Chef

Sodexo Ltd; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company is seeking a Chef to join their team at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple. This role involves preparing high-quality meals for patients, supporting nutrition, and maintaining kitchen operations. The ideal candidate will have experience in food preparation and a strong awareness of food safety and hygiene standards. Opportunities for career development and training are offered within a supportive team focused on improving patient care through nutritious food.

Benefits

Opportunities for training and development

Full uniform provided

Stable and secure role in healthcare

Qualifications

• Minimum of commercial food preparation experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills essential.
• Excellent communication skills required.
• Awareness of Food Safety and Health & Safety legislation.
• Maintain high personal hygiene standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare high-quality, standardized meals following food safety legislation.
• Produce meals for patients, including special diets.
• Support retail catering and maintain food quality.
• Ensure efficient kitchen operations and reduce waste.
• Assist with training of new starters.
• Collaborate with the catering team to deliver outstanding service.

Skills

Commercial food preparation experience

Ability to work effectively as part of a team

Strong organisational skills

Good numeracy and literacy

Excellent communication skills

Awareness of Food Safety & Health & Safety legislation

High standards of personal hygiene

Education

City & Guilds / NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

Chef – North Devon District Hospital

Barnstaple

37.5 hours per week

£12.75 per hour

Are you passionate about creating nutritious, high‑quality food that truly makes a difference? Join our dedicated catering team at North Devon District Hospital, where your skills will directly support patients, staff, and visitors every single day.

This is more than a kitchen job — it’s a chance to use your talent to improve the hospital experience for thousands of people.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Preparing high‑quality, standardised meals in line with Food Safety and Health & Safety legislation
• Producing meals for patients, including special diets and nutritional supplements
• Supporting retail catering, including hot snack bar and carving duties
• Maintaining excellent food quality, portion control, and presentation
• Ensuring efficient kitchen operations, reducing waste, and promoting sustainability
• Maintaining security of stores, equipment, and kitchen areas
• Assisting with new starter “buddy” training
• Working collaboratively with the catering team to deliver outstanding service

What We’re Looking For

You’ll thrive in this role if you bring:

Essential:

• Commercial food preparation experience
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Strong organisational skills
• Good numeracy and literacy
• Excellent communication skills
• Awareness of Food Safety & Health & Safety legislation
• High standards of personal hygiene
• City & Guilds / NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Desirable:

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

What Success Looks Like

• Excellent patient satisfaction feedback
• High PLACE food scores
• 5‑star Local Authority Food Safety rating
• Strong compliance with safety and quality standards

Why Join Us?

• Working in a hospital kitchen means your food has purpose. Every meal you prepare supports recovery, comfort, and wellbeing.
• You’ll be part of a friendly, supportive team that values quality, teamwork, and pride in what we do.
• A stable, secure role in a respected healthcare environment
• Opportunities for training, development, and progression
• A positive, inclusive workplace culture
• Full uniform and training provided

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On‑Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride,Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together,ations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.