Chef

Bedfordshire Hospitals

Bedford

Hybrid

GBP 26,000 - 27,000

Part time

15 hours ago

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Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Main Area Chef Grade Band 3 on a part-time bank basis. The role involves preparing and cooking meals for patients and staff across Bedford hospital sites, with a 15-hour week across 5 days out of 7. The salary is pro rata and based on the NHS pay band.

Closing date is 08/10/2026. Applicants should have City Guilds or equivalent and Food Hygiene Level 2 or higher. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Qualifications

City Guilds or equivalent qualification required.
Food Hygiene Level 2 or above required.

Responsibilities

Prepare and cook food to a high standard for distribution to hospital sites.
Maintain high standards of hygiene and presentation.
Assist Supervisors and Managers to ensure efficient use of preparation areas, equipment and resources.
Assist in keeping operational costs to a minimum while meeting service requirements.
Work across all kitchen areas under supervision and guidance.

Education

City Guilds or equivalent qualification

Food Hygiene Level 2 or above

Job description

Main area Chef Grade Band 3 Contract Bank: Various shift patterns 5 days out of 7 Hours Part time - 15 hours per week (Working 2 out of 7 days.) Job ref 418-COR07058-HC-A

Site Bedford Town Bedford Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pro rota Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

To Prepare and Cook food to a high standard for distribution to various areas throughout the hospital site, So that the results meet user expectations. To work to high standards of hygiene and presentation. To assist Supervisors and Managers to ensure all preparation areas and kitchen recourses, people, equipment and foodstuffs are used efficiently and cost effectively in providing the overall service

Main duties of the job

To ensure specified menu items, recipes, and the correct quantity of food are available to meet patients, staff or end user requirement
To ensure raw, chilled or cooked ingredients to specified requirements are distributed to patients, staff or end use requirements
To perform preparation and cooking activities with due diligence and in a professional manner so the food maintains its nutritional value and is suitable consumption by the patient of customers.
To assist in ensuring that preparation and kitchen equipment are effectively and efficiently maintained.
To ensure the correct raw materials, foodstuffs are used in the preparation and cooking of food
To ensure those stocks of raw materials, cook‑chill and foodstuffs are rotated correctly so as to prevent the loss, damage or deterioration of these stocks.
To assist in ensuring that operational costs are kept to a minimum but commensurate with the provision of services that meet customer requirements.
To identify and assist with the implementation of cost savings wherever possible.
To work in all areas of the kitchen under guidance and supervision
To undertake any duties as may be required.
Appearance on time for duty, in a clean and tidy uniform wearing the correct footwear. Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.
Assisting, where required, to serve customers at function.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To ensure specified menu items, recipes, and the correct quantity of food are available to meet patients, staff or end user requirement
To ensure raw, chilled or cooked ingredients to specified requirements are distributed to patients, staff or end use requirements.
To perform preparation and cooking activities with due diligence and in a professional manner so the food maintains its nutritional value and is suitable consumption by the patient of customers.
To assist in ensuring that preparation and kitchen equipment are effectively and efficiently maintained.
To ensure the correct raw materials, foodstuffs are used in the preparation and cooking of food
To ensure those stocks of raw materials, cook‑chill and foodstuffs are rotated correctly so as to prevent the loss, damage or deterioration of these stocks.
To ensure that the division policies, procedures and work practises are understood and implemented.
To assist in ensuring that operational costs are kept to a minimum but commensurate with the provision of services that meet customer requirements.
To identify and assist with the implementation of cost savings wherever possible.
To visit wards from time to time with the Catering Manager
To work in all areas of the kitchen under guidance and supervision
To undertake any duties as may be required.
Appearance on time for duty, in a clean and tidy uniform wearing the correct footwear. Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.
To attend any training or refresher courses as required
Assisting, where required, to serve customers in the Restaurant and at functions
Demonstrates duties to new starters.
To observe departmental/Trust policies on Fire, Health & Safety at Work, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and Accident Reporting.
To adhere strictly to correct food hygiene practices in accordance with departmental policy, Food Hygiene Regulations, Food Safety Act and local procedures.
To participate in departmental HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system, in conjunction with the Catering Manager, Head Chef and Deputy Head Chef

Person specification

City Guilds or equivalent qualification
Food Hygiene Level 2 or above

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state‑of‑the‑art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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 criminal convictions.

Name Steven Cowley Job title Catering Manager Email address steven.cowley@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk Telephone number 01234 355122 Additional information

Sandra Smith - sandra.smith@bedsft.nhs.uk

01234 355122 ext 2152

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