Food Service Assistant - Lodge

Food Service Assistant - The Lodge Care Home

CQC rating: Outstanding

Address: 22 Spicer Road, Exeter EX1 1SY

Hourly Rate: £13.45 per hour

Contract: Full-time, Permanent contract

Shifts: 30 hours over a 7‑day rota, including every other weekend

The Lodge is an elegant and characterful Victorian house, located on Spicer Road, close to the centre of Exeter. It offers outstanding levels of residential and nursing care and a warm welcome for all.

We are seeking a compassionate and reliable Food Services Assistant to support the preparation and service of meals and beverages for our residents. The role includes maintaining high standards of kitchen cleanliness and equipment hygiene, while delivering prompt, courteous, and person‑centred service to our residents at all times.

• Preparing and serving meals safely and accurately – supporting food preparation, serving correct portions at set times, and ensuring food is presented attractively while meeting residents’ individual needs.
• Strict compliance with food safety and health regulations – consistently adhering to Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, and COSHH requirements to protect residents, staff, and visitors.
• Maintaining high standards of kitchen cleanliness – cleaning kitchens, equipment, crockery, and dining areas in line with cleaning schedules and promptly reporting any equipment faults.
• Responding sensitively to residents’ needs – listening to residents respectfully, reporting complaints or concerns, and alerting senior staff to any issues such as difficulty eating or refusal of meals.
• Working effectively as part of a team under time pressures – following instructions accurately, meeting service deadlines, supporting colleagues, and attending required training to deliver excellent customer service.

• Basic Food Hygiene certificate or willingness to undertake the same.
• NVQ Level 2 is desirable.
• Experience in a care home is desirable.
• In good general health, physically and mentally fit to meet the requirements of the role.

• Enhanced pay for family leave
• Overtime and bank holiday enhancements to pay
• Group pension scheme
• Occupational sick pay after probation
• Wellbeing support through various initiatives including an employee assistance programme with free counselling and Mental Health First Aiders.
• Opportunity to earn rewards via Care Friends (refer a friend scheme) which you can cash in when you choose.
• Free Blue Light card – provides members with thousands of amazing retail discounts.
• Long service awards
• Subsidised meals while on duty
• Apprenticeships, continuous learning and development, professional development and study support opportunities.

Final date to receive applications is by Friday 17 July 2026. Interviews will be held in person at The Lodge, Exeter.

For more information on working in our team or to have an informal visit, please contact The Lodge at

Elizabeth Finn Homes do not currently provide sponsorship, but we welcome applications from those who have a right to work in the UK.

In the process of recruitment, selection and appointment, Elizabeth Finn Homes implement a range of procedures and actions including Police/Enhanced DBS Checks to ensure our employees, residents and everyone are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented, in line with our company values.

As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check, and any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us; it will depend on the circumstances.

Elizabeth Finn strives to treat all staff equally and to be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and accepts each other’s differences, creating an inclusive environment that attracts, nurtures and retains the best people.