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Catering Assistant

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Dorchester, DT1 2JYView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Salary

£25,272

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Not specified

Closing date

8 November 2026

15 days left

Job description

Make a real difference every day by helping deliver nutritious, comforting meals to the patients, staff, and visitors who rely on Dorset County Hospit...

As a Catering Assistant within the Catering Department, you will play a crucial role in deliveringa high-quality service to the hospital, supporting the central meal service for patients, and maintaining excellent standards of cleanliness, food safety, and hygiene.

You will work collaboratively within a team, supporting both the patient meal service and the operation of the central dishwashing area.Your responsibilities will include the mechanical washing of crockery, cutlery, and utensils usedby patients, staff, and visitors, as well as ensuring general cleaning duties are carried outthroughout the catering environment.

The catering department is a diverse, welcoming group that values teamwork and personal growth. Hard work is recognised, and those who show commitment will find opportunities to progress and feel genuinely valued as part of the team.

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. Please scroll through to find the JD/PS appropriate to the role you are applying for. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us atRecruitment@dchft.nhs.ukif you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Right to Work in the UK: This role is not available for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to support visa applications for this post in line with UKVI regulations.

At Dorset County Hospital, we're looking for dedicated people to join our catering team during an exciting period of change. You'll help deliver high-quality, locally sourced meals to patients while supporting improvements across the service.

Our team is small, supportive, and used to working under pressure. You'll be encouraged to lead by example, motivate colleagues, and contribute to a positive, collaborative environment.

We're committed to your development and wellbeing, offering guidance from HR and the Staff Union, along with wellbeing support such as Vivup and Steps to Wellbeing.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate's individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

Education Qualifica & Training

Essential: - Evidence of school education; - Basic Food Hygiene; - Manual Handling of loads

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Familiarity with basic food hygiene standards (e.g., Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate). Understanding of crosscontamination risks and allergen awareness.
  • Experience working in a kitchen environment, assisting with preparation, cleaning, and organization. Knowledge of using basic kitchen equipment safely.
  • Experience in a retail or customer facing role, preferably in food service. Knowledge of operating point-of sale systems and handling cash or card payments.
  • Basic understanding of stock rotation (FIFO) and minimizing food waste.
  • Awareness of workplace safety protocols, including lifting and handling procedures.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with customers, team members, and supervisors
  • Willingness to work shifts, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and public holidays.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Basic food preparation, including chopping, portioning, and assembling meals. Understanding of dietary requirements wither with modified texture or clinical dietary requirements
  • Friendly and professional demeanour when interacting with customers in retail settings. Ability to handle customer inquiries and provide assistance promptly and courteously.
  • Willingness to perform a variety of tasks, including retail service, food preparation, and cleaning duties. Ability to switch between front-ofhouse and back-of-house roles as needed.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with chefs, kitchen staff, and retail colleagues. Willingness to take direction and assist with team goals.
  • Basic understanding of food safety practices, including proper storage, handling, and cleaning. Awareness of personal hygiene and its importance in food service environments.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks in a fastpaced environment, ensuring timely meal service and retail operations.
  • Handling cash transactions accurately and efficiently in the retail setting. Recording inventory or assisting in stock management when needed

How to apply

Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.

Provenance

Source

NHS Jobs

First seen

23 October 2026

Last checked

24 October 2026

Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.

About the employer

DCH
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

NHS organisation

This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.

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