Chef

St Elizabeth Hospice; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

St Elizabeth Hospice is seeking a passionate Chef to lead the kitchen operations during shifts, delivering nutritious and safe meals that support patient wellbeing and visitor experience.

You will champion food safety, customer service and operational standards while upholding the hospice values. A compassionate, flexible approach is essential to support a local charity’s mission.

Qualifications

• Proven experience working as a Chef, ideally in healthcare, care home, or high-standard hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene regulations and best practices.
• Ability to adapt menus to meet dietary and medical needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen operations and guide the catering team for daily service.
• Prepare, cook and present nutritious, appetising meals for patients, visitors and staff.
• Maintain strict food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards across prep and storage areas.
• Deliver outstanding dining experiences with empathy and responsiveness to feedback.
• Collaborate with the wider catering team to maintain a positive and flexible working environment.

Skills

Chef experience

Healthcare catering

Leadership

Food hygiene knowledge

Communication skills

Education

NVQ Level 2 Professional Cookery

Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate

Job description

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Chef to lead the day-to-day operations of our kitchen during allocated shifts. In this role, you will do much more than cook; you will ensure the delivery of high-quality, nutritious, and safe food production that directly impacts patient wellbeing and customer experience. Working as part of a collaborative and flexible team, you will champion excellent food safety, customer service, and operational standards while embodying the core values of the hospice.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership: Lead the operations of the kitchen, guiding the catering team to ensure smooth, efficient daily service.

High-Quality Food Production: Prepare, cook, and present nutritious, appealing meals tailored to the dietary requirements of patients, as well as comforting options for visitors and staff.

Standards & Compliance: Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene, and health and safety standards across all food prep and storage areas.

Customer Excellence: Ensure an outstanding dining experience for everyone, demonstrating empathy and responsiveness to patient and family feedback.

Team Collaboration: Support the wider catering team, fostering a positive, flexible, and cohesive working environment.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven experience working as a Chef, ideally within a healthcare, care home, or high-standard hospitality environment.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene regulations (Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate or the commitment to attain. NVQ Level 2 Professional Cookery.
• Ability to adapt menus to meet specific nutritional or medical dietary needs.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and customer service skills.
• A compassionate, flexible approach to work, with a commitment to supporting the values of a local charity.