Catering Company jobs in Ipswich

Food Service Assistant - Grove Court Care Home
CQC rating: Outstanding

Address: Grove Court, Beech Way, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4BW
Hourly Rate: £13.45 per hour
Contract: Full time, permanent
Shifts: Shift pattern & weekend availability

Elizabeth Finn is a leading care provider providing exceptional care throughout our eight prestigious care homes. Our company values are Bring Love, Inspire More, Act with Purpose and Welcome All.

Our Grove Court Home is a purpose-built care home located in beautiful grounds in one of the prettiest parts of England. We provide the highest levels of residential and nursing care from a committed and experienced team.

About the role

We are seeking a compassionate and reliable Food Services Assistant to support the preparation and service of meals and beverages for our residents. The role includes maintaining high standards of kitchen cleanliness and equipment hygiene, while delivering prompt, courteous, and person-centred service to our residents at all times.

What you'll do

• Preparing and serving meals safely and accurately – supporting food preparation, serving correct portions at set times, and ensuring food is presented attractively while meeting residents’ individual needs.

• Supporting Chef with the following, putting deliveries away, preparing milk shakes, cheese plates, fruit plates and other small catering tasks.

• Supporting the service of the meals either along side a chef or independently with carers for Tray Service.

• Strict compliance with food safety and health regulations – consistently adhering to Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, and COSHH requirements to protect residents, staff, and visitors.

• Maintaining high standards of kitchen cleanliness – cleaning kitchens, assisting with general washing up, bin emptying, maintaining clean areas, equipment, crockery, and dining areas in line with cleaning schedules, and promptly reporting any equipment faults. Washing up the crockery and utensils that residents use and then restoring back in the correct areas.

• General cleaning of the 3 Care Base serveries and dining rooms where required particularly if there is no hostess on duty. Also some paperwork for the carebases.

• Responding sensitively to residents’ needs – listening to residents respectfully, reporting complaints or concerns, and alerting senior staff to any issues such as difficulty eating or refusal of meals, general polite and courteous support.

• Working effectively as part of a team under time pressures – following instructions accurately, meeting service deadlines, supporting colleagues, and attending required training to deliver excellent customer service.

Qualifications & Skills

• Basic Food Hygiene certificate or willingness to undertake the same.
• NVQ level 2 is desirable.
• Experience in a care home is desirable.
• In good general health, physically and mentally fit to meet the requirements of the role.

To Apply

Application deadline is by Wednesday 29th July 2026. The interviews will be held in person at Grove Court, Woodbridge.

For more information on working in our team or to have an informal visit please contact Anthony Patchett, Head of Catering on 01394 446500.

Elizabeth Finn Homes do not currently provide sponsorship, but we welcome applications from those who have a right work in the UK.

In return for the wonderful contribution our employees make we offer the following benefits:

• Enhances pay for family leave
• Overtime and bank holiday enhancements to pay
• Group pension scheme
• Occupational sick pay after probation
• Wellbeing support through various initiatives including an employee assistance programme with free counselling and Mental Health First Aiders.
• Opportunity to earn rewards via Care Friends (refer a friend scheme) which you can cash in when you choose
• Free Blue Light card – provides members with thousands of amazing retail discounts
• Long service awards
• Subsidised meals while on duty
• Apprenticeships, continuous learning and development, professional development and study support opportunities

Safeguarding:

In the process of recruitment, selection and appointment Elizabeth Finn Homes implement a range of procedures and actions including Police/Enhanced DBS Checks to ensure our employees, residents and everyone is safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. This is in line with our company values, which are Bring Love, Inspire More, Act with Purpose and Welcome All.

Criminal record checks:

As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check, and any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us, this will depend on the circumstances and background of any record.

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging:

Elizabeth Finn strives to treat all staff equally and be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and everyone accepts each other’s differences.

Our ambition is to ensure equality and celebrate diversity, working together to create an inclusive workplace, which attracts, nurtures and retains the best people.