Kitchen AssistantNHS

Job summary

Working 37.5 hours across five days, you can join the catering team at Thornford Park Hospital as a Kitchen Assistant where unlike most kitchen environments, you will not be under heavy pressure and stress. Reporting to the Head Chef, you will support with preparing meals, maintaining a clean and safe working environment, and assist with deliveries. Its a calm and pleasurable working environment, where youll be able to manage your workload and develop your career. Theres also a great social aspect to this role where you can interact with people outside the kitchen regularly. Just imagine home in time for dinner every night. Two days off a week, and not stressed to the hilt. As a Kitchen Assistant, you will be: Serving service users, staff and visitors with food and beverages Maintaining storage procedures and stock rotation Ensuring that all areas, equipment and furniture are cleaned and stored correctly Responsible for the departments cleaning chemicals and equipment

Main duties of the job

Working as a Kitchen Assistant at Thornford Park Hospital involves supporting the catering team to prepare meals, maintain cleanliness, and manage deliveries without the high stress typical of many kitchen roles. Reporting to the Head Chef, the role offers a calm and pleasurable working environment, allowing for manageable workloads and career development opportunities. This position involves serving food and beverages to service users, staff, and visitors, maintaining storage protocols, and ensuring proper cleaning and storage of equipment. The job highlights a balance of work-life harmony, providing two days off weekly and less pressure, alongside opportunities for social interaction beyond kitchen duties.

Job description

Working 37.5 hours across five days, you can join the catering team at Thornford Park Hospital as a Kitchen Assistant where unlike most kitchen environments, you will not be under heavy pressure and stress.

Reporting to the Head Chef, you will support with preparing meals, maintaining a clean and safe working environment, and assist with deliveries.

It’s a calm and pleasurable working environment, where you’ll be able to manage your workload and develop your career. There’s also a great social aspect to this role where you can interact with people outside the kitchen regularly.

Just imagine… home in time for dinner every night. Two days off a week, and not stressed to the hilt.

As a Kitchen Assistant, you will be:

• Serving service users, staff and visitors with food and beverages
• Maintaining storage procedures and stock rotation
• Ensuring that all areas, equipment and furniture are cleaned and stored correctly
• Responsible for the departments cleaning chemicals and equipment

To be successful in this role, you'll need

• Knowledge of COSHH and HACCP
• Experience of working within similar role

Where you will be working:   Location: Crookham Hill, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 8ET    Thornford Park Hospital is a 141 bed hospital set within 21 acres of Berkshire countryside, offering a seamless care pathway across medium and low secure services, psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs), and rehabilitation flats. The site supports men and women with complex Mental Health needs, Personality Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and Autism—often with histories of offending or previous placement challenges.

Services include:

• Medium & Low Secure Units for acute and long-term care
• PICUs for individuals in psychiatric crisis
• Older Adult Services with age-appropriate, holistic interventions
• Specialist Learning Disability & Autism Pathways with integrated secure settings and step-down flats

You’ll be part of a recovery-focused, multidisciplinary team helping people move safely toward greater independence. Thornford Park Hospital is easily accessible via Thatcham train station, with shuttle transport available.

What You’ll Get:

At Elysium Healthcare, we believe in taking care of the people who care for others, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and future:

• Annual base salary of £25,565
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals
• Access to our Rewards & Benefits platform Ely-Vate; Your one-stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub!
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind
• Stream – instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save, directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future
• Free meals and onsite free parking

About your next employer:

Elysium Health care has over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 80 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure.

About us

Elysium Healthcare is part of a larger global healthcare network, Ramsay Health Care, extending across 10 countries and employing over 86,000 people globally. With over 8,000 employees in England and Wales, Elysium offers specialised services in Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education sectors. The company values staff care as much as patient care, offering comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Situated in Thatcham, Thornford Park Hospital is a 141-bed facility located within 21 acres of Berkshire countryside. The hospital provides a complete care pathway, supporting individuals with Mental Health needs, Personality Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and Autism through various secure and rehabilitation settings.