Ward Host

2 days left

8.21 - 9.90 GBP Hourly
24 Jul 2019
21 Aug 2019
Contract Type
Full Time
Ward Host

To provide hostess services to patients supporting patient meal and beverage experience within Southampton areas.

Location: Southampton

Temporary: Expected to last 3 month with possible extension

Hours / days: Working Monday to Friday

Shift 1: 7am - 1pm or Shift 2: 3pm - 7pm

Pay: GBP9.90 per hour Umbrella or GBP8.21 per hour PAYE

PLEASE NOTE: Food Health & Safety Level 2 certificate required for this role (If you don't already have this, it can be completed as online training prior to starting)

The successful role holder will be responsible for a wide range of administrative tasks and be able to


* To ensure that a high standard of customer care is maintained at all times, including adherence to the Trust's professional appearance policy.

* Liaise on a daily basis with the patients and family members regarding meal preferences and appetite, taking into account any cultural and religious choices.

* Discuss with the nursing staff patients' treatment plans in order to determine their effect on individual appetite / dietary requirements.

* Communicate daily with the catering staff regarding meal requests and in the absence of the catering team Manager meet with the catering production team to plan meal requirements.

* Collate information on patient meal choices from menu and give this information to designated staff within the production team to meet patient meals needs.

* Serve beverages and meals, ensuring patients are assisted with positioning of their meal and access to cutlery and condiments. Set patient dining room areas in readiness for meal times.

* Distribute meals, ensuring that the patient's tray is checked against their request and all items are correct, with the appropriate condiments available. Responsible: for cooking items for breakfast within ward kitchens, i.e. porridge, scramble, boiled eggs toast and cereal.

* Liaise with the catering production team regarding new patients' menus and dietary requests.

* Manage snacks for patients, including snacks required off the ward e.g. for patients attending appointments at a different location, ensuring the snack is appropriate to the patient's needs (soft, pureed, diabetic etc).

* Where appropriate and under the guidance of nursing staff, provide a system that enables each patient to have access to fresh water.

* Manage food stores appropriately, ensuring a range of drinks are available to offer patients during the 24-hour period, including tinned food items for patients missing their meal for any reason.

* Under the supervision of nursing staff, assist patients on 'normal' diets to eat or drink and document their intake using an appropriate recording system.

* Assist patients to complete menu cards and provide explanations regarding choice.

* Ensure own approach to patient care respects the privacy and dignity of patients, including respect for patient choice.

* Provide a patient centred approach at all times, feeding back patient concerns to the Ward/Centre Manager.

* Feedback to the Production team food issues regarding patient choice and satisfaction.


* Order and receive daily food stocks on the ward from the catering stores/kitchen; ensuring appropriate stock rotation, and wastage is kept to a minimum, preferably nil.

* Daily cleaning of the ward kitchen areas to maintain a high standard of hygiene in accordance with appropriate departmental cleaning schedules reporting issues to their line manager as appropriate.

* Ensure all relevant equipment has been turned "on" prior to service and switched "off" once used.

* Clean down all equipment and throw away all excess food items in the appropriate containers after service.

* Checking dates on all food items in the kitchen storage areas and fridges on a daily basis.

* Regeneration of meals set out in the departmental policies and procedures.

* Ensuring that all food storage, preparation and service of all foods meet the temperature guidelines stipulated in the Food Safety (Temperature Control) Act 1995 and to record all food temperatures.

* Maintain a high standard of hygiene within the work environment at all times, while observing departmental health and hygiene polices.

* Ensure patients' personal food is labelled and stored correctly; advise patients and their families regarding storage of food. Be responsible for food disclaimer forms to be completed during the span of their shift.

* Manage the storage and safety of food providing appropriate records in line with Trust food storage standards.

* Monitor and record ward refrigerator temperatures and ensure food safety standards are maintained. Facilitate the implementation of a recording mechanism for food temperatures including the use of temperature probes when heating food in the microwave.

* Communicate effectively with other ward staff and members of the multidisciplinary team