Chef

NHS; Poole; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for a qualified Chef to join their dedicated Catering team. This role involves preparing and serving high-quality meals for patients and staff, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. The ideal candidate will possess culinary expertise and a passion for cooking, along with essential qualifications in food hygiene and allergen awareness. The position offers a generous salary, enhanced pay for unsocial hours, and various employee benefits. Join a supportive team committed to delivering exceptional service in a healthcare environment.

Benefits

Generous Starting Salary

Enhanced Pay for unsocial hours

Paid training

Free uniform

27 days paid holiday plus bank holidays

Increased holiday allowance after 5 and 10 years' service

NHS Pension Scheme

Salary sacrifice scheme opportunities

Staff Rates on Catering retail items

NHS discounts on shopping and gym membership

Qualifications

• Experience in large scale catering within healthcare sector is essential.
• Professional qualification in food safety and allergen awareness required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook meals for patients and staff to high standards.
• Liaise with Food Production Manager on meal quality and menu changes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Culinary Expertise

Ability to multi-task

Communication Skills

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 706/2 or equivalent

Level 3 Food Hygiene/Safety

Level 3 Allergen awareness

Job description

Job Summary

University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a friendly, hardworking, reliable & qualified Chef to work within the Catering team to provide freshly cooked food to our patients and staff. The team is responsible for providing an efficient, high quality, dedicated food and beverage service, operating in compliance with corporate and local policies and procedures.

Experience of working in a similar environment and the professional qualification standard COSHH and allergen training (or willingness to work towards it) are required. But just as important are the commitment to provide a first class service and a belief in teamwork.

A driving licence would be an advantage but is not essential, this position has to cover 7 days and you will work any 5 days.

What working for us will provide:

• Generous Starting Salary
• Enhanced Pay for unsocial hours worked (Saturday, Sunday)
• No split shifts
• Paid training
• Free uniform
• 27 days paid holiday (pro rata for part time) plus bank holidays
• Increased holiday allowance after 5 and 10 years' service
• Enrolment in the NHS Pension Scheme
• Salary sacrifice scheme opportunities - including childcare vouchers, car lease and cycle scheme, home technology equipment
• Staff Rates on Items in the Catering Departments retail outlets
• NHS discounts to save on your shopping, gym membership and more

Base - Bournemouth Hospital

Interview Date - TBC

Main Duties of the Job:

• Ensure the preparation, cooking and service of meals for patients and staff is to the standard of City & Guilds 706 1/2 or NVQ equivalent.
• Liaise effectively with Food Production Manager on meal quality, and inform all staff about any menu changes.
• Follow recipes accurately, so as to ensure correct cooking times, cooking methods and number of portions produced.
• It may be necessary for you to work in differing sections of the Catering Department to meet service needs. This would usually be duties appropriate to band level.

You must be flexible to work locations and hours and to meeting the needs of our customers and patients whilst being supportive of the large food service operation at the UHD.

About Us:

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

In some cases this means that a service may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview.

Date Posted: 21 March 2025

Pay Scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 3

Salary: £24,071 to £25,674 a year Per annum

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working Pattern: Full-time

Reference Number: 153-CO04372

Job Locations: Poole Hospital, Longfleet Road, Poole, BH15 2JB

Job Responsibilities:

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person Specification:

Qualifications Essential:

• City & Guilds 706/1 706/2 or equivalent vocational level 3 qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience
• Level 3 Food Hygiene/Safety
• Level 3 Allergen awareness

Experience Essential:

• Large scale Catering experience within healthcare sector
• Experience of special dietary requirements gained through Education & training to level 3
• Work unsupervised in all areas of the kitchen

Skills/Competencies Essential:

• Attention to detail inc. Accuracy & ability to multi-task
• Culinary Expertise (Excellent knife skills, Equipment knowledge, Safety/Sanitation methods, cooking methods)

Knowledge Essential:

• Good understanding of food nutrition
• Good understanding of H&S, HACCP & COSHH regulations

Personal Attributes Essential:

• Able to work as part of a team and mix with other members of staff
• Ability to communicate effectively with all hospital staff
• Passion for cooking

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 Details:

Employer Name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Poole Hospital, Longfleet Road, Poole, BH15 2JB

Employer's Website: https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers