Cook - Newmarket Hospital

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust; Newmarket; On-site; CAD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A rural NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated individual for a catering role. The candidate will undertake food production, maintain hygiene standards, and follow recipes to provide high-quality service for patients and staff. You must have a food hygiene certification and experience in catering, alongside strong communication and teamwork skills. This position requires a commitment to high standards in a busy kitchen environment, ensuring that nutritious meals are served safely and efficiently.

Qualifications

• Good understanding of HACCP, COSSH and Health and Safety legislation.
• Previous experience of working within a catering environment.
• Previous catering experience specifically in large scale service.

Responsibilities

• To undertake food production as part of a team.
• To maintain food hygiene standards.
• To follow standard recipes and participate in continuous improvement.

Skills

Good customer care and communication skills

Able to work either alone or as part of a team

Good manual dexterity and physical fitness

Able to work under pressure

Interest in cooking/catering

Education

NVQ Level 2 Food hygiene certificate

City and Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or NVQ level 3

Knowledge of IDDSI

Job description

Main duties of the job

• To undertake food production as part of a team producing safe, high quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff and visitors to the Trust.
• To work in all areas of the food production kitchen covering all sections.
• To follow standard recipes and participate with continuous improvement.
• To maintain records of daily food production, wastage and dish temperature control in line with the department's ISO procedures.
• Help assemble meals for patient service, monitoring portion control of dishes and nutritional requirements.
• To produce food for special functions.
• To produce specific dietary dishes and meals following dietetics instructions.
• To produce dishes and meals to specific IDDSI standards.
• To work to a rigid timescale ensuring meals are ready for service.
• To maintain food hygiene standards with specific regard to temperature and cross‑contamination guidelines.
• To clean the food production area that the employee is working in.
• Safe and hygienic use of high‑cost, dangerous catering equipment.
• Prepare fillings and dishes for use within other areas of the department in a safe hygienic method using standard recipes for staff/visitors restaurant and patients.

To work as part of a team providing a safe, high quality catering service for the Trust.

To prepare and serve high quality nutritious food in accordance with the department's standard recipes, using fresh ingredients.

To be able to maintain prolonged concentration when preparing and cooking several different dishes in a busy and pressured environment.

To have a good understanding and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to HACCP and COSSH and follow the department's food hygiene practices.

To have knowledge and apply this during the working practices with specific regard to IDDSI and follow this patient safety guidance.

To offer guidance to ward staff in the absence of dietetic support (out of hours) with specific regard to allergen, consistency and dietary requirements for patients within the Trust.

To be aware of Trust policies and procedures applicable to the service and report any issues to the line manager.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high‑quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and teamwork guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification attached for more details on the job role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

• NVQ Level 2 Food hygiene certificate
• City and Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or NVQ level 3
• Knowledge of IDDSI
• Basic skills in literacy & numeracy
• Dietary/nutrition training

Experience & Knowledge

• Good understanding of HACCP, COSSH and Health and Safety legislation.
• Previous experience of working within a catering environment.
• Previous catering experience specifically in large scale service

Skills & Abilities

• Good customer care and communication skills
• Able to work either alone or as part of a team
• Good manual dexterity, physical fitness and good eyesight
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Able to work without supervision
• Able to work in a demanding environment.
• Self‑motivated, punctual, reliable and trustworthy.
• Adaptable to change.
• Able to work in a Hospital ward environment.
• Flexible, with the ability to work the hours required by the post.
• Self‑motivated
• Interest in cooking/catering

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.