Catering Assistant – Ashford and Canterbury

Location: Ashford and Canterbury hospices

Pilgrims Hospices is looking for volunteer Catering Assistants to help create nutritious meals for patients, families, staff and visitors.

The role

In this role as a Volunteer Catering Assistant, you’ll be part of a small catering team that works in our professional kitchens to create meals for patients, their families, and staff every day of the year.

No two days are the same; you will bring your skills, and leave each day knowing you’ve made a difference.

You’ll work in our clean, professional, 5-star rated kitchens and know that you are appreciated.

Key duties and responsibilities

  • Assist catering staff with general kitchen duties
  • Clearing down
  • Washing up
  • Cleaning of kitchen
  • Assist with food orders
  • Assist with serving patients’ meals
  • Go to patients’ bedsides to take food orders

Skills and attributes

  • Must hold or be willing to undertake training for Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills
  • Flexible with the ability to multi-task
  • Conscientious and committed to providing a high-quality service
  • Able to demonstrate patience and sensitivity when responding to different and difficult situations
  • Uniform provided and must be worn when in kitchen
  • Reliable, motivated and enthusiastic
  • Pleasant and approachable, with a positive attitude
  • Accept supervision and guidance from staff as appropriate
  • Respectful of others and their diversity
  • Demonstrate an understanding of keeping a food environment scrupulously clean
  • Be able to move the dishwasher trays into, and out of, the machine
  • Accept instructions and work under supervision
  • Work both independently and as an effective member of the catering team
  • Always work within strict health and safety guidelines
  • Maintain strict levels of confidentiality

Training and support

  • Organisational induction
  • Role-specific training
  • Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene Certificate
  • Health and safety briefing
  • Three-month review

Find out more

For further information about this opportunity, please contact Ian Ashton, Catering Services Manager, leaving some contact information and details of when it may be convenient to call you to chat about the role:

How to apply for a volunteer role

To apply for this volunteer role, please download and complete an application form for non-clinical volunteering roles.

Completed applications should be sent to the relevant volunteer admin team: