Job at a glance
Location: University Hospital Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD Salary: £12.92 per hour, plus excellent benefits Schedule: Permanent contract, part-time (30 hours). Shifts vary by ward and may include early starts, evenings and weekends. Typical shift patterns may include 7am-2pm, 3pm-7pm and longer weekend shifts such as 7am-8pm. Eligibility: Applicants must be aged 18-24 due to eligibility criteria for the apprenticeship.
Launch your career. Get qualified. Make a difference. Looking for your first step into the world of work? This could be a great place to start. As a Ward Host Apprentice, you'll be based at University Hospital Southampton, working as part of our Ward Patient Catering team while completing a Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship in Health & Social Care. Your apprenticeship will take around 8 months and is completed alongside your role, with time to study on-the-job.
You'll gain hands-on work experience every day, with dedicated time for study and learning as part of your apprenticeship. You'll develop practical health and social care skills, as well as the employability skills and behaviours that can help you take your next step. So, what will you actually do? As a Ward Host, you'll help make a difference to patients every day. You'll take meal orders using an electronic system, work with the hospital kitchen to prepare and deliver meals to wards, and make sure patients receive the right food and drinks.
You'll also be someone patients can rely on for friendly, positive service when they're in hospital. You'll work closely with patients and NHS colleagues, and being able to communicate well, show empathy and understand the importance of hygiene and dietary requirements is vital. It's a hands-on role where no two days are the same, and you'll build practical skills and experience in customer service, hospitality, food service and healthcare.
No experience? No problem. You don't need previous experience to apply. We're looking for people with the right attitude, a willingness to learn, and genuine care for others. We'll support you from day one with induction, role-specific training, shadowing and competency assessments, as well as experienced colleagues who'll help you build your confidence and skills. If you're ready to start earning, gain experience and build your future, we'd love to hear from you.
What you'll do as a Ward Host Apprentice Speak with patients, take meal orders and help them understand the available menu choices Prepare and serve meals, snacks, hot drinks and cold refreshments safely and efficiently Use tablet-based ordering systems and learn how to follow dietary and allergen requirements Prepare food and beverage trolleys, check temperatures and complete the required records Maintain a clean, safe and hygienic ward kitchen and patient dining environment Work closely with colleagues and clinical teams to provide a welcoming and respectful service Does this sound like you?
You're friendly, approachable and comfortable speaking with different people You care about delivering a positive experience and treating everyone with dignity and respect You're reliable, organised and able to work as part of a busy team You're willing to learn, follow instructions and take responsibility for your development You understand that a hospital can be fast-paced and emotionally challenging, and you'll ask for support when you need it What you'll learn You'll begin with a structured induction covering Serco, the hospital environment, employee responsibilities, infection prevention and control, health and safety, safeguarding, customer service and communication.
Your role-specific training will include food hygiene, allergen awareness, nutrition, beverage trolley operation, meal ordering systems and tablet-based ordering. You'll also shadow experienced colleagues, receive feedback and coaching, and complete competency checks before working independently. This apprenticeship is an opportunity to earn whi