Catering production assistant
Catering assistants, chefs, cooks and catering managers all play an essential role in NHSScotland. It is their duty to help prepare, cook and serve food to patients and staff. The food must meet patients’ medical and cultural needs, and it must encourage healthy living.
Catering assistants work within the main kitchen or are ward-based and work from a pantry. They help the team prepare food and keep a clean kitchen environment. They also deliver food to staff and patients throughout the hospital.
Starting your career
Choosing subjects at school
To become a catering production assistant, you need a good standard of education. There are no entry requirements, but useful subjects include:
- English
- Food and Health Technology
- Maths
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a good way to start your career in healthcare.
Modern Apprenticeships
A Modern Apprenticeship in Healthcare Support (non-clinical) is appropriate for people interested in working in a non-clinical healthcare support role.
Other relevant Modern Apprenticeships include:
Find out more about apprenticeships at apprenticeships.scot.
Work placement
If you’re at school or thinking of changing career, doing a work placement could help you when applying to college, university or for a job in healthcare. You’ll learn new skills, improve your knowledge and discover what it’s like to work in the health service. Find out how to apply for work experience with the NHS. It would be helpful to have some experience in the catering industry.
The role
As a catering production assistant, you’ll work as part of the catering team. You will work with the catering manager, supervisors and cooks or chefs to make sure that food and drink are nutritious. You’ll help the catering manager maintain a clean kitchen and promote healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.
What you’ll do
Your main tasks include:
- preparing vegetables or cold foods
- washing up, by hand or using a dishwasher
- maintaining food hygiene standards
- ensuring kitchen areas, work surfaces, floors and equipment are kept clean
- serving meals and clearing tables in a canteen
- monitoring temperature of food served within dining rooms or in wards
Top skills
You’ll need these skills:
- collaborating with people
- communicating with people
- listening skills
- organisation skills
- working with people skills
- time management skills
Who you’ll work with
You could work with:
- chefs and cook
- catering managers
- supervisors
- nurses
- patients
Working environment
You could work in:
- dining rooms / retail outlets
- kitchens
- wards
Useful information
To work as a catering production assistant in NHSScotland, you’ll need to:
- complete occupational health checks
- understand food safety legislation
- join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme managed by Disclosure Scotland
Did you know?
The Hospital Caterers Association celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018. It was the first professional organisation within the NHS.
Learning and development
You will be encouraged to develop your career in NHSScotland and will be given training such as:
- an introduction to the department and its procedures
- intermediate food hygiene awarded by REHIS
- elementary health and safety awarded by REHIS
- catering services workbook provided by Health Facilities Scotland (HFS)
- risk management
You may also have the chance to study for additional qualifications, including:
- National Progression Award (NPA) Professional Cookery at SCQF Level 4
- SVQ Kitchen Services at SCQF level 5
- SVQ Professional Cookery at SCQF Level 5
- HNC Professional Cookery at SCQF Level 5
- HND Professional Cookery at SCQF Level 6
Gaining these new qualifications will help your career prosper. You’ll be able to apply to more senior roles, and progress to catering supervisor, assistant head cook or catering manager.