Kitchen Assistant (Floating) | Ashburton

• Ashburton – Ashburton Hospital - WellFood Services
• Part time permanent position working 27.5 hours per week Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders. 

Kitchen Assistant (Floating)

Are you someone who enjoys variety, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and loves being part of a team that makes a difference every day?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Kitchen Assistant (Floating) to join our WellFood team at Ashburton Hospital. This unique and varied role offers a mix of food service, administration, café support, and kitchen duties, making it ideal for someone who enjoys learning new skills and no two days being the same.

Working within our busy hospitality service, you'll help support the delivery of nutritious meals to patients while ensuring high standards of food safety, customer service, and operational efficiency.

About the Role

As a Floating Kitchen Assistant, you'll work across a variety of functions including:

• Assisting with meal preparation, assembly, plating, and distribution
• Supporting Meals on Wheels (MOW) administration and database management
• Coordinating patient menu selections and dietary requirements
• Participating in trayline operations for hospital and Meals on Wheels services
• Providing relief support within the hospital café when required
• Assisting with stock control, stocktakes, and inventory management
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, hygiene, and infection prevention
• Supporting kitchen operations through dishwashing, cleaning, and general kitchen duties
• Accurately managing electronic records, client information, and documentation

This is a highly varied role that requires flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to assist across multiple areas of the department.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

Essential

• Experience in a kitchen, food service, catering, or hospitality environment
• Sound understanding of food safety and hygiene practices
• Strong computer and keyboard skills with confidence using electronic systems
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently and prioritise tasks
• A positive attitude and strong teamwork skills
• Excellent communication and customer service abilities

Desirable

• Food Safety Certificate (NZQA Unit Standards 167 & 168)
• Experience in a healthcare food service environment
• Administrative experience, preferably within health services
• Barista, café, or food preparation experience
• Experience with stock management or inventory control
• Willingness to undertake further training and Service IQ qualifications 

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. 

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kerri McCarthy at Kerri.McCarthy@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Position description Apply now

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