About this role
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Training and Food Compliance Manager to join our Catering and Facilities team. This is a key role in ensuring consistently high standards of food safety, hygiene, training, compliance and service delivery across our catering and retail operations.
You will provide expert advice, guidance and practical support to catering and retail teams, ensuring staff understand and follow relevant legislation, policies, procedures and Trust standards. You will coordinate and monitor food safety training, support audits and inspections, identify areas for improvement and ensure appropriate actions are implemented and sustained.
The role will involve working closely with operational managers, supervisors and staff to promote a positive food safety culture, maintain compliance and continually improve the quality and safety of our services. You will also contribute to the development of training programmes, compliance documentation, monitoring processes and performance reporting.
We are seeking someone with strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and training requirements, excellent communication and organisational skills, and the ability to work confidentally
Main duties of the job
Lead and coordinate food safety, hygiene and compliance across catering and retail services, ensuring Trust policies, procedures and legislative requirements are consistently met.
Provide expert advice, guidance and practical support to catering and retail managers, supervisors and staff on food safety, hygiene, allergen management and compliance.
Develop, coordinate and monitor food safety and compliance training programmes, ensuring staff complete mandatory and role-specific training within required timescales.
Plan and undertake food safety inspections, audits and monitoring activities, identifying areas of non-compliance and supporting managers to implement effective corrective actions.
Monitor food safety documentation, records and compliance systems, ensuring information is accurate, up to date and readily available for inspection.
Support external inspections, audits and regulatory visits, coordinating responses and ensuring agreed actions are completed within timescales.
Investigate food safety incidents, complaints and areas of concern, identifying root causes and implementing measures to prevent recurrence.
Review and update food safety procedures,
About us
Where available, visa sponsorship is subject to the role meeting the Home Office Skilled Worker eligibility requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, the role being eligible for sponsorship and meeting the applicable salary threshold and other immigration requirements. Eligibility for sponsorship will be assessed in line with current Home Office guidance.
This is a legal and regulatory requirement, and we cannot proceed with sponsorship until UKVI has completed the approval process.
We regret any inconvenience this causes. Our decision is based solely on our current regulatory position and is not related to your suitability for the role or any personal characteristic.
SCL is a wholly owned subsidiary of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) set up to deliver a range of non-clinical services The company is separate legal body to CDDFT.
SCL offers its own Terms and Conditions of employment which differ to the national NHS Terms and Conditions. As an employee in the company you will benefit from:
A Competitive salary Access to a pension scheme - National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) CDD Services will pay a 3% contribution (this is over and above the minimum contribution rate at the present time) Night Shift Working Allowances (where appropriate) Bank Holiday Working Allowances (where appropriate) Bank work is offered on an 'as and when' basis with no guaranteed hours and will be paid on a pro-rata hourly rate for hours worked only
Job description Job responsibilities
The Training and Food Compliance Manager is a key role within the Catering and Facilities service, responsible for ensuring high standards of food safety, hygiene, training, compliance and continuous improvement across catering and retail operations.
The postholder will work closely with catering managers, supervisors and frontline staff to provide professional advice, guidance and practical support on food safety, hygiene standards, allergen management, training requirements, Trust policies, procedures and relevant legislation. The role will involve promoting a strong food safety culture and ensuring that compliance is embedded within day-to-day operational practice.
A major element of the role will be the coordination and monitoring of food safety and compliance training. This will include identifying training requirements, maintaining accurate training records, supporting the delivery of training and ensuring staff complete mandatory and role-specific training within required timescales. The postholder will also evaluate training effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
The role will be responsible for planning and undertaking food safety inspections, audits and compliance monitoring across catering and retail areas. This will include reviewing working practices, food handling, storage, temperature control, cleaning and hygiene standards, allergen controls, documentation and overall compliance. Where issues are identified, the postholder will work with managers to develop appropriate corrective and preventative actions and monitor their completion.
The postholder will support the service in preparing for and responding to internal and external inspections, audits and regulatory visits. This will include coordinating information, providing evidence of compliance, supporting managers during inspections and ensuring any resulting actions are addressed within agreed timescales.
The role will also involve investigating food safety incidents, complaints, non-conformances and areas of concern. The postholder will establish the circumstances surrounding incidents, identify underlying or root causes and recommend improvements to reduce the risk of recurrence. This may require working with a range of departments and professional groups to ensure appropriate actions are implemented.
