Job overview
The postholder will be part of the catering team working in the main kitchen at Birch Hill Hospital. The role is full time 37.5 hours per week which will include working weekends.
The postholder will support the preparation, distribution and service for
all aspects of food production to service users, staff and visitors at Birch Hill and
Stansfield Place. The postholder will also carry out any associated catering porter
duties, such as washing-up and cleaning food trolleys.
Whilst the Facilities Assistant (Catering) is primarily responsible for delivering the
catering services, the postholder can also train in the portering and domestic services
as part of the wider facilities services delivered at Birch Hill Hospital (BHH). Full
training would be provided to be a fully cross-trained Facilities Assistant at this site
Main duties of the job
The Facilities Assistant (Catering) will carry out a range of duties to support the quality provision of catering services to service users and staff. The postholder will ensure all duties are carried out in accordance with the Food Safety Policy and HACCP system.
Working for our organisation
We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Defrosting, portioning, forming, and coating meat and fish and traying-up in
containers; this is including setting-up equipment and wiping down surfaces.
• General preparation of pastry and desserts, including preparing equipment,
weighing, mixing, rolling, operating machines, filling containers and adding
fillings.
• Manual preparation of vegetables by washing, cleaning, peeling, selecting,
dicing and placing in cooking vessel.
• Preparation of vegetables using machine to chop, slice, liquidise and blend.
AFC 6/9/23 JME-224-23 facilities Assistant (Catering) Band 2
• Tending of food on stoves, beating, mixing, blending, checking, testing,
stirring and the loading and unloading of cooking vessels.
• Preparing and making salads and sandwiches.
• Service/serving of patient, staff and function food where required.
• Filling and distributing bulk food containers to patient trolleys and restaurant
service counter, topping up using batch cooking methods.
• Temperature probing of meals and the recording of temperatures in
accordance with Trust policy, ensuring HACCP critical control points are
recorded for each dish produced.
• Ensure that all food and beverage temperatures and quality control sheets are
recorded and stored properly.
• To be familiar with the procedure for handling cash and cashing-up process in
staff restaurant.
• Work in staff restaurant as and when required, including serving food,
preparing food and providing excellent customer service.
• Washing-up, tidying, wiping down and general kitchen porter cleaning tasks.
• Cleaning food trolleys before and after use.
• Taking delivery of stores and putting away as required.
• Ensure cleaning schedules are completed.
• Ensure all COSHH and RAMS documentation is followed at all times in the workplace.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
* NVQ 2 or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
* Level 2 Food hygiene qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience working in a customer care role. Experience of working in a team
Desirable criteria
* Experience of working in a kitchen porter catering assistant role.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of basic catering assistant tasks basic knowledge of health & safety.
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of food preparation, food safety and hygiene. Knowledge of HACCP principles.
Skills and abilities
Essential criteria
* Able to prioritise workload, able to work as part of a team.
Desirable criteria
* Good communication and written skills.
📝 Application support - We recommend tailoring your application to each role you apply for, particularly your supporting information. This gives you the best chance of success. Your supporting information should clearly explain, with examples, how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.
We understand that some candidates may use AI tools to help prepare their application. This is not restricted, however, any AI support should only be used to enhance your own writing and must reflect your genuine skills and experience. You will be asked to talk about your application at interview. Applications that contain false or misleading information may be removed from the recruitment process.
We also offer virtual application support sessions each month, where you will learn some hints and tips to support you in completing your application form. To secure your place, and to find out more visit the on our website.
🌍 Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the
📬 After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.
✅ If You're Offered the Role - If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email
🔍 Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with. These include:
* Identity verification
* Right to work check
* Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
* Professional registration and/or qualification check
* Occupational health assessment
* Employment history and reference validation
All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history and references.
If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.
🚀 Once Checks Are Complete -
The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.
📣 Additional Information -
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.
If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.
Please note:
* We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.
* We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.