Chef

Willowbrook Hospice; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 15,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution (5%)

Sick pay

25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays pro‑

Subsidised meals

Health & Wellbeing support

Medicash

Bluelight Card

Development opportunities

Job summary

Willowbrook Hospice is seeking a dedicated chef to prepare fresh, nutritious meals for patients, families, staff, and visitors. The role is 20 hours per week at £13.06 per hour, reporting to the Head Chef and working in a collaborative team.

You will design meals around medical, allergen, and texture requirements, ensure daily service in our café, and mentor catering assistants and volunteers while upholding safety and hygiene standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum proven kitchen experience as a commercial cook or chef.
• Valid Level 3 Food Hygiene certificate and allergen awareness training.
• Willingness to learn dysphagia requirements.
• Compassionate and reliable team player.

Responsibilities

• Create tailored, well-balanced dishes for individual medical, allergen, and texture needs.
• Cook and serve fresh meals daily for staff, patients, and visitors in the café.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to catering assistants and volunteers.
• Maintain Safer Food, Better Business standards and safety logs.
• Oversee cleaning, equipment safety, and waste management; coordinate ingredient kits.

Skills

Commercial cook/chef

Food hygiene

Allergen awareness

Team player

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene certificate

Tools

Safer Food, Better Business standards

Job description

Bring your culinary skills to a place where every meal matters. At Willowbrook Hospice, we believe food is a vital part of care. We are looking for a chef to help prepare fresh, nutritious meals for our patients, families, staff, and visitors.

As an independent charity we provide specialist palliative care to the St Helens and Knowsley community. core values foster an inclusive environment that supports patients, families, and staff alike. By joining us, you will be part of a friendly supportive team with opportunities for development and a range of benefits.

The role is 20hours per week on £13.06ph reporting to the Head Chef and working in a collaborative team.

Your Role

• Crating tailored nutritional well-balanced dishes designed specifically around individual medical, allergen, and texture requirements.
• Cook and serve fresh, wholesome food daily for staff, families, and visitors in our vibrant café.
• Provide mentorship and clear guidance, daily task allocation, and encouragement to catering assistants and dedicated volunteers.
• Maintain strict adherence to Safer Food, Better Business standards, safety compliance, and logging all essential daily temperature checks.
• Oversee deep cleaning schedules, safe kitchen equipment operation, and efficient waste management protocols.Prepare specific ingredient kits and provide culinary back-up for our internal hospitality training courses.
• Responsible for monitoring stock rotation, minimize food waste, and coordinate directly with local suppliers for orders.

Who You Are

• Proven kitchen skills, strong background as a commercial cook or chef.
• Valid Level 3 Food Hygiene certificate and up-to-date allergen awareness training.
• Confident understanding or a strong willingness to learn dysphagia requirements.
• Naturally compassionate, reliable, and motivated to help patients.
• Capable of prioritizing kitchen production lists calmly under time pressures.

Your Benefits

• 5% contribution Pension scheme
• Sick pay up to 4 weeks
• 25 holiday days plus 8 bank holidays pro-rata for part time
• Subsidised meals
• Health & Wellbeing support
• Medicash
• Bluelight Card
• Development opportunities