An important part of the role will be maintaining and reviewing food safety documentation, procedures, risk assessments, training materials and monitoring systems. The postholder will ensure these remain current, practical and aligned with legislation, national guidance and Trust requirements. They will contribute to the development of new processes and initiatives where improvements in food safety, quality or compliance are required.
The postholder will use audit and monitoring information to identify trends, recurring issues and opportunities for improvement. They will produce reports and provide assurance to senior managers regarding food safety standards, training compliance, audit outcomes and outstanding actions. The role will require the ability to analyse information and translate findings into practical improvements.
The role will require regular engagement with staff at all levels. The successful candidate will need to communicate confidently and professionally, provide constructive challenge where standards are not being met and support staff to understand what is required and why. The approach should be supportive and educational while maintaining clear accountability for compliance.
The postholder will also contribute to continuous improvement across the Catering and Facilities service. This may include reviewing operational practices, supporting service developments, contributing to quality improvement projects and identifying opportunities to improve customer experience, food safety, efficiency and consistency.
The role requires a proactive and organised individual who can manage competing priorities, work independently and respond effectively to emerging food safety or compliance issues. The postholder must be able to work collaboratively with operational teams while maintaining professional independence when assessing compliance.
The Training and Food Compliance Manager will therefore play a key role in providing assurance that catering and retail services operate safely, legally and consistently, while supporting staff through effective training, education, monitoring and continuous improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Level 3 Food Safety in Catering or equivalent recognised qualification. HACCP qualification appropriate to the level of responsibility. Evidence of continuing professional development in food safety, compliance, training or catering
Desirable
Knowledge of healthcare catering standards and NHS food safety requirements. Knowledge of relevant external food safety inspection and assurance frameworks.
Special Skills & Knowledge Essential
Detailed knowledge of food safety and hygiene requirements within a catering environment. Good knowledge of HACCP principles and food safety management systems. Knowledge of allergen management and dietary requirements. Knowledge of health & safety requirements and safe systems of work within catering and retail environments. Understanding of relevant food safety legislation, policies, procedures and recognised industry standards. Knowledge of audit, inspection, compliance and quality assurance processes. Knowledge of training, coaching and competency assessment principle Ability to identify food safety risks, non-conformances and areas requiring improvement. Ability to plan and deliver effective training and coaching to staff at different levels. Ability to undertake audits, inspections and compliance checks and provide clear, constructive feedback Ability to investigate incidents, complaints and non-conformances and identify appropriate corrective actions. Ability to develop, implement and monitor action plans to achieve compliance and service improvements. Ability to analyse information from audits, incidents, complaints and customer feedback to identify trends and improvement opportunities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly. Ability to challenge poor practice appropriately and influence staff and managers to improve standards. Ability to work independently, prioritise workload and manage competing demands across multiple sites. Good IT skills and ability to use electronic systems for training records, audits, reporting and compliance monitoring. Ability to produce accurate reports, recommendations and management information.
Desirable
Knowledge of healthcare catering standards and NHS food safety requirements. Knowledge of relevant external food safety inspection and assurance frameworks.
Special Requirements Essential
Ability to work multisite and have flexibility to needs of the service Ability to work flexibly, including weekends and evenings as required
Desirable
Knowledge of catering sector
Experience Essential
Significant experience working within a catering, hospitality, food service or food production environment. Experience of working in a food safety and compliance role within a catering environment. Experience of delivering food safety, hygiene, allergen or operational training to staff. Experience of undertaking food safety audits, inspections, compliance checks and monitoring activities. Experience of identifying non-conformances, risks and areas for improvement and implementing appropriate corrective actions. Experience of investigating food safety incidents, complaints, claims or service failures. Experience of developing and monitoring action plans arising from audits, incidents or inspections. Experience of maintaining and monitoring staff training, competency and compliance records. Experience of providing coaching, guidance and practical support to staff and managers. Experience of working with managers and operational teams to improve service standards and compliance. Experience of analysing audit findings, incidents, complaints or customer feedback to identify trends and improvement opportunities. Experience of preparing reports and presenting compliance or performance information to managers or senior colleagues.
Desirable
Experience of working across multiple sites or supporting teams in different operational locations. Experience of working within healthcare, NHS or another highly regulated environmen Experience of supporting external inspections, regulatory visits or formal compliance audits. Experience of developing or reviewing food safety procedures, training materials or HACCP documentation
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name CDD Services (Synchronicity Care Ltd)
Address Darlington Memorial Hospital
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
DL3 6HX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)