Catering Assistant

Remuneration The salary scale for the post is: (01/08/2025) €35,547 - €37,409 - €38,528 - €39,294 - €39,958 - €40,816 - €41,340 - €42,233 - €43,150

Location of Post There are currently two permanent part-time and wholetime vacancies available in Older Persons Services, HSE South West. The initial vacancy is as follows:

• West Kerry Community Hospital, Dingle (Ospidéal Pobail Chiarraí Thiar, An Daingean), 0.69WTE (27hrs/week) Permanent

• Farranlea Road Community Nursing Unit, Cork (Aonad Altranais Pobail Bhóthar Farranlea, Corcaigh), 1WTE (39hrs/week) Permanent

Key Working Relationships Post holder will engage with catering management, chefs, catering attendants, housekeeping, portering, stores, maintenance workers, service contractors, nursing, medical, health and social care professional staff, visitors and clients in the fulfilment of the duties and responsibilities of their role.

Purpose of the Post To support the Catering Department in meeting the food service needs of all Patients/Clients and Staff.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities The Catering Assistant will:

General Duties

• Cleaning of the healthcare setting in accordance with cleaning schedules in place and infection prevention and control guidance.

• Providing additional cleaning inputs as required.

• Assisting with the provision of catering services in line with local and national food safety guidance.

• Managing waste in line with local and national policy.

• Ensuring safe management and storage of service supplies and equipment.

• Completing checklists and food safety records accurately as required.

• Submit orders to replenish supplies/meals in required dietary textures.

• Assist with the preparation and service of all aspects of meals and snacks on a daily basis to patients, staff and visitors in all outlets and areas of the campus.

• Assist in attending to the nutritional needs of the patients and customers.

• Assist with the preparation of foods and cleaning of all areas and equipment in Catering.

• Prepare snacks, sandwiches as required.

• Prepare counter area and assist with counter services.

• Assist with the food and beverage service in all food and beverage outlets on campus and any new areas that are added.

• Make beverages and serve as required.

Quality & Safety

• Support the implementation and evaluation of quality standards and improvement initiatives.

• Work within own role, adhering to current legislation, policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.

• Undertake assigned duties under the direction of Catering Management in such a way as to ensure that service is of a high standard.

• Report all complaints in accordance with service policy.

• Ensure all actions support the enhancement of a person-centered service and a person-centered culture within the team.

• Co-operate with quality reviews/service evaluations and assist with the implementation of any necessary corrective action.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety The management of risk, infection control, hygiene services and health & safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.

• Adhere to all policies for the health service.

• Maintain a safe and healthy environment for one’s own self and others in accordance with infection control policies and procedures.

• Be familiar with and adhere to all waste management policies and procedures.

• Be familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and comply with Risk Management Incident/Near Miss Reporting Policies and Procedures.

• Comply with hygiene services requirements in area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, waste and equipment.

• Take reasonable care for his or her own action and the effect they may have upon the safety of others.

• Foster and support a quality improvement culture in relation to hygiene services.

• Be responsible for Quality and Risk Management, Hygiene Service and Health and Safety that will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your Line Manager.

• Co-operate with management, attend Health and Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorized and adequately trained.

• Bring to the attention of your Line Manager any perceived shortcoming in the safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.

• Adhere to hygiene/decontamination standards for resident equipment and maintain a safe environment.

Education and Training

• Attend and actively participate in all training included in the induction programme.

• Attend and participate in all induction training and refresher mandatory/statutory in-service education and training relevant to area thereafter.

• Ensure that knowledge and skills are updated to maintain safe standards of care for patients.

• Seek opportunities to engage in reflection.

• Participate in in-service educational and training programmes and avail of other learning activities, as requested, to maintain/develop competence.

• Be familiar with the relevant National and Regional Policies, Procedures and Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:

  • Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives

  • Document Control Information Management Systems

  • Risk Management Strategy and Policies

  • Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards

  • Decontamination Code of Practice

  • Infection Control Policies

  • Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure

  • Data Protection and Confidentiality Policies

  • Children First Guidelines

  • National Standards

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

• Employees must attend fire training annually and must observe fire orders.

• All incidents within the service must be reported immediately.

• Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.

• In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.

• In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Service Sites is not permitted.

• Uniform code must be adhered to where in place.

• Present to work wearing the agreed attire and identification, having regard to the highest standard of attire and personal hygiene.

• Provide information that is timely and accurate that meets service need.

• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role e.g. Standards for Health Care, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc., and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

• Have a knowledge of relevant Mental Health Commission standards and regulations as they apply to the role.

• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

• Staff will work in accordance with the principles and values of recovery.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/or Experience

Health A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Post Specific Requirements Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience as relevant to the role.

Other Requirements Specific to the Post Access to appropriate transport as the role will involve travelling between service locations.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

Citizenship Requirements Eligible candidates must be: (i) EEA, Swiss, or British citizens OR (ii) Non-European Economic Area citizens with permission to reside and work in the State

Read Appendix 2 of the Additional Campaign Information for further information on accepted Stamps for Non-EEA citizens resident in the State, including those with refugee status. To qualify, candidates must be eligible by the closing date of the campaign.

Read more about Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment Work Permits.

Skills, Competencies and/or Knowledge

Professional Knowledge/Experience

• Demonstrates awareness of the role of Catering Staff.

• Demonstrates knowledge of Health & Safety Regulations.

• Demonstrates knowledge and compliance with local health & safety policies and procedures, e.g. manual handling, infection control.

• Demonstrates awareness for actual and potential risk in the workplace/department.

• Demonstrates an ability to assess a crisis/conflict situation and make an appropriate response in line with policies and procedures at local level.

Planning & Organising

• Demonstrates evidence of effective planning and organising skills.

• Demonstrates flexible approach to work.

• Demonstrates ability to work on own initiative.

Teamwork Skills

• Demonstrates the ability to work independently as well as part of a wider healthcare team.

• Demonstrates the ability to build and maintain relationships.

• Demonstrates an understanding and valuing of individuals and their respective professional roles.

• Demonstrates the ability to maintain open communication channels with team members and others as appropriate.

• Demonstrates the ability to react constructively to setbacks and is able to receive feedback.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrates effective communication skills both written and verbal, including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.

• Demonstrates ability to communicate with colleagues in a professional and respectful manner.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking/Shortlisting/Interview A ranking and/or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and/or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not progressing to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process, where applied, will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion The HSE is an equal opportunities employer. Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives. Ultimately this will result in improved service user and employee experience.