Facilities Operative (Ward Catering)

Are you passionate about providing excellent customer service and supporting patient care? We are looking for a enthusiastic, reliable, and motivated individual to join our Ward Catering Team at Grange University Hospital.

As a Facilities Operative – Ward Catering, you will play an important role in enhancing the patient experience by ensuring meals, refreshments, and ward kitchen services are delivered safely, efficiently, and with compassion. Every interaction you have with patients contributes to their comfort, wellbeing, and recovery.

The working hours are 07:00 - 19:30 one - three sessions per week including weekends and bank holidays.

Experience

Previous experience in a healthcare, hospitality, catering, or customer service environment would be advantageous but is not essential, as full training will be provided.

This post is a fixed term/secondment for 22 months until March 2028 due to secondment cover. If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

What You'll Do

Working as part of a dedicated Facilities team, you will:

• Prepare and serve meals and beverages to patients.
• Liaise with patients and nursing staff to support individual dietary requirements.
• Replenish patients' water jugs and maintain hydration services.
• Maintain ward kitchens to the highest standards of cleanliness and food hygiene.
• Wash and store crockery, cutlery, kitchen equipment, drinking glasses, and jugs.
• Monitor food and refrigeration temperatures in line with food safety regulations.
• Check meal deliveries to ensure correct dietary meals and sufficient food supplies are available.
• Order, rotate, store, and maintain catering stock.
• Complete catering safety and quality checks and report any issues promptly.
• Support a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for patients and visitors.

What We're Looking For

We Would Love To Hear From Candidates Who

• Have excellent customer care and communication skills.
• Enjoy working directly with patients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Can work effectively under pressure in a busy hospital environment.
• Are dependable, reliable, and organised.
• Have a positive, enthusiastic, and flexible approach to work.
• Are committed to achieving and maintaining high standards.
• Work well independently and as part of a team.
• Are willing to undertake all required training, including Food Hygiene and Health Board competency programmes.

Working for our organisation

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) is a multi-award-winning NHS organisation serving the communities of Gwent. With more than 14,000 staff and volunteers, we provide safe, high-quality, and compassionate care across hospitals, GP practices, community services, and mental health settings. As a University Health Board, research, education, and innovation are central to our work, supporting evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.

Our work is guided by the Gwent Strategy 2025–2035, which sets out our long-term ambition to create a fairer and healthier future for our population. We focus on prevention, reducing health inequalities, and working in partnership with local authorities, voluntary organisations, and communities to improve health and wellbeing.

We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where people feel valued, respected, and able to develop. Our values of Kindness, Integrity, and Respect shape how we care for patients and how we treat one another.

We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities, flexible working where possible, and a comprehensive NHS benefits package. Working for ABUHB means being part of an organisation that values its people and offers the chance to build a meaningful and rewarding career while making a real difference to the lives of others.

Education & Training

Essential criteria

• Basic general education
• Literate & Numerate
• Willingness to undertake & complete the ABUHB facilities competency workbook (within 6 months)
• Willingness to undertake & complete statutory & mandatory training including Basic Food Hygiene certificate
• Willingness to undertake future training as required by the post

Desirable criteria

• BIFM/NVQ level 2

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a healthcare or hospitality environment

Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate effectively with good interpersonal skills
• Ability to follow instructions and procedures
• Capable of achieving and maintaining high standards
• Dependable & reliable with good time management skills
• Able to remain effective under pressure
• Able to work as part of a team
• Self motivated and enthusiastic
• Excellent customer care skills
• Ability to give a positive impression of yourself and the organisation

Abilities

Essential criteria

• Physical - Able to undertake manual handling requirements of the role
• Mental - Able to work under pressure
• Maintain concentration when undertaking tasks
• Emotional - Able to cope with the movement of deceased
• Working Conditions - Cleaning which may include bodily fluids