Hospitality

Healthcare Catering

Wellington Healthcare catering managers make sure our patients and staff have highly nutritious, high quality food and drink when they need it.

Working Life

recruit, train and manage staff
make sure all services meet health and safety and food hygiene standards
plan menus to take into account nutritional standards and medical requirements, such as low fat, gluten free, vegetarian, etc
arrange staff rotas
control budgets
order and control stock
supervise catering staff to make sure that meals are prepared and served correctly and that supplies are available and carefully used.
liaising with dieticians and dietetic assistants to plan meals for patients on special diets.
work with chefs and cooks to plan menus.

Pay and benefits

You'll typically be paid at band 4 Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You could apply for posts as a catering manager at AfC bands 5 and 6 with experience and training. You'll work standard hours of around 37.5 a week which may include shifts including early starts and evenings.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you’re in service.

Entry requirements

hospitality management
hotel and catering management
culinary arts management

To get onto a degree or HND course you usually need:

two or three A levels, along with five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language and maths

or alternative qualifications, including

BTEC or HNC
relevant NVQ
access course
equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications

However, each institution sets its own entry requirements, so it’s important to check carefully.

Skills needed

interested in food and drink
flexible and adaptable
able to plan ahead and prioritise
keen to provide good customer service
organised
able to manage people and budgets
able to solve problem
be able to communicate

Training and development

if you join Wellington Healthcare as a catering manager you will be given the training you need to introduce you to the department and its systems and procedures. You are likely to have opportunities to take further qualifications which may include apprenticeships. You may also be expected to go on short courses in particular topics such as special diets.

Catering managers can become members of the Hospital Caterers Association or the Institute of Hospitality.

Where the role can lead

With experience, catering managers can progress by being responsible for larger department and could become the head of an NHS trust’s catering service.

Wellington Health

57 Landsdowne House
Berkeley Square
Mayfair
W1J 6ER