Parkside Ward Waiting

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

16d ago

Job
Full-time
Entry, Junior & Mid Level
Customer Relations
Hospitality & Retail

AI generated summary

You should have GCSE education, food hygiene certification, catering and hospitality experience, strong communication skills, a can-do attitude, and knowledge of private healthcare is a plus.
You will assist with meal preparation and service, ensuring high hygiene standards, accommodate dietary needs, maintain cleanliness, and support patient comfort and satisfaction.

Requirements

Qualifications
Educated to GCSE level
Desirable criteria
Food Hygiene Certificate
Competencies
Communication
Team Player
Diplomatic and able to put others at ease
Can do attitude
Experience
Catering experience
Hospitality experience
Delivery of high customer care
Experience dealing with sensitive situations
Desirable criteria
Knowledge of Private Healthcare

Responsibilities

To assist in the provision of a highly professional and customer focussed ward catering service to patients
Work with the multi-disciplinary team to meet a patient’s nutritional requirements
To assist in the preparation of all patient food services, working in conjunction with the ward teams to provide a high quality service to patients at the required times
To follow duties laid out by the supervisor in the day to day operational management of the ward catering service in a friendly and efficient manner, whilst maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene
Assist patients to select their chosen breakfast/lunch and evening meals on a daily basis, where necessary taking in to account medical, special dietary requirements, religious and cultural needs in conjunction with medical staff
Coordinate the service of meals and/or extra meal requirements that may arise
Ensure that discharged patient menus are removed and newly admitted patients have a meal of their own choice
Prepare and serve hot/cold drinks throughout the day or as required
Ensure that patients whose fluid intake is not medically restricted have access to fresh water throughout the day
Encourage patients to eat and drink
Prepare and serve hot/cold meals throughout the day
Provide assistance where needed e.g. cutting up food, opening packages and ensuring food and beverages are placed within the patient’s reach
Prepare areas where food and drinks are served and/or consumed to ensure a pleasant environment for patients including the patient’s bed space, sanitising the patient’s hand before eating, bedside table and/or any dining facilities
Assist with the receipt, quality assurance and stock control of goods received in to the ward kitchen area, adhering to stock rotation practices
Assessment of good portion control, manage food waste and appropriate record keeping
Adhere strictly to standard recipes and production methods, check food and beverages served, for quantity, quality and appearance and maintain correct standards of hygiene and temperature control as per HACCP
Maintain a safe and clean working environment at all times to comply with health and safety and ensure the completion of cleaning schedules
Take responsibility for the ward kitchen area and floor area, ensuring it is clean and tidy at all times e.g. discarding out of date food
Load and unload dishwasher – probe dishwasher temperatures and record
Ensure all equipment and utensils used in serving drinks are washed and ensure storage areas are kept clean and uncluttered
Be aware of responsibilities in all aspects of HACCP (Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points), to include hygiene and cleanliness checks in area of responsibility in accordance with the Food Safety Act 1990, The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006, Regulation (EU) 2073/2005 and Regulation (EU) 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs
Maintain a clean and tidy appearance in accordance with Catering Department policy on Food Hygiene/HACCP, Health and Safety and COSHH regulations and method of work remembering to “CLEAN AS YOU GO”
Follow hospital infection control policies and procedures including hand washing
Probe all food and drink temperatures and record during storage, preparation, regeneration and service adhering to food hygiene legislation at all times
Discard out of date food and rotate stock
Assist in the management of plate and non-food waste as instructed, ensure food waste segregation and hazardous waste (oil) segregation
Maintain all hygiene records and documentation as per HACCP
Carry out any other monitoring commensurate with the role e.g. refrigeration or freezer equipment
Maintain a safe working environment e.g. safe use of sharp equipment, hot equipment, cleaning, awareness of slips, trips and falls hazards
Support supervisor in the implementation of all agreed working practices
Be familiar with menu content
Be conscious of menu content whilst understanding the importance of portion control, food presentation and customer care
Discuss complaints regarding meal quality and/or ward catering services with the supervisor and take prompt action to resolve issues as soon as possible
Undertake audits on a daily and weekly basis as required e.g. food waste audit, hygiene cleaning inspections
Carry out any patient related questionnaires
Make suggestions/recommendations for improving standards and enhancing the service through quality initiatives and customer care
Communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure accurate exchange of information about catering tasks and service needs
Communicate with a range of customers in person and over the telephone to understand individual needs and provide information relating to the catering service
Handle low level complaints and take appropriate action in line with the Trust complaints procedure e.g. complaints regarding quality, taste or temperature, referring to supervisor/manager where necessary
Monitor, check and report any defective catering equipment or health and safety hazards to supervisor or manager
Adhere to the catering policy on jewellery and personal hygiene
Ensure that correct protective clothing, footwear and headwear are worn when entering any food production, ward area or food service area
Assist in the training and induction of new staff as required
To show consideration, privacy and dignity of patients and their relatives/visitors is respected at all times
Co-operate with the supervisor to organise staff cover when required
Act as an ambassador for the catering department – actions and conduct will be judged by patients and visitors as an indication of the quality of service provided by the catering department as a whole

FAQs

What is the work schedule for the Parkside Ward Waiting position?

The schedule is for 8 hours per week, working on Thursdays and Fridays from 16:30 to 20:30.

Is prior experience required for this role?

Yes, catering and hospitality experience is essential, along with a commitment to high customer care.

Are there any qualifications required to apply for this job?

Applicants should be educated to GCSE level, and a Food Hygiene Certificate is desirable.

What will I be doing as part of the Ward Waiting Team?

You will assist in providing a professional catering service to patients, ensuring they receive meals that meet their nutritional requirements, and maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

How will I be assessed during the interview process?

Interviewees will be required to complete a short English and Maths Test as part of the assessment.

What are some essential skills for this position?

Strong communication skills, the ability to work as part of a team, being diplomatic, and having a positive “can-do” attitude are essential.

What kind of environment will I be working in?

You will work in a hospital environment within a private unit that prioritizes high-quality patient care and cleanliness.

Is there an opportunity for career advancement in this role?

Yes, there may be opportunities for development and advancement within the catering service or other areas of the hospital.

What is the patient population like in this role?

The role involves working with private patients within the Parkside Frimley unit, which caters to a variety of medical, dietary, and cultural needs.

How should I approach complaints from patients regarding meal quality?

You should handle low-level complaints and take prompt action to resolve issues, communicating with your supervisor as necessary.

What should I wear when working in the catering service?

Correct protective clothing, footwear, and headwear must be worn when entering any food production or service area.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Our vision is to be a leader in health and wellbeing, delivering exceptional services for our communities.

Science & Healthcare

Industry

10,001+

Employees

2014

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) has an outstanding reputation and a proud record of achievement. As well as a performing, well led and ambitious Foundation Trust, we have exciting times ahead of us. The Trust’s vision is to lead in delivering exceptional health and well being services to our communities. Turning our vision into reality, we are continuing to make significant invest in our infrastructure and facilities, striving for excellence and empowering our people to deliver excellence. Providing a supportive, dynamic MDT working environment, allowing our teams to deliver high quality patient care and achieving work life balance, whilst encouraging continuous professional development. We are proud of the ambitions laid out in our strategy, Our Future FHFT, including our vision to be a leader in Health & Wellbeing, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Services are delivered from three main hospital sites: Frimley Park Hospital (Camberley) Heatherwood Hospital (Ascot) Wexham Park Hospital (Slough) Additionally, the Trust delivers outpatient and diagnostic services from Aldershot, Farnham, Fleet, Windsor, Maidenhead and Bracknell bringing a range of services closer to these communities. We are also proud to host the Defence Medical Group South East at Frimley Park with military surgical, medical and nursing personnel working alongside the hospital's NHS staff providing care to patients in all specialties. We have also made significant investment in our quality improvement and digital programmes to support our vision and we will ensure that we achieve our aim of providing the highest quality healthcare to our patients. Our new EPR – Epic – went live in June 2022 and we are already beginning to reap the benefits of this ambitious investment. Our three core values, and the behaviours that support them, guide everything we do and set out what we expect of our staff in the way they treat patients.