Education Authority (Northern Ireland)
Catering Assistant
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Catering Assistant
Catering Assistant
Job Title
Catering Assistant
Reports To
Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor
Responsible To
Catering Manager (through appropriate Area Catering Manager)
Job Purpose
To actively participate in the daily operation of the Catering Unit under the direction of the Senior/Unit Catering Supervisor.
Team participation is essential to provide an efficient and hygienic service, to achieve customer satisfaction and to promote sales within the unit.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
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Basic preparation of food and beverages, including:
- Preparation of vegetables and snacks using appropriate equipment
- Simple cooking, including reconstitution of prepared food
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Organising and controlling food service points
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Transferring and serving meals and snacks, including transported meals
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Assisting with promotion of meals to pupils, parents, and principal
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Maintaining regular contact with the central kitchen (if applicable) regarding all service delivery aspects
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Preparing the dining area:
- Setting out dining room tables, chairs, benches, and serving points
- Laying tables, arranging cutlery, water jugs, etc.
- Completing general kitchen and dining room duties, including:
- Washing up
- Clearing away tables, chairs, and benches
- Cleaning the kitchen/servery, dining room, and equipment (including floors and walls*)
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Recording temperatures for control purposes as required
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Securing premises as necessary
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Completing duties delegated to ensure smooth service provision
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Complying with all legal requirements:
- Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments, and other applicable regulations
- Codes of Practice
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Adhering to working conditions necessary for the role
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Completing required administration
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Performing duties up to and including those within the same job grade, provided they are within the employee’s competence
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Promoting and adhering to the Values/ethos of the School
Important Notes
- In rooms used for both food consumption and educational purposes, non-catering staff are responsible for cleaning.
- This description may evolve to reflect changing needs and should be viewed as a guideline, not a rigid structure.
- Additional duties of a similar nature may be assigned as appropriate.
Performing Responsibly
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to:
- Promote good relations
- Foster equality of opportunity
- Pay due regard to equality legislation
Person Specification
Notes to Job Applicants
Applicants must clearly demonstrate how they meet each criterion on their application form. Failure to do this may exclude your application from shortlisting. This applies to both essential and desirable criteria where relevant.
Shortlisting Criteria
Shortlisting will be based on:
- Willingness to undertake job-related training (assessed via application form).
- Essential shortlisting criteria during Selection Interview.
- Desirable criteria will influence the shortlist if there are too many applicants.
Section 1 – Shortlisting Criteria
A prerequisites for shortlisting, requiring explicit demonstration on your application:
Factor: Willingness to Undertake Training
Method: Assessed via Application Form.
Section 2 – Interview Criteria
Confirmed in line with EA’s Game-Changing People Model during the interview phase:
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Skills & Abilities
Seeking evidence of:
- Effective communication to support teamwork, instruction clarity, and customer engagement
- Excellent interpersonal & teamwork skills
- Organisational & planning abilities, alongside capacity to work efficiently under pressure & meet deadlines
- Motivation for providing high-quality food and customer service to children and young people
Method: Interview assessment
Values Orientation
Demonstarting how your experience and work reflect the EA’s Ethos and Values. More information here: Values & Ethos
Section 3 – Desirable Criteria
Used by the Selection Panel to shortlist candidates where applications exceed expectations, prioritised in order.
Experience
- Experience working in a customer service or catering role Assessed via: Application Form
Disclosure Policy
Under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007, this role falls under “regulated activity,” requiring an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Records. You will be required to cover the cost of the certificate upon call for your application. Additional details will be provided during pre-employment stages. For more information, check NI Direct or Department of Justice.
Guidance for Applicants
For further details, see:
- Applicant Guidance Notes
- More details on benefits and advantages of joining the Education Authority
Equal Opportunities Policy
The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
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