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Job summary

Main area
Catering
Grade
Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 14 hours per week (Various hours contracts available)
Job ref
430-CC27114A
Employer
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Catering - Patients (Dept)
Town
Milton Keynes
Salary
£23,615 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
06/12/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Ward Foodservice Assistant

Band 2

Job overview

Ward food service assistant

Department: Catering – Patients

 Band 2  £23,615 per annum pro rata (weekend enhancements apply)

We are looking to fill the following vacancies as part of our permanent team:

Monday to Friday 07.30-15.00 35 Hours per week

Saturday and Sunday 07.30-15.00 14 Hours per week

Sunday 16.00-19.30 3.5 hours per week (enhanced rate for working Sunday)

Monday to Friday 16.00-19.30 17.5 hours per week  

 

Food is Medicine – Exciting Opportunity at Milton Keynes Hospital

Be a part of a great positive team providing and helping patients recovery and making a difference.

Milton Keynes Hospital invested in a new foodservice and has been running it for over 3 years. The system offers an a la carte menu featuring 35 dishes, it has improved food choice and quality and also improved patient satisfaction. 

Part of the improvements was introducing a new ward based foodservice role, in this role you will take meal orders, serve meals, beverages, and snacks, you will be the link with the patient providing good food & beverages – helping the patients recovery. 

We are looking for staff that have worked in customer service roles hospitality or retail who would like to make a real difference in our patients experience whilst in hospital. Don’t worry if you have not worked in a hospital before - Full training and induction will be given, special diets, food allergens, food hygiene and patient foodservice.  

Interview date: 13/12/2024

Main duties of the job

Post holders will be responsible for foodservice for patients across Milton Keynes University Hospital sites in accordance with specified standards. 

Please note that we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.

 

We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute

A staggering 88% of the Estates & Ancillary colleagues affirmed MKUH had made reasonable adjustments to enable them to carry out their work. (NHS Staff Survey 2023)

Working for our organisation

MKUH staff scored highest for ‘I look forward to coming to work’ (NHS Staff Survey 2023).

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours.  At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

  • Free on-site parking
  • Free tea and coffee
  • Great flexible working opportunities
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Lease car scheme
  • Generous annual leave and pension scheme
  • On site nursery (chargeable)
  • Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.    Assisting nursing staff in preparation of the breakfast trolley and the beverage trolley ready to assist in serving breakfasts, collection of breakfast trays once the patients have finished their meal.  (Day staff only)

2.    Collection of finished meal trays and beverages from patients and returning to the ward kitchen, loading the crockery and cutlery into the ward dishwasher.

3.    Keeping any waste food and place it the caddy – return it to the central dishwash when the insulated trolleys are returned.

4.    Preparation of the beverage trolley and service of beverages and snacks to patients (making sure that the items are appropriate to their dietary requirements and restrictions)  

5.    Checking with the Nurse in charge to see if there have been any changes to patients or their dietary status

6.    Make sure the patient has a menu and ask the patient for their meal order making sure it is suitable for their diet status, answering any questions the patient has on the menu and food service    

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details. 

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.  We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system.  Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS.   This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing  employment  with  the  Trust,  all  employees  (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are  subject  to  a probationary period lasting  a  period  of  six  months  with  an  option  to extend  for  a  further  six  months  to  a total of  12 months.

Person specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Desirable criteria
  • Level one Food Safety Certificate Food Safety Level 2 or working towards
  • Customer service or working towards

Experience

Desirable criteria
  • Previous catering/retail/care experience
  • Customer service experience
  • Experience of working as part of a team

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Able to accommodate the demands of the post
  • Good organizational skills
  • Ability to prioritise tasks
  • Flexible approach to duties and tasks
  • Ability to maintain accurate written records
Desirable criteria
  • Dietary/allergy knowledge
  • Ability to use a PC table

Personal and people development

Essential criteria
  • To maintain patient confidentiality at all times
  • Able to take instructions and multitask
  • High standard of personal hygiene
Desirable criteria
  • Work as part of a team

Communication

Essential criteria
  • Good verbal communication skills
  • Good written communication skills
  • Ability to interact with patients, ward staff, colleagues and hospital visitors

Specific requirements

Essential criteria
  • Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
  • High level of personal hygiene

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoHSJ Best places to workCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employer

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Francesco Fiore
Job title
Catering Manager
Email address
[email protected]
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