Catering Assistant

Overview

Leopardstown Park Hospital is a registered centre for the provision of services to older people. It provides Day services and Long-Term Care, situated in South Co. Dublin. It was established in 1917 and continues to provide interdisciplinary services on a seven-day, twenty-four-hour basis. It is currently registered for 120 long stay beds.

Position: Full Time Catering Assistant

Salary Scale: €35,547 to €43,150

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Accountability

• Preparing and presenting catering services to service users, staff and visitors.
• Be aware of accountability and responsibility for the highest quality in the delivery of catering services and act accordingly in respect of Food Hygiene and Health & Safety current legislation i.e. HACCP.
• Service of meals, counter service, ensuring agreed portion controls and customer satisfaction.
• Assist with special functions.
• Dishwashing and Pot washing.
• Cleaning of equipment and area of responsibility as per HACCP cleaning schedules and checklists.
• Report for duty on time and at the designated place of duty as prescribed by Management.
• Take direction and guidance from Management in relation to all duties and human resources issues at all times.
• Facilitate and encourage good industrial relations at all times.
• Comply with uniform, sick leave, health and safety policies.

Service

• Perform duties efficiently, effectively, economically and hygienically in line with best practice and/or as directed by Management in the provision of a quality service at all times.
• Maintain a flexible approach to performance of duties.
• Strictly adhere to operational policies and procedures specific to designated area of duty.
• Deal with service user, staff and visitor queries in a courteous, effective and efficient manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of all matters pertaining to staff and service users.
• Prepare, deliver and serve meals, snacks and beverages to special functions or conference meetings.
• Deliver and collect equipment and food.
• Set and re-stock hot and cold counters, shelving units, refrigeration units and tables/trays.
• Co-operate with nursing staff, health promotion co-ordinator, dietician and other relevant staff to ensure dietary needs of service users and staff are met.
• Check meals at all service points throughout the site for quality, temperature, quantity and presentation.
• Ensure that all meals within your responsibility are kept safe and free from any unauthorised interference and/or health hazards such as foreign objects, etc.
• Assist with the compilation, plating and service of meals to service users and staff at the required time in accordance with statutory standards.
• Be responsible for the receipt of goods and foodstuffs when assigned and where appropriate.

Hygiene / Food Safety & Managing Waste

The Catering Assistant will:

• Safeguard public health, through compliance with Food Hygiene and Health & Safety legislation, Food Hygiene Regulations (Irish & EU).
• Co-operate fully with the implementation of the principles of HACCP.
• Adhere to the Catering cleaning policy as defined by relevant personnel to ensure that work place is kept clean and safe.
• Be aware of and exercise best practice in relation to personal hygiene and cleaning duties.
• Adhere to the prescribed dress code and wear all safety and hygiene clothing and PPE equipment as prescribed at all times when required to do so.
• Adhere to and implement standards and procedures in relation to nutrition and hydration.

Health, Safety and Welfare at Work

The Catering Assistant will:

• Take all the necessary steps to ensure the maximum security and safety of the working area and all equipment and supplies contained therein.
• Identify hazards, assess risks and report same as per hospital policy to relevant personnel, in accordance with Health and Safety legislation and regulations.
• Take all necessary steps to ensure your own security and safety and the safety and security of your work colleagues and all other personnel.
• Wear appropriate protective clothing and protective footwear and use any safety equipment provided.
• Co-operate fully and participate with all health and safety training programmes.
• Practice correct stock rotation and storage of all food items.

Training and Development

The Catering Assistant will:

• Actively participate and co-operate fully with all training programmes.
• Co-operate and aid with induction training programmes for new employees.

Policies and Procedures

The Catering Assistant will:

• Comply with and adhere to all policies and procedures.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/or Experience

• Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
• Have completed second level education to Junior Certificate standard (Level 3 on the QQI Framework) (or equivalent qualification).
• Have a minimum of 1 year working in the catering industry with experience in catering for large numbers in a busy environment.
• Fetac Level 5 desirable.

Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

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.

Tenure

The current vacancies available are specified purpose and whole-time. These posts are pensionable.

Remuneration

Remuneration is in accordance with Department of Health/ Health Service Executive consolidated pay scales.

Working Week

The standard working week is 39 hours.

Leopardstown Park Hospital is an equal opportunities employer.

Closing date for applications is Friday September 12th 2025.

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