Chef

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Harlow; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Harlow is seeking a Chef to join their catering team. The role involves preparing high-quality meals for patients, staff, and visitors. Candidates should have a passion for cooking, relevant food hygiene certifications, and experience in catering, preferably in an NHS setting. This position offers a competitive salary and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Paid Annual leave

Access to the NHS Pension scheme

No split shifts

Qualifications

• Understanding of food safety regulations and catering standards.
• Experience in preparing and serving food in a healthcare setting.
• Ability to work in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Produce high-quality food for patients, staff, and visitors.
• Ensure compliance with hygiene and safety regulations.
• Prepare meals according to patient menus and dietary needs.

Skills

Knowledge of Catering laws

Passion for cooking and fresh ingredients

Basic I.T Skills

Education

Level 2 food hygiene

NVQ level 2 or Equivalent In food production/Catering

Level 3 food hygiene

NVQ Level 3 in Catering

Job description

Go back The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Chef

The closing date is 24 October 2025

We are looking for dynamic enthusiastic chefs to join our expanding In-house fresh cook catering team as we strive to give patients, staff and visitors Nutrition and Hydration of the highest standards possible.

We Cater for the needs of Patients and the Alexandra Restaurant & caf.

Joining our team will give you opportunities to broaden your range of knowledge to include an understanding of needs of the elderly, young and vulnerable and offer a sense of contributing to the health and wellbeing of NHS users ,

Working for the NHS team offers you Paid Annual leave , access to the NHS Pension scheme and the No split shifts !

Main duties of the job

To work within a team producing a high standard of food production for the patient, staff and visitors of the Trust, which meets with all current Hygiene and Health & Safety legislation. To provide a high-quality catering service in line with standards, objectives and policy of the catering department for the patients, staff and visitors at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.

o The duties will include food preparation, cooking and serving of meals to patients, staff and visitors of the hospital as laid down in the patient selective menu systems, using recognised recipes and methods. Always aiming to achieve the highest possible standard.

About us

Our Organisation

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop's Stortford, and St Margaret's Hospital in Epping.

We employ 3,500 staff and serve a local population of around 350,000 people living in west Essex and east Hertfordshire, centred on the M11 corridor and the towns of Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Epping. Our extended catchment area incorporates a population of up to 500,000 and includes the areas of Hoddesdon, Cheshunt and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.

Our Values

The Princess Alexandra Promise to our patients as identified by our 3 values which will contribute to improving our patient experiences:

Patient at heart - Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts

Everyday excellence - Sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong, giving us the ability to learn from both

Creative collaboration - Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care

The Trust believes in investing in all our staff and rewarding high standards of care whilst building for excellence and in return we expect our staff to uphold the Trust values to the highest level.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job description and person specification for the full job details. This is available to download at any time.

Person Specification

• Knowledge of Catering laws
• Passion for cooking and fresh ingredients
• Level 2 food hygiene
• NVQ level 2 or Equivalent In food production/Catering
• basic I.T Skills
• level 3 food hygiene
• NVQ Level 3 in Catering
• Previous NHS Catering experience

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.

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 a year, pro rata plus 5% high cost area supplement