Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Catering Support Worker (Swannery)

The closing date is 11 March 2026

Job summary

As a Catering Support Worker within the Support Services Directorate, you will play an important role in delivering a high-quality catering service that supports the wellbeing of patients, visitors, and staff. Your commitment to excellent customer service will help create a welcoming, reliable, and friendly environment across the hospital.

You will work as part of the team based in The Swannery, the main on-site restaurant. The Swannery offers a wide range of homemade meals for breakfast, lunch, and supper, alongside a variety of sandwiches, snacks, fruit, and beverages available throughout the day. Your contribution will help ensure the smooth running of this busy catering hub, maintaining high standards of service, presentation, and hospitality.

This is a rewarding opportunity to be part of a team that makes a real difference every day, providing nutritious food and a positive experience for everyone who visits the restaurant.

Main duties of the job

To assist with basic food preparation; including baguettes, sandwiches, salads, beverages and other comparable tasks as directed by the Catering Manager. Also to serve customers with good polite customer service at all times to make the experience within the catering department enjoyable for the customer.

To be responsive to the needs of the patients, visitors and staff through the delivery of excellent customer service at all times.

To replenish and monitor stock items on the shelves and ensure that items are re-ordered in a timely manner.

To operate cash registers and control cash takings in accordance with Departmental Procedures.

To replenish vending machines as directed by the catering team, in a timely manner.

To participate in the daily cleaning of prescribed areas in accordance with the Departmental cleaning schedule.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our valuesWe not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

26 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

418-COR4416-SSJ

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

To assist with basic food preparation; including baguettes, sandwiches, salads, beverages and other comparable tasks as directed by the Catering Manager and Head Chef.

To be responsive to the needs of the patients, visitors and staff through the delivery of excellent customer service at all times.

To replenish and monitor stock items on the shelves and ensure that items are re-ordered in a timely manner.

To ensure that all vending machines are replenished to the requisite levels at the required intervals throughout the day.

To manage stock items through agreed systems of rotation, ensuring that all items are in date and stored in accordance with food storage regulations (HACCP).

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

To assist with basic food preparation; including baguettes, sandwiches, salads, beverages and other comparable tasks as directed by the Catering Manager and Head Chef.

To be responsive to the needs of the patients, visitors and staff through the delivery of excellent customer service at all times.

To replenish and monitor stock items on the shelves and ensure that items are re-ordered in a timely manner.

To ensure that all vending machines are replenished to the requisite levels at the required intervals throughout the day.

To manage stock items through agreed systems of rotation, ensuring that all items are in date and stored in accordance with food storage regulations (HACCP).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Basic Food Certificate
  • Allergen Awareness

Desirable

  • Customer Care Course attended

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of dealing with customers in a catering/retail environment
  • Experience of cash handling duties

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of Health & Safety procedures

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Communication skills - written and verbal- English
  • Ability to prioritise a workload
  • Ability to work under pressure and within agreed deadlines
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Basic Food Certificate
  • Allergen Awareness

Desirable

  • Customer Care Course attended

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of dealing with customers in a catering/retail environment
  • Experience of cash handling duties

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of Health & Safety procedures

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Communication skills - written and verbal- English
  • Ability to prioritise a workload
  • Ability to work under pressure and within agreed deadlines

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Catering Manager

Steven Cowley

steven.cowley@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

01234792152

Details

Date posted

26 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

418-COR4416-SSJ

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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