Support Services Assistant
Posted 8 days 10 hours ago by NHS
The closing date is 07 April 2026
Support Services Assistant - Band 2 - Part Time 18.5 hours per week (worked over a 7 day period)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic person to work at the Darwin Unit.
As a Support Service Assistant, you will be expected to maintain a clean and hygienic environment for patients, visitors and staff in line with the National Standards of Cleanliness.
You will be responsible on a day-to-day basis to provide a full Cook Service.
You must also have:
- Good interpersonal skills with other staff, Trust employees and patients
- Ability to adhere to standards and procedures
- Ability to accept, organise and prioritise instructions
- Ability to work on their own initiative and as part of a team
- Flexible approach to working hours and schedules
Provide cover during annual leave, sickness and absence which will include week ends and bank holidays.
Previous cooking/domestic experience will be beneficial but there are no formal qualifications required for this post as you will be trained by our in house supervisory team in the use of equipment and COSHH.
NOTE: This role is not eligible for sponsorship
Main duties of the jobTo work as part of a team to provide cleaning and catering services in order to enhance the quality of the patient and staff environment on a regular and ongoing basis. Also to ensure that at all times quality standards are maintained in relation to the cleanliness and food provision and that legal requirements are met regarding the food service.
About usAs a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care.
We pride ourselves on ensuring our team has their wellbeing put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.
We are committed to the Greener NHS national ambition to becoming the world's first "carbon net zero" national health system by 2045 (Greener NHS (england.nhs.uk). As part of this, sustainability is embedded in our strategy as one of our four key enablers. In order to deliver on this commitment, we recognise that we need a workforce that is as passionate as we are about achieving these goals, for the benefit of our service users, workforce, local communities and the planet alike.
The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities.
The Trust is committed to the Step into Health scheme and actively encourages applicants from the Armed Forces Communities to apply.
Job responsibilitiesCommunication
To communicate on a daily basis with patients, staff, visitors, general public and report problems to the Support Services Supervisor, Department / Service Lead
To be friendly, courteous and helpful to clients, visitors, staff and the general public, challenging discrimination, promoting equality.
To ensure that patients, their relatives and carers are treated with dignity and respect.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills/ Freedom to Act
To follow established procedures and schedule of work.
To seek advice from Support Services Supervisor or Department / Service Lead as necessary.
To comply with the requirements of Food Hygiene, Health & Safety legislation and the Trusts Food Safety policy as necessary.
To be responsible for the cleaning provision to client areas and offices with the premise in accordance with work schedules and activity within the area.
To comply with the National Standards of Cleanliness, Health & Safety legislation and COSHH regulations and Trust policies as applicable to the job.
Planning and Organisational Skills
To have a responsibility for liaising with, Support Services Supervisor, Department / Service Lead to organise work.
Physical Skills
To ensure that the general cleaning in the premise is undertaken in accordance with the agreed work schedule
To ensure that domestic, clinical, and mixed recycling waste is correctly bagged and placed in the appropriate disposal areas in accordance with services within the premise
To ensure that all stocks are stored correctly.
Ensure all areas are clean and tidy, particularly prior to and following mealtime service
To be responsible for the cleanliness of the kitchen and serving area, including crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils and food trolley in accordance with services within the premise
Ensure all areas are clean and tidy, particularly prior to and following meal times as necessary.
To carry out specialist cleaning procedures in response to any infection control outbreak; new builds; refurbishments
Responsibility for Patients
Provide food and beverage service to clients as required
Prepare the dining room environment as required
Regenerate frozen / chilled food as required
Plate and serve food attractively as required
Responsible for providing a clean safe environment
Person Specification Qualifications- Able to demonstrate Basic Health & Safety / COSHH Training
- GCSE level numeracy / literacy or can demonstrate same
- Experience of prioritising own workload
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 nameNorth Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust