Senior Catering Assistant

St Catherines Hospice is a respected local charity providing specialist hospice care alongside statutory service partners (GPs, District nursing etc) across West Sussex and East Surrey. We provide care in communities across Surrey and Sussex, which are richly diverse, and we want to reflect that in everything we do. We celebrate and support difference and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Our catering team plays a vital role in our service delivery, providing high-quality, personalised, nutritious meals to patients, families, staff and for a variety of events.

Are you a reliable, dedicated individual who enjoys a varied workload? Would you find it rewarding to provide support to our Kitchen Team helping to make a difference when it matters most?

We are seeking an organised individual who enjoys working as part of a varied team, to deliver a high standard of service to our patients and their visitors. This supportive role requires an efficient, compassionate individual assisting our chefs to run a safe, hygienic and professional kitchen.

This post is offered on a part‑time, permanent basis, working either 22.5 hours or 15 hours per week. For 22.5 hours per week, this is worked over three shifts per week, with alternative weekends. For 15 hours per week, this is worked over two shifts per week, with alternative weekends. Our shifts are 7.30am - 3.30pm and 11am - 7pm. Our structured rota offers excellent work‑life balance, providing consistent day shifts and every other weekend off, with enhancements paid for weekend working.

Employees at St Catherines Hospice can enjoy a variety of benefits:

• Generous annual leave starting at 25 days, rising to 30 days with length of service, plus Bank Holidays, and an opportunity to buy/sell annual leave days. Plus a day off for volunteering & moving house.
• Generous Pension scheme with up to 9% employer contributions or honour of NHS pension.
• Life Assurance Scheme, Counselling Offering, and a range of discounts.
• Enhanced maternity and adoption pay.

Key Responsibilities:

• Preparing patients' meal trays following meal order forms and menus and serving beverages to patients, relatives and visitors.
• Assisting and organising the preparation of patient meals, snacks and refreshments.
• Working collaboratively with your catering colleagues, IPU and the wider hospice team.
• Food preparation, including assisting in catering for hospice events.
• Cleaning the kitchen and equipment, maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety.

• Good organisational skills.
• Previous experience of working within a catering environment.
• Knowledge & experience of working to Health & Safety at Work (H&S) and COSHH standards.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Previous experience of working with volunteers.

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent, good basic English & Maths.
• Food Hygiene & Allergens Level 2 qualification or equivalent.
• Further catering qualifications, NVQs or equivalent.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Salary: £24,785.69 to £25,800.66 a year (pro‑rated).