Job Overview
Join Our Catering Team as a Chef at the RUH. We’re looking for a skilled and motivated Chef to join our Catering Team at the RUH. You’ll play a key role in preparing, cooking and serving high‑quality meals for our patients, staff and visitors — including meeting a wide range of dietary needs — while following all departmental policies and food‑safety standards.
You’ll work across both our main patient kitchen and retail kitchen, depending on service requirements, helping us deliver fresh, nutritious and well‑presented food every day.
What The Role Involves
- Working 7.5‑hour shifts between 06:00 and 19:00, five days over seven, including 2 out of 3 weekends and public/school/Bank holidays.
- Putting patients first by ensuring meals are prepared and served accurately, safely and on time.
- Supporting senior kitchen staff and colleagues to meet deadlines and follow safe working procedures.
- Following all Trust policies, food‑safety standards and relevant legislation.
- Listening to instructions, working collaboratively and showing respect to colleagues, patients and visitors.
- Maintaining professionalism, promoting inclusion and contributing to a positive team culture.
- Minimising food and non‑food waste in line with departmental guidance.
- Applying knowledge from mandatory and departmental training and following all Standard Operating Procedures for your safety and the safety of others.
- Carrying out all reasonable tasks with accuracy, efficiency and pride.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- Prepare, cook and portion hot and cold meals for patients, staff and visitors, ensuring high standards, accurate portion control and correct storage of all food items.
- Follow all Food Hygiene policies, Standard Operating Procedures and legislative requirements, maintaining excellent personal hygiene and a clean, safe working environment.
- Complete all required food‑safety documentation, including temperature monitoring, recording deviations and reporting concerns to senior kitchen staff.
- Safely use, clean and reassemble catering equipment, carrying out routine cleaning tasks (including floors, walls, drainage and surfaces) and adopting a “clean as you go” approach.
- Respond to kitchen enquiries, support additional meal requests, handle initial service complaints appropriately and communicate politely with staff, patients and visitors.
- Work as a positive team member, minimise waste, attend training, follow health & safety procedures and undertake reasonable tasks requested by supervisors or managers.
Qualifications
Essential criteria:
- Good literacy and numeracy skills.
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
- 706/2 or NVQ level 2 or relevant catering qualification
Desirable criteria:
- Food Allergens Awareness Training.
- Strong culinary skills.
Experience
Essential criteria:
- Previous large scale catering experience
- Good understanding of special dietary needs within a health care setting
- Ability to work and remain calm under pressure
Desirable criteria:
- Previous experience of the NHS
- Flexible approach towards duties and hours worked
Immigration and Visa Eligibility
Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered unless an alternative right to work solution can be provided. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying.
Applicant Requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous convictions.
Documents to Download
- Chef (PDF, 240.4KB)
- Join the RUH (PDF, 1.3MB)
Contact for Further Details
Name: Lee JohnstonJob title: Food Production ManagerEmail address: lee.johnston1@nhs.netTelephone: 01225 824684/5
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