Job summary
- Main area
- Catering
- Grade
- Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 359-7073119-T1
- Employer
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Tunbridge Wells Hospital
- Town
- Tunbridge Wells
- Salary
- £23,615 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 08/04/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 17/04/2025
Employer heading

Catering Assistant
Band 2
Job overview
We are currently recruiting for a full time catering assistant to work in our busy catering department. The position is in the main restaurant primarily assisting in the preparation, service and delivery of staff meals. The position is full time working 37.5 hours per week.
Main duties of the job
You will have some previous catering experience and be able to demonstrate good communication and customer service skills. You will be able to show total flexibility in your approach to work and have the ability to think on your feet.
- To prepare pack & deliver frozen & chilled patient meals to all wards & departments taking into account any meal preferences ,cultural & religious choices.To assist in the stores, main kitchen & dishwash area as required.
- To liase with food service staff regarding any meal changes or special diet requirements.
We operate a shift system with the early shift starting at 7am – 3pm and the late shift at .You will be required to work weekends and bank holidays.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Standard Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Basic numeracy and literacy
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
Desirable criteria
- NVQ Level 2 in Catering
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
- To have worked in a service/customer environment or comparable experience of working within a similar environment
Desirable criteria
- Previous working experience within an healthcare environment within Catering Services.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Have a working knowledge of health and safety policies, and work procedures
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of infection control in a Healthcare Environment
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Matthew Hitchcock
- Job title
- Catering Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01892 634296
List jobs with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in Support Services or all sectors