Assistant Head Chef

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider seeks an Assistant Head Chef to join their dynamic catering team. The successful candidate will oversee food production for patients and customers, ensuring high standards of service and safety. Candidates with NVQ 2 in cookery and a background in catering are encouraged to apply. This role offers excellent opportunities for professional development and a chance to make a difference in health services.

Qualifications

• Experience working in the catering trade.
• Flexibility in working hours to suit service needs.

Responsibilities

• Supervise all aspects of food production including diets.
• Ensure safety regulations and cleanliness within the kitchen.
• Organize day-to-day work tasks and activities.

Skills

Teamwork

Leadership

Education

NVQ 2 in Cookery

City & Guilds or equivalent

Job description

• To work as part of the catering team in producing approximately 1600 patient meals and the serving of 700 customers in the restaurant per day.
• To supervise, prepare and cook meals for patients and customers to high standards whilst maintain a clean, tidy and safe department. Ensuring the standard of service to the patient/customer is pleasant, efficient and all duties are carried out in line with the department's working procedures.
• To assist in maintaining a clean, tidy and safe department, whilst providing the customer with pleasant and efficient service. Carrying out duties in line with the department's working procedures.
• To assist through high standards of service the maintaining of income and meeting budget targets.
• Responsible for the direct supervision of Cook/Chefs.
• To assist with the smooth running and appearance of the Trust, the post holder is expected to be flexible and work across the Facilities Directorate and the Trust, as required and appropriate to the grade.

Main duties of the job

• Provide and assist with the provision of the services described to a high standard, ensuring effective operation of the hospital organisation.
• Contribute to the successful overall performance of the Trust.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with service users, patients, visitors, staff and managers as well as external agencies providing services to the Trust.
• Maintain a high standard of personal dress/uniform, conduct and deportment in keeping with the nature of your duties, ensuring that the duties carried out will reflect to the credit of the department and Trust.
• Attend training courses and development sessions when required, communication and briefing meetings, communicating positively contributing to the teams and Departments objectives.
• Work with sensitivity and an understanding of the issues facing those working to deliver Health services to the UK population.
• Support your Trust colleagues to successfully perform their roles through developing informal working relationships where appropriate.
• Identify and make use of opportunities for sharing best practice and learning's.
• Provide and receive routine information to inform work colleagues, patients and clients.
• Work with those you support to develop a partnership approach, which positively contributes to the overall efficiency of your department.

About us

This is an excellent career opportunity for someone with a hospitality/catering background.

Reporting to the Trust Head Chef, the Assistant Head Chef is required to assist in the management and successful running of the Trust kitchen.

Job responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Attend training courses and development sessions when required, communication and briefing meetings, communicating positively contributing to the teams and Departments objectives.
• To communicate information relating to food service requirements to staff, patients and other members of the public both verbally and by telephone.
• Notifying the supervisor on any discrepancies from receipt and distribution of catering supplies.
• Demonstrate duties to new starters.
• Supervise all aspects of food production within the kitchen including special diets
• Supervise the department in the absence of the person in charge.
• Organise own day-to-day work tasks or activities and show initiative.
• Provide data on food service, matters including recipe and wastage information.
• Undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work, e.g. customer and patient satisfaction.
• Responsible for the correct operation of kitchen equipment.
• Adherence to standardised recipes and production planning whilst ensuring the most economical use of provisions.
• Supervise the serving of food and the maintaining good portion control and presentation of the food served.
• Supervise the environmental cleaning of floors, work surfaces, fixed equipment following departmental procedures.
• The preparation and cooking of food while adhering to all health and safety and food hygiene regulations.
• Secure work area at the end of the working shift.
• Lifting and storing of heavy provisions.
• Ensure safety regulations and safe working practices are being used. Report any safety issues to senior staff.
• Take responsibility for maintaining high standards of cleanliness within the department, including personal hygiene.
• Ensure equipment is cleaned properly and fit for use by the start of next shift.
• Maintaining of minor records.
• To arrange staff cover for short notice absences.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review in association with the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience

• NVQ 2 in cookery or City & Guilds or equivalent
• Experience working in the catering trade

Special Requirements

• Flexibility in working hours to suit service needs

Skills

• Ability to work as part of a team and create and maintain effective working relationships
• Good leadership skills

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.