Job Title: Catering / Patient Food Services Assistant Tymon North Permanent / Specified Purpose Post
Reference No: 08.007 (2024)
Department / Directorate: Catering/Patient Food Services Department / Estates & Facilities Management Directorate
Reports to: Catering/Patient Food Services Manager
Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) is one of Ireland’s largest acute teaching hospitals, adult, psychiatric and age-related healthcare on one site. The Hospital has 450 adult beds with over 3,500 people on staff and more than 60 different nationalities represented. The Hospital is a provider of local, regional and national specialties. It is a designated trauma unit incorporating the National Pelvic and Acetabula Unit, a regional Urology Centre and the second largest provider of renal dialysis services in the country.
One of the two main academic teaching hospitals of Trinity College Dublin - TUH specialise in the training and professional development of staff in areas such as Medicine, Nursing, Health and Social Care Professionals. TUH is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group which serves a population of over 1.2 million across seven counties.
The Hospital is an exciting and dynamic place to work, in the midst of implementing a new hospital strategy, the team have already delivered on the opening of a new Renal Dialysis unit, Reeves Day Surgery Centre, a step down facility in the community, a new ICU and the development of a super-regional Endometriosis Service. It is an exciting time to join the TUH team and one of Ireland’s main teaching hospitals with so many plans to enhance patient care. The Hospital believes in investing in their team and offers excellent education and research opportunities.
TUH Vision and Values
The vision of the Hospital is “People Caring for People to Live Better Lives” through excellent health outcomes supported by evidenced based practice, positive patient and staff experience in an empowering and caring environment. A culture of innovation and quality improvement in everything we do.
Our TUH CARE values – for patients, their families, our community and staff are:
1. C ollaborate – together and with our academic and care partners
2. A chieve – our goals, positive outcomes and wellbeing
3. R espect – for patients, each other and our environment
4. E quity – for patients and staff
5. Responsible for the preparation and service of breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid afternoon snack, tea, tea toast as required to our patients Maintain the highest personal hygiene and adhere to prescribed dress code and behaviour
6. Maintain hygiene and good housekeeping in accordance with the Catering /Patient Food Service’s Department policy. This will include the cleaning of areas such as ward Pantries, Dining Room. Coffee Shop, Functions, Patient Plating and dishwashing/Pot wash areas and floor including, spot cleaning of walls throughout the Department
7. Dishwashing and cleaning of Catering equipment and utensils to ensure the department is kept in a clean and tidy manner to conform to health and hygiene regulations including all chilled areas and their floors
8. Adhere to departmental and regulatory policies and procedures. (ISO: 340, Jewellery policy, bare below the elbow etc. )
9. Be aware of and practice good food hygiene at all times
10. Maintain a high level of cleanliness within the ward pantries and carry out cleaning procedures as outlined within the cleaning schedules
11. Provide a quality service and assist with the preparation of food items
12. Prepare salads/sandwiches as required and according to specifications for patients/staff/visitors
13. The plating of patients meals in the chilled plating area
14. Account and register all sales of food and beverages
15. Maintain a flexible approach to performance of duties as specified
16. Stock all items for service in all areas for breakfast, lunch and tea
17. Performance of catering duties as requested from department management team
18. Co-operate with all quality initiatives within the Catering/Patient Food Service Department
19. Catering /Patient Food Services operate a varied department with many sub sections and you may be asked to work on the wards, accident and emergency pantry service, dialysis, theatre, on call accommodation, the CPU, dining room, rec doc coffee shop, pot wash area, patients and staff function / meeting service
20. Receiving stock and decanting to store areas
21. Issue of stock to wards and other relevant areas
22. Cleaning duties within the department as assigned on cleaning schedules and recorded
23. Record information on cleaning schedules and temperature charts as required
24. Maintain a prompt and efficient food delivery service to patients/visitors and staff where necessary
25. Convey accurately to management patient’s comments in respect to the quality and service of food
26. Set breakfast trays and serve breakfast service
27. Supply fresh water, clean glasses and jugs as required
28. Operate the specialist equipment within the ward pantry and undertake the associated temperature monitoring, recording and control procedures. Alert Management to any incorrect readings or incidents of poor food quality in order that remedial actions can be taken
29. Prepare requisitions for dry goods, communicate this information to the central Catering/Patient Food Services Department and collect as scheduled
30. Relay daily menu to patients, gather their order and make manual / electronic to the Catering/Patient Food Services Department (checked by Ward Sister, Dietician / Speech and language therapist )
31. Special requests (i.e. catering for ill patients / family bereavements)
32. Take ward messages as requested, i.e. special diets
33. To maintain a flexible approach to performance of duties as specified and within the scope of all areas designated within the department
34. Maintain the highest level of cleanliness within the specified on call accommodation areas
35. Dispose of soiled linen to laundry collection point
36. Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of the on call kitchens
37. Prepare and collect requisitions as scheduled
38. Empty waste paper bins from on call areas
39. Maintain a flexible approach to performance of duties as specified and within the scope of all areas designated within the department
40. May be assigned to different areas within the Catering/Patient Food Services Department by the Manager depending on the needs of the department
41. Any other duties which may be assigned from time to time
Qualifications & Experience required
Must have
42. Been educated to Leaving Certificate standard
Or
43. Passed an examination of comparable standard at appropriate level within the QQI framework which can be assessed as being comparable to leaving cert standard or equivalent
And
44. Have 12 months satisfactory relevant experience in a similar environment which encompasses demonstrable equivalent skills
45. Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills
46. Have fluent command and understanding of English language including spoken and written
Desirable
47. Have a Certificate in Primary Food Hygiene
48. Have a minimum of 1 year experience in a similar role in a Hospital / Healthcare environment
Reward & Recognition
49. Remuneration is in accordance with the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales 4123.
50. The appointment is permanent/ temporary, full time/part time hours available and pensionable pro rata. A panel may be formed from which future vacancies will be filled.
51. The annual leave entitlement is 23 working days per year pro rata. The leave year runs from 1st April to the 31st of March each year
52. Normal working hours are 39 worked over 7 days. Your contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8 am to 8 pm over 7 days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement