catering and Volunteer support in the Inpatient Unit adhering to the CQC and Food Hygiene legislation fundamental standards



Administrative duties including, scanning, emailing, inputting, and updating of the volunteer information systems, arranging interviews for applicants, induction of new starters, and support volunteers on the unit. Volunteer Support - organise and lead quarterly volunteer meetings, regular communications, and updates in conjunction with the Head of IPU Facilities - Ensure any issues with kitchen/catering equipment are reported to the Facilities team Patient Interaction - assisting patients and family members to complete menus. Ensuring patients have their individual catering and taste needs met.

Volunteers Management of Volunteer rota, proactively raising any issues with Unit Manager/Head of IPU



Food and Drink Service oversite and assisting the volunteer team to serve lunch and supper. Delivery of the drinks trolley (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) on a daily basis to patients. Patient Experience - collect and collate patient feedback on catering on the unit and feed this back to the Head of Facilities, IPU Unit Manager and PEEP manager on a weekly basis. Weekend work requiring flexibility to oversee the smooth running of the Catering and Volunteer function.

North London Hospice is a registered charity that has been caring for local people since 1984. We are committed to empowering patients with life limiting illnesses, supporting them to achieve the best quality of life possible. As well as our inpatient unit at Woodside Avenue, we work within the wider community including our Outpatient and Wellbeing services; our support to patients in their own homes; our Community Specialist Palliative Care services ; and our Patient and Family Support teams, providing emotional and practical support to patients, their families, and carers.



The Inpatient Unit palliative care team provide holistic, skilled, high-quality, and patient centred palliative care to all in-patients.



Administrative duties including, but not limited to, scanning, emailing, inputting, and updating of the volunteer information systems, lead on arranging interviews for new applicants, the induction of new starters, and support of volunteers on the unit.



Volunteer Support - organisation of and lead on quarterly volunteer meetings, regular communications, and updates in conjunction with the Head of IPU Facilities - Ensure any issues with kitchen/catering equipment are reported to the Facilities team or out of hours with Unit management team. Support the Volunteer team to ensure that the Kitchen is clean, tidy and hygiene standards are met in accordance with Hospice Infection control standards and national policy. Patient Interaction - delivering of and assistance with completion of menus with patients and family members. Ensure that these are delivered to the catering team. Ensuring patients have their individual catering and taste needs met. Troubleshoot any issues/concerns/complaints/requests from patients at the time of service and refer to catering team. Clinical governance and organisation including responsibility for effective management and ordering of food and non-food related stock, and stock rotation. Volunteers Management of Volunteer rota, proactively raising any issues with Unit Manager/Head of IPU Food and Drink Service oversite and assisting the volunteer team to serve lunch and supper. Delivery of the drinks trolley (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) on a daily basis to patients. Patient Experience - collect and collate patient feedback on catering on the unit and feed this back to the Head of Facilities, IPU Unit Manager and PEEP manager on a weekly basis. Weekend work requiring flexibility to oversee the smooth running of the Catering and Volunteer function. Decision Making is at task level. Key working relationships. Daily - IPU team, managers and leaders, facilities team, catering team, patients, carers, family, and significant others. * Any other reasonable duties required within the scope of the role.