Assistant Head Chef

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board; Abergavenny; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Abergavenny is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Head Chef to lead the catering team at Nevill Hall Hospital. The ideal candidate will possess strong culinary skills, supervisory experience, and a commitment to quality catering standards. This fixed-term role offers 35 hours per week, including shifts over a 7-day period. Candidates should hold relevant qualifications and be prepared for a DBS check.

Benefits

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Occupational health support

Wellbeing Centre of Excellence

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering environment.
• Ability to work independently and manage a team.
• Knowledge of food hygiene standards.

Responsibilities

• Supervise all staff and manage catering duties.
• Allocate tasks to cooks and assistants.
• Ensure quality and presentation of meals prior to service.

Skills

Catering experience

Menu planning

Food hygiene knowledge

Organizational skills

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or NVQ Level 2 & 3

Advance Food Hygiene Level 4

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Facilities team, working as an Assistant Head Chef in Nevill Hall Hospital.

The post holder will provide the highest possible standards of catering, hygiene and safety to Patients, Staff and Service users.

Our services operate over a 7 day period, which will require you to work unsociable hours including weekends & bank holidays.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is confident to work on their own initiative possessing flair and enthusiasm as well as being self-motivated and can empower the team.

The hours are 35 per week, to be worked as as part of a shift pattern which includes morning, afternoons and weekends as part of a 3 week rota.

This post is fixed term/secondment until 31st January 2026. If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.

Main duties of the job

The Assistant Head Chef is directly responsible to the Assistant Operational Services Manager for the direct supervision of all staff and being able to deputise in the absence of the Manager over the whole ranges of duties, which may be deemed necessary.

To allocate all duties to Cooks, Catering Assistants and Porters, in all duties that concern the Catering Department.

To check all meals for quality, quantity and appearance prior to service. Order commodities based on requirements with the patient menu cycle and staff menu cycle, and historical data from the Synbiotix System.

To visit Wards or Departments where food or beverages are served, to liase with Nursing Staff, on all problems involving service and food served to ward areas.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.

We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.

Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• In possession of: City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or equivalent NVQ Level 2 & 3
• Advance Food Hygiene (Level 4) qualification or willing to study towards
• Menu planning and Use of Standard Recipes
• Working Procedures & Practices
• Organising Rotas
• Purchasing Food
• Knowledge of full range of work procedures, practices and equipment for a catering service, including advanced food hygiene processes; vocational level 3 qualification or equivalent plus knowledge acquired through training and experience to diploma equivalent level on eg special diets, health and safety, management
• NEBSS

Experience

• Previous experienced gained in a catering environment
• Understanding of Quality and Services Standards

Other

• Ability to be independently mobile to meet the requirements of the post
• Welsh Speaker (Level 1) or willingness to work towards

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.