University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

General Assistant (part time)

The closing date is 18 February 2026

Job summary

We are recruiting a General Assistant to support with decanting and topping up. This post is for 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Flexible hours are also available on a bank contract.

The post holder will have previous experience of cleaning to a high standard, take pride in their work and have knowledge of food hygiene principles.

The Catering Department at University Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides food and beverages to patients at both our St. Richards and Worthing Sites.

As a whole department we have front of house staff who work at ward level interacting with the patients, as well as the back of house staff who produce, assemble and deliver food to ward level.

You will be working within the kitchen production team which produce and supply ambient, chilled and cook frozen meals to patients at both Worthing and St. Richards Hospitals.

The CPU at St. Richards is the main production kitchen where food is produced, stored and distributed.

As part of this team, you will be supported by chefs, general assistants, stores persons and management to ensure the kitchen is maintained to a high standard at all times.

The staff are hardworking, friendly, work as a team and will support one another.

Should yourequireAdditional Support with completing yourApplication, please contact the Facilities and Estates Recruitment Team via email below:

uhsussex.FandErecruitment@nhs.net

Main duties of the job

As a general assistant your role will involve cleaning within a large production kitchen as well as packing and delivering food orders for ward level.

The role requires a level of manual dexterity, ability to push trolleys to and from ward level as well as other manual handling activities.

You will be working in a chilled/ frozen environment, picking and packing foodstuff to order, and delivering to ward level.

The post holder will have knowledge of health and safety within a kitchen environment and be familiar with good food hygiene practices.

About us

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme,for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop.We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Details

Date posted

04 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

279-7726145-FEB26

Job locations

St.Richard's Hospital

Spitalfield lane

Chichester

PO19 6SE


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

As a general assistant/ kitchen porter you will work under the supervision and guidance of the chefs as well as your team leader.

Main duties include:

  • Cleaning
  • Packing chilled and frozen foods to order.
  • Stock rotation
  • Lidding and labelling foods
  • Decanting frozen foods such as vegetables.
  • Moving meal trolleys to ward level and loading the regeneration oven.
  • Preparation of chilled foods.

-- Please see the Job Description & Person Specs --

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

As a general assistant/ kitchen porter you will work under the supervision and guidance of the chefs as well as your team leader.

Main duties include:

  • Cleaning
  • Packing chilled and frozen foods to order.
  • Stock rotation
  • Lidding and labelling foods
  • Decanting frozen foods such as vegetables.
  • Moving meal trolleys to ward level and loading the regeneration oven.
  • Preparation of chilled foods.

-- Please see the Job Description & Person Specs --

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of cleaning to a high standard

Desirable

  • Experience working in a busy kitchen environment

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of English literacy and numeracy skills and able to follow instructions both verbally and written

Communication

Essential

  • Able to take instruction and direction
  • Teamplayer

Desirable

  • Customer service

Analytical

Essential

  • Able to complete paperwork ie cleaning rota

Planning and Organisational

Essential

  • Adaptable, able to be flexible to service needs
  • Can work to timescales

Patient 1st

Essential

  • Demonstrates Patient First Principles

physical

Essential

  • manual handling
  • physical tasks eg: long periods of standing

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of cleaning to a high standard

Desirable

  • Experience working in a busy kitchen environment

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of English literacy and numeracy skills and able to follow instructions both verbally and written

Communication

Essential

  • Able to take instruction and direction
  • Teamplayer

Desirable

  • Customer service

Analytical

Essential

  • Able to complete paperwork ie cleaning rota

Planning and Organisational

Essential

  • Adaptable, able to be flexible to service needs
  • Can work to timescales

Patient 1st

Essential

  • Demonstrates Patient First Principles

physical

Essential

  • manual handling
  • physical tasks eg: long periods of standing

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St.Richard's Hospital

Spitalfield lane

Chichester

PO19 6SE


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St.Richard's Hospital

Spitalfield lane

Chichester

PO19 6SE


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Food Production Manager

Natalie Matthews

natalie.matthews8@nhs.net

01243788122

Details

Date posted

04 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

279-7726145-FEB26

Job locations

St.Richard's Hospital

Spitalfield lane

Chichester

PO19 6SE


Supporting documents

